Oxazepam

(ox-az-zuh-pam)

Trade/other name(s): Serax

Why would this drug be used?

Oxazepam is used for managing anxiety, tension, and agitation. It may also be used for other conditions.

How does this drug work?

Oxazepam is an anti-anxiety agent that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. This group of drugs slows down the brain and nervous system by locking down certain neurotransmitters (signaling chemicals) in the brain. Like alcohol, opioids, and several other types of medicine, these drugs are considered to be central nervous system depressants. They slow down the brain and body, causing the patient to feel calm and relaxed.

Before taking this medicine

Tell your doctor…

• If you are allergic to anything, including medicines, dyes, additives, or foods.
• If you have any medical conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease (including hepatitis), heart disease, congestive heart failure, seizures, or brain disease. These conditions may require that your medicine dose, regimen, or timing be changed.
• If you have asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, sleep apnea, or other breathing problem. This medicine can worsen breathing.
• If you have depression, myasthenia gravis, porphyria, or severe mental illness. This medicine may make the symptoms worse.
• If you have glaucoma. People with acute narrow-angle glaucoma should not use this drug.
• If you have any surgery planned. Your doctor may want to stop the drug before surgery.
• If you are taking any medicine that makes you calmer or drowsy, or if you drink alcohol. The combination may produce serious side effects.
• If you have ever had a problem with alcohol or addiction in the past. This drug can be habit forming, and those with previous addictions are more at risk.
• If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if there is any chance of pregnancy. There may be an increased risk of harm to the fetus if a woman takes this drug during pregnancy. In addition, newborns whose mothers take the drug regularly in late pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms after birth.
• If you are breast-feeding. The drug may pass into breast milk and harm the baby.
• About any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines you are taking, including vitamins and herbs. In fact, keeping a written list of each of these medicines (including the doses of each and when you take them) with you in case of emergency may help prevent complications if you get sick.

Interactions with other drugs

Oxazepam should not be taken with the anti-fungal drugs itraconazole or ketoconazole. They can cause oxazepam to build up in the blood and cause serious effects.

The drugs nefazodone (Serzone) or fluvoxamine (Luvox) can also cause oxazepam to build up in the body, raising the risk of serious side effects. If you need one of these medicines while you are taking oxazepam, your doctor may be able to adjust your oxazepam dose.

This medicine will add to the effects of other medicines that make you sleepy or less alert, such as:

• antihistamines
• tranquilizers (sedatives)
• sleeping pills
• muscle relaxers
• barbiturates
• anti-seizure medicines
• opioid pain medicines
• anesthetics
• antidepressants
• anti-psychotic drugs
• certain anti-nausea medicines
• alcohol

Using these kinds of substances while taking oxazepam can result in losing consciousness (passing out) and possibly death.

Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether other medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements can cause problems with this medicine.

Interactions with foods

No serious interactions with food are known at this time. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether foods may be a problem.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

How is this drug taken or given?

Oxazepam is a pill or capsule taken by mouth with or without food. The dose may be adjusted to meet your needs. Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you.

Store the medicine in a tightly closed container away from heat and moisture and out of the reach of children and pets. Do not let anyone else share your medicine.

Precautions

Avoid alcohol while taking oxazepam.

Oxazepam may cause you to feel drowsy or dizzy. This is more likely if you are taking other drugs that depress the nervous system such as opioids, anti-anxiety drugs, muscle relaxers, or some anti-nausea medicines. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know the effect the drug will have. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you feel too drowsy or have dizziness that does not go away.

This is a controlled substance, and may be habit-forming. Take oxazepam only as directed by your doctor. Oxazepam may cause physical dependence (body goes into withdrawal if drug is suddenly stopped). Signs of physical dependence are common when the drug is taken for more than a few weeks. Physical dependence can be managed by stopping the medicine gradually over time. A few people also become psychologically dependent on oxazepam, which can lead to addiction. Some signs of psychological dependence are a strong desire to keep taking the medicine and wanting larger doses of the medicine. Talk with your doctor if you think this is happening to you.

Do not stop taking this drug without talking with your doctor. If you have been taking this drug for more than a few weeks, you may experience withdrawal symptoms for several days if you stop it suddenly. Most often this appears as irritability, nervousness, trouble sleeping, stomach cramps or upset stomach, trembling or shaking, and even hallucinations and seizures in those who have taken high doses for a long time. Talk with your doctor or nurse about stopping the drug by lowering the dose over time.

Tell anyone who is planning surgery on you, including dentists, that you are taking this medicine.

If you notice any strange or unusual thoughts or behavior while on this medicine, discuss it with your doctor. Rarely, people get confused, agitated, or start seeing or hearing things that are not there.

Call your doctor if you have seizures, confusion, shuffling walk, restlessness or tremor, fever, irregular heart rate, yellow skin or eyes.

Older people are more likely to have sleepiness, dizziness, or falling while taking oxazepam. Have another responsible adult with you for a few days after you start this medicine and any time you change doses.

Rarely, allergic reactions happen with this medicine. Call your doctor if you notice severe rash, swelling in the mouth, face, or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.

Rather than getting calmer, a few people respond to the drug in the opposite way, and become irritable, nervous, excited, anxious, hostile, and less sleepy. If this happens, call your doctor or nurse.

If you think that you or someone else may have taken an overdose of this medicine, get emergency help right away. Taking too much oxazepam, or taking it with alcohol or any other medicine that slows the nervous system, can cause confusion, severe drowsiness or weakness, trouble walking or talking, loss of consciousness, and sometimes death.

Possible side effects

You will probably not have most of the following side effects, but if you have any talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand the side effects and cope with them.

Common

• drowsiness*
• tiredness (fatigue)
• weakness
• dry mouth
• constipation

Less common

• nausea
• vomiting
• change in weight
• lack of coordination
• decreased mental alertness

Rare

• decrease in blood pressure that may cause you to feel dizzy or faint
• rash
• itching
• hives
• allergic reaction*
• problems with memory
• confusion*
• agitation*
• trouble walking
• paradoxical effect in which drug makes you excited or "hyper" rather than calm*
• abnormal liver function blood tests
• slowed or irregular breathing and symptoms of overdose (with injectable form, at higher doses, or if combined with another sedating drug or alcohol)*
• withdrawal symptoms if drug is stopped suddenly, such as anxiety, irritation, nausea, trouble sleeping*

*See "Precautions" section for more detailed information.

There are some other side effects not listed above that can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop these or any other problems.

FDA approval

Yes – first approved before 1984 (FDA cannot verify dates of drugs approved before 1984.)

Disclaimer: This information does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for talking with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical needs.