Chlordiazepoxide Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 2, 2023.

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety

Mild to moderate anxiety: 5 or 10 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Severe anxiety: 20 or 25 mg orally 3 or 4 times a day

Comments:

• Doses should be individualized to provide maximum beneficial effects.
• Efficacy of long-term management in patients with anxiety (e.g., greater than 4 months) has not been established.

Uses:

• Relief of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety disorders
• Management of anxiety disorders
• Short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety

Usual Adult Dose for Light Sedation

On days preceding surgery: 5 to 10 mg orally 3 to 4 times per day
If used as preoperative medication: 50 to 100 mg IM once 1 hour before surgery

Use: Preoperative apprehension and anxiety

Usual Adult Dose for Alcohol Withdrawal

50 to 100 mg orally, followed by repeated doses as needed until agitation is controlled

• Maximum dose: 300 mg orally per day

Comments:

• Parenteral formulations are usually used for the relief of withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism.
• After agitation is controlled, the dosage should be reduced to maintenance levels.

Use: Withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism

Usual Geriatric Dose for Anxiety

5 mg orally 2 to 4 times a day

Comments:

• Initial doses should be kept to 10 mg/day or less to decrease the risk of ataxia or oversedation.
• Doses should be individualized to provide maximum beneficial effects.
• Efficacy of long-term management in patients with anxiety (e.g., greater than 4 months) has not been established.

Uses:

• Relief of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety disorders
• Management of anxiety disorders
• Short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety

6 years and older: 5 mg orally 2 to 4 times a day

• This may be increased to 10 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day

Comments:

• Doses should be individualized to provide maximum beneficial effects.
• Efficacy of long-term management in patients with anxiety (e.g., greater than 4 months) has not been established.

Uses:

• Relief of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety disorders
• Management of anxiety disorders
• Short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety

Renal Dose Adjustments

Renal dysfunction: Use with caution

Liver Dose Adjustments

Liver dysfunction: Use with caution

Dose Adjustments

In the presence of debilitating disease: 5 mg orally 2 to 4 times a day

Comment: Initial doses should be kept to 10 mg/day or less to decrease the risk of ataxia or oversedation.

Uses:

• Relief of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety disorders
• Management of anxiety disorders
• Short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety

Patients who develop drowsiness, ataxia, or confusion: Dose adjustments should be considered.

Precautions

US BOXED WARNINGS:
RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS:

• Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
• Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.
• Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
• Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 6 years; this drug is not recommended for use in these patients.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

US Controlled Substance: Schedule IV

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration advice:

• Capsules should be taken with water and not be chewed.

Storage requirements:

• Protect from light.

General:

• Doses should be determined by patient response and clinical diagnosis.
• Anxiety/tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.
• Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for continued treatment, especially when they are symptom-free.
• Concomitant use with other psychotropic agents is generally not recommended; if necessary, the pharmacology of the agents should be considered prior to administration.

Monitoring:

• General: Patients with a history of alcohol or drug abuse, or patients with a marked personality disorder should be monitored frequently.
• Hematologic: Periodic blood counts
• Hepatic: Periodic liver function tests
• Psychiatric: Signs/symptoms of dependence

Patient advice:

• Patients should be cautioned against performing activities requiring complete mental alertness, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.
• Patients should be advised to avoid abrupt discontinuation of treatment; patients should be educated regarding the risks of tolerance, dependence, and rebound phenomena.
• Patients and caregivers of those who are taking concomitant opioid therapy should be told to immediately report profound central nervous system or respiratory depression.
• Patients should be told to avoid drinking alcohol or taking other drugs that may cause sleepiness or dizziness while taking this drug until they talk to their healthcare provider.
• If this drug is prescribed to a woman of childbearing potential, she should be warned to contact her physician regarding discontinuation if she intends to become pregnant or is pregnant.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer