Chlordiazepoxide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Chlordiazepoxide is a benzodiazepine sold in the U.S. under 5 brand and generic names, for alcohol withdrawal delirium and anxiety disorders. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Benzodiazepine
- Treats (across its forms)
- Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium and Anxiety Disorders
- Available as
- Capsule, extended release · Capsule
- Sold as
- 5 products — Librelease, Librium and Chlordiazachel, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $5 for a 30-count supply — not your price
- Boxed warning
- Boxed warning
How Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride is dosed
From the FDA label for Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride (application ANDA085164). Other chlordiazepoxide products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Because of the wide range of clinical indications for chlordiazepoxide, the optimum dosage varies with the diagnosis and response of the individual patient. The dosage, therefore, should be individualized for maximum beneficial effects. ADULTS USUAL DAILY DOSE Relief of Mild and Moderate Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms of Anxiety 5 mg or 10 mg, 3 or 4 times daily Relief of Severe Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms of Anxiety 20 mg or 25 mg, 3 or 4 times daily Geriatric Patients, or in the presence of debilitating disease 5 mg, 2 to 4 times daily Preoperative Apprehension and Anxiety: On days preceding surgery, 5 to 10 mg orally, 3 or 4 times daily. If used as preoperative medication, 50 to 100 mg IM * 1 hour prior to surgery PEDIATRIC PATIENTS USUAL DAILY DOSE Because of the varied response of pediatric patients to CNS-acting drugs, therapy should be initiated with the lowest dose and increased as required. Since clinical experience in pediatric patients under 6 years of age is limited, the use of the drug in this age group is not recommended. 5 mg, 2 to 4 times daily (may be increased in some pediatric patients to 10 mg, 2 to 3 times daily) For the relief of withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism, the parenteral form * is usually used initially. If the drug is administered orally, the suggested initial dose is 50 to 100 mg, to be followed by repeated doses as needed until…
Everything below is the FDA label for Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride (capsule). Chlordiazepoxide is also sold as capsule, extended release, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride side effects
The necessity of discontinuing therapy because of undesirable effects has been rare. Drowsiness, ataxia and confusion have been reported in some patients - particularly the elderly and debilitated. While these effects can be avoided in almost all instances by proper dosage adjustment, they have occasionally been observed at the lower dosage ranges. In a few instances syncope has been reported. Other adverse reactions reported during therapy include isolated instances of skin eruptions, edema, minor menstrual irregularities, nausea and constipation, extrapyramidal symptoms, as well as increased and decreased libido. Such side effects have been infrequent, and are generally controlled with reduction of dosage. Changes in EEG patterns (low-voltage fast activity) have been observed in patients during and after chlordiazepoxide treatment. Blood dyscrasias (including agranulocytosis), jaundice and hepatic dysfunction have occasionally been reported during therapy. When chlordiazepoxide treatment is protracted, periodic blood counts and liver function tests are advisable. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Epic Pharma, LLC at 1-888-374-2791 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Who shouldn’t take Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride
Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride capsules are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug.
Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride drug interactions
The concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids increases the risk of respiratory depression because of actions at different receptor sites in the CNS that control respiration. Benzodiazepines interact at GABA A sites and opioids interact primarily at mu receptors. When benzodiazepines and opioids are combined, the potential for benzodiazepines to significantly worsen opioid-related respiratory depression exists. Limit dosage and duration of concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids, and monitor patients closely for respiratory depression and sedation. Pregnancy: Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to psychiatric medications, including chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride capsules, during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling the National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications at 1-866-961-2388 or visiting online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/pregnancyregistry/. Risk Summary Neonates born to mothers using benzodiazepines late in pregnancy have been reported to experience symptoms of sedation and/or neonatal withdrawal (see WARNINGS: Neonatal Sedation and Withdrawal Syndrome and Clinical Considerations ). Available data from published observational studies of pregnant women exposed to benzodiazepines do not report a clear association with benzodiazepines and major birth defects ( see Data ). The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated risk of major birth defects and of miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Fetal/Neonatal Adverse Reactions Benzodiazepines cross the placenta and may produce respiratory depression, hypotonia and sedation in neonates. Monitor neonates exposed to chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride capsules during pregnancy or labor for signs of sedation, respiratory depression, hypotonia, and feeding problems. Monitor neonates exposed to chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride capsules during pregnancy for signs of withdrawal. Manage these neonates accordingly (see WARNINGS: Neonatal Sedation and Withdrawal Syndrome ). Data Human Data Published data from observational studies on the use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy do not report a clear association with benzodiazepines and major birth defects. Although early studies reported an increased risk of congenital malformations with diazepam and chlordiazepoxide, there was no consistent pattern noted. In addition, the majority of more recent case-control and cohort studies of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy, which were adjusted for confounding exposures to alcohol, tobacco and other medications, have not confirmed these findings. Nursing Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of chlordiazepoxide in human milk. There are reports of sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain in infants exposed to benzodiazepines through breast milk. Because of chlordiazepoxide’s long half-life, the potential for chlordiazepoxide to accumulate in breast milk and the potential for serious adverse reactions, including sedation and withdrawal symptoms in breastfed neonates and infants, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride capsules.
Every chlordiazepoxide product we track (5)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74/100 | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 2 | 74/100 | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → |
What chlordiazepoxide pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Combination products containing chlordiazepoxide
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
How long chlordiazepoxide keeps
No chlordiazepoxide label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Chlordiazepoxide and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for chlordiazepoxide: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadNo information is available on the use of chlordiazepoxide during breastfeeding. Because the drug and metabolites could accumulate in the breastfed infant, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. If chlordiazepoxide is used, monitor the infant for sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised January 15, 2024. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about chlordiazepoxide
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 3,488 reports naming chlordiazepoxide, and the FDA flagged 81% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- nausea175 reports
- fatigue161 reports
- headache157 reports
- dizziness153 reports
- vomiting136 reports
- diarrhoea131 reports
- anxiety122 reports
- acute kidney injury113 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean chlordiazepoxide caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride?
Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, is the prototype for the benzodiazepine compounds. It is a versatile therapeutic agent of proven value for the relief of anxiety. Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride is among the safer of the effective psychopharmacologic compounds available, as demonstrated by extensive clinical evidence. Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride is available as capsules containing 5 mg, 10 mg or 25 mg chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride. Each capsule also contains corn starch, lactose monohydrate and talc. Gelatin capsule shells may contain methyl and propyl parabens and potassium sorbate, with the following dye systems: 5-mg capsules – FD&C Yellow No. 6 plus D&C Yellow No. 10 and either FD&C Blue No. 1 or FD&C Green No. 3. 10-mg capsules – D&C Yellow No. 10 and either FD&C Blue No. 1 plus FD&C Red No. 3 or FD&C Green No. 3 plus FD&C Red No. 40. 25-mg capsules – D&C Yellow No. 10 and either FD&C Green No. 3 or FD&C Blue No. 1. Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride is 7-chloro-2-(methylamino)-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepine 4-oxide hydrochloride. A white to practically white crystalline substance, it is soluble in water. It is unstable in solution and the powder must be protected from light.
What kind of drug is chlordiazepoxide?
The FDA classifies chlordiazepoxide as a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines boost the brain's main calming chemical, GABA, by binding to the GABA-A receptor and making its chloride channel open more often. This quiets nerve activity, producing sedation, reduced anxiety, muscle relaxation, and protection against seizures. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take chlordiazepoxide with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run chlordiazepoxide against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is chlordiazepoxide sold under?
We track 5 chlordiazepoxide-containing products in the U.S.: Librelease, Librium, Chlordiazachel, Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride and Lygen. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does chlordiazepoxide come in?
Across the brands we track, chlordiazepoxide is currently marketed as capsule, extended release and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic chlordiazepoxide?
Yes. Our catalog lists 3 generic chlordiazepoxide products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Chlordiazepoxide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/chlordiazepoxide
- MLA
- “Chlordiazepoxide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/chlordiazepoxide.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for chlordiazepoxide on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.