Chlordiazepoxide
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Chlordiazepoxide in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(Pronounced: klor-dye-az-e-pox-ide)
Description:
- Medicine used to reduce anxiety and fear.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Librium®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Animal-specific products: none.
- People products: capsules in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg.
- Custom-made (compounded) versions may also exist.
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medicine. It is meant to address common questions, but it does not replace advice from a professional. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- If this medicine is being used for fear of thunderstorms or other predictable events (for example, separation anxiety), aim to give it about 1 hour before the event or trigger.
- You can give this medicine either with food or without food. If your pet throws up or seems unwell after getting chlordiazepoxide on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting keeps happening, contact your veterinarian.
- If you notice yellow coloring in the whites of the eyes, the gums, or the skin, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Drowsiness is the most common unwanted effect. In some animals, this medicine can cause the opposite reaction (for example, increased activity instead of calm behavior).
- This medicine may make pets hungrier, and this is seen especially in cats.
How is this medication useful for Chlordiazepoxide?
Veterinarians may choose chlordiazepoxide for behavior-related concerns in dogs, including phobias (strong fears). In cats, it may be used for hostile behavior between cats and for urine spraying.
This medicine is approved for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. In certain cases, veterinarians may prescribe medicines containing this drug for other species or for different conditions. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is being selected.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how this medicine works for your pet. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect chlordiazepoxide. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your pet receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Include how much you give and when you give it.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your pet has now, or has had before.
- If your pet has been treated in the past for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your pet is pregnant or nursing, discuss possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your pet has had side effects from medicines before. Examples listed include allergic reactions, poor appetite, diarrhea, itching, and hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect this medicine to start helping within 1 to 2 hours. After that, you should see improvement in the signs you are trying to manage.
The effects are described as moderate in how long they last. They may continue for several days. The helpful effects may last longer if your pet’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will review any concerns that apply to your pet.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
- If your pet is allergic to this medicine or to similar medicines (examples given: diazepam, alprazolam).
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- If your pet has any of the situations listed below, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Pregnant pets or pets that could become pregnant. Chlordiazepoxide and similar medicines have caused problems in human babies born to mothers who used them. It is not known whether the same effect happens in animals.
- Pets with liver or kidney disease, or pets with narrow angle glaucoma.
- Pets that are not in good overall condition or are not well nourished; older pets.
- Pets that show aggression. Some veterinary behavior specialists worry that medicines like this could make it easier for an aggressive animal to act on aggressive behavior. This point is debated.
- Working dogs or assistance dogs, because this medicine may lower their alertness.
- Cats.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Common but not serious side effects include:
- Sleepiness; low energy.
- Greater hunger, especially in cats.
- Cats: more affection than usual, low mood, irritability, or other unusual behaviors.
You do not need to be highly worried if you notice the signs listed above unless they are severe, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
Rare but usually not serious side effects include:
- This type of medicine can reduce learning ability and may slow down training.
- Dogs may show reactions that are the reverse of what is expected (for example, becoming more excited rather than calmer). If you see this, tell your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- Yellow coloring of the whites of the eyes, gums, or skin. In rare cases, this type of medicine has caused liver problems, especially in cats. If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Using this medicine regularly for a long time may lead to physical dependence (addiction). If the medicine is stopped too suddenly, your pet may have withdrawal signs that are serious and very uncomfortable.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Taking too much chlordiazepoxide is usually not severe, but strong slowing effects can happen (examples listed: confusion, sleepiness, coma, moving slowly). In rare cases, other serious problems can occur, especially if other medicines that cause sleepiness are also taken.
If you see or suspect an overdose, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for instructions.
Animal poison control centers that are available 24 hours a day include:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435)
- Pet Poison HELPLINE (855-764-7661)
A consultation fee is charged for these services.
How should this medication be given?
- For this medicine to be effective, give it exactly the way your veterinarian directed. It is also recommended that you read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine can be given with food or without food. If your pet vomits or seems sick after getting it on an empty stomach, try the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- The first time you give this medicine, do not leave your pet alone afterward. Watch for extreme sleepiness or for aggressive behavior (meaning threatening actions) toward other pets in your home.
- If you are using this medicine for a predictable trigger (for example, thunderstorms or separation anxiety), give it about 1 hour before the trigger when possible. This timing helps it work best when the trigger happens.
- If you are using a custom-made (compounded) liquid, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or oral syringes.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medication time.
- If you want to stop the medicine before the prescribed course is finished, contact your veterinarian first. There may be an important reason to keep giving it until it is used up. If your pet is taking this medicine regularly, do not stop it without your veterinarian’s guidance, because withdrawal effects may occur.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it when you remember. Then wait the usual amount of time between doses as your veterinarian instructed before giving the next one. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in an approved dose-organizer container (such as a pill minder). Store it at room temperature and keep it out of direct sunlight.
- If a custom-made (compounded) form was prepared for your pet, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special handling steps are listed for this medicine unless you are allergic to it. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to people who might search trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks. Then place the sealed bag in the household trash.
- Do not keep extra medicine for later use. Do not give leftover medicine to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- As with other behavior-related treatments, chlordiazepoxide often works best when it is used along with behavior modification therapy.
- This medicine may not be permitted in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering a competition while your pet is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”