Note: This document contains side effect information about chlordiazepoxide. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Librium.

Applies to chlordiazepoxide: oral capsule.

Serious side effects of Librium

Along with its needed effects, chlordiazepoxide (the active ingredient contained in Librium) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking chlordiazepoxide:

Rare

• Fainting
• mood or mental changes
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

Incidence not known

• Abdominal and muscle cramps
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• convulsions
• cough or hoarseness
• dark urine
• difficulty in speaking
• dizziness
• drooling
• fever with or without chills
• general feeling of tiredness or weakness
• headache
• itching
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite
• loss of balance control
• lower back or side pain
• muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
• nausea and vomiting
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• rash
• restlessness
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• shuffling walk
• sleeplessness
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• stiffness of the limbs
• stomach pain
• sweating
• swelling
• trouble sleeping
• twisting movements of the body
• unable to sleep
• uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking chlordiazepoxide:

Symptoms of overdose

• Change in consciousness
• lack of coordination
• loss of consciousness
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Other side effects of Librium

Some side effects of chlordiazepoxide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• increased interest in sexual intercourse
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• menstrual changes
• skin blisters

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to chlordiazepoxide: injectable powder for injection, oral capsule, oral tablet.

General

The most commonly reported side effects were light-headedness, drowsiness, sedation, unsteadiness, and ataxia.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Ataxia, balance disorder, confusional state, dizziness, sedation, somnolence, unsteadiness

Rare (less than 0.1%): Headache, reduced alertness, vertigo

Frequency not reported: Amnesia, anterograde amnesia, changes in EEG patterns, confusion, depressed level of consciousness, dysarthria, dyskinesia, extrapyramidal symptoms, gait disturbance, syncope, tremor^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue

Frequency not reported: Falls, paradoxical drug reaction, rebound phenomena^[Ref]

Hematologic

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Agranulocytosis, bone marrow depression, leukopenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia

Frequency not reported: Blood dyscrasias^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Rare (less than 0.1%): Erectile dysfunction, incontinence, menstrual disorder, urinary retention

Frequency not reported: Minor menstrual irregularities^[Ref]

Ocular

Rare (less than 0.1%): Blurred vision, diplopia, visual disturbance^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Rare (less than 0.1%): Libido disorders, numbed emotions

Frequency not reported: Abnormal behavior, aggression, aggressive outbursts, agitation, anxiety, delusion, dependence, depression, drug abuse, emotional disturbances, hallucinations, inappropriate behavior, increased/decreased libido, insomnia, irritability, nightmares, physical dependence, psychological dependence, psychosis, psychotic disorder, rage, restlessness, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, withdrawal^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Rare (less than 0.1%): Rash, skin reactions

Frequency not reported: skin eruptions^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Rare (less than 0.1%): Gastrointestinal symptoms/upset

Frequency not reported: Constipation, nausea, salivation altered/changes^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hypotension

Frequency not reported: Edema^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angioedema, anaphylactic reaction

Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Hepatic

Frequency not reported: Blood bilirubin increased, hepatic dysfunction, jaundice, transaminases increased^[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Blood alkaline phosphatase increased, increased appetite^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Fractures, muscle weakness^[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Respiratory depression^[Ref]