Summary
Commonly reported side effects of oxazepam include: drowsiness. Other side effects include: dizziness, insomnia, vertigo, confusion, headache, and irritability. Continue reading for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
Applies to oxazepam: oral capsules.
Warning
-
Concomitant Use with Opiates
- Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opiates may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.700 701 703 705 706 707
- Reserve concomitant use for patients in whom alternative treatment options are inadequate; use lowest effective dosages and shortest possible duration of concomitant therapy and monitor closely for respiratory depression and sedation.700 703 (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)
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Potential for Abuse, Addiction, and Other Serious Risks
- A boxed warning has been included in the prescribing information for all benzodiazepines describing risks of abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal reactions.900
- Abuse and misuse can result in overdose or death, especially when benzodiazepines are combined with other medicines, such as opioid pain relievers, alcohol, or illicit drugs.900
- Assess a patient’s risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction.900 Standardized screening tools are available ([Web]).900
- To reduce risk of acute withdrawal reactions, use a gradual dose taper when reducing dosage or discontinuing benzodiazepines.900 Take precautions when benzodiazepines are used in combination with opioid medications.900
Side effects include:
Drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, headache.
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to oxazepam: oral capsule, oral tablet.
Nervous system
Rare (less than 0.1%): Slurred speech, tremor, ataxia
Frequency not reported: Drowsiness, amnesia, anterograde amnesia, reduced alertness, dizziness, light-headedness, vertigo, headache, syncope, dysarthria, changes in EEG pattern, stupor, memory impairment[Ref]
Other
Rare (less than 0.1%): Edema
Frequency not reported: Fever, fatigue[Ref]
Genitourinary
Rare (less than 0.1%): Altered libido
Frequency not reported: Incontinence, urinary retention, menstrual irregularities[Ref]
Hepatic
Rare (less than 0.1%): Jaundice, hepatic impairment
Frequency not reported: Increased liver enzymes[Ref]
Hematologic
Rare (less than 0.1%): Leukopenia
Frequency not reported: Blood dyscrasias (including agranulocytosis)[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Frequency not reported: Hypotension[Ref]
Dermatologic
Rare (less than 0.1%): Minor diffuse skin rashes (morbilliform, urticarial and maculopapular)[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Rare (less than 0.1%):Nausea
Frequency not reported: Salivation changes, gastrointestinal disorders[Ref]
General
The most commonly reported side effects were drowsiness, headache, and fatigue.[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Frequency not reported: Muscle weakness[Ref]
Ocular
Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, diplopia[Ref]
Psychiatric
Rare (less than 0.1%): Lethargy
Frequency not reported: Disorientation, nightmares, mild excitatory effects with stimulation of affect, numbed emotions, restlessness, agitation, irritability, delusions, rages, psychoses, inappropriate behavior, behavioral adverse effects (including paradoxical aggressive outbursts), excitement, hallucinations, uncovering of depression with suicidal tendencies, withdrawal symptoms (including persistent tinnitus, involuntary movements, paresthesia, perceptual changes, confusion, convulsions, muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, vomiting), aggression, euphoria[Ref]
