How Long Does Librium Stay in Your System

How Long Does Librium Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications Print How Long Does Librium Stay in Your System? Elimination depends on many different factors By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on December 14, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 24, 2020 laflor / Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Librium (chlordiazepoxide) is a type of sedative known as a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and alcohol withdrawal, among other things. It was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1960, but its popularity has waned in recent years due to the high risk of dependence and addiction. As with other benzodiazepines like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Valium (diazepam), Librium has a relatively long half-life, and the time it takes to eliminate the drug from the system can vary from one person to the next. Factors for Drug Elimination Librium has a drug half-life of between 24 and 48 hours, meaning that 50 percent of the drug will have been eliminated from the body with this span of time.?? In order to achieve the therapeutic effects, you need to take Librium for a period of time (known as the loading dose) to gradually build up  to peak concentrations in the blood. When stopping Librium, the time it takes to eliminate all traces of the drug from the body can vary based upon a number of factors, including: Your ageLiver functionBody massDosagePeriod of usageOther drugs in your systemGenetics All of these factors contribute to how quickly or slowly you eliminate Librium from the system. Physiological Factors Librium metabolized the liver and excreted in urine. If your liver is in any way impaired, the clearance of the drug will also be impeded. This can lead to variations in the drug half-life. Age also plays a role because liver function tends to wane as we age.?? As a result, people over 65 end to eliminate Librium at half the rate of someone in their 20s and 30s. Drug clearance is also influenced by your body mass index (BMI), with obese people (BMI 30 and above) taking anywhere from two to three times longer to eliminate Librium than those of normal weight (BMI under 24). Pharmaceutical Factors The higher the dosage and period of usage, the longer it will take to clear Librium from the body. Those who never reach peak concentration will invariably achieve clearance faster than those who do. Beyond the drug itself, Librium clearance may be affected by other drugs you are taking. Librium is primarily cleared from the body with an enzyme known as cytochrome P450 (CYP450) that metabolizes toxins in the liver. If other drugs utilize CYP450 for clearance, this will naturally alter the rate of elimination of both drugs simply because there is less enzyme to go around.?? Genetic Factors Genetics also plays a role in that certain genetic anomalies can impede the synthesis of amino acids, the building blocks of enzymes. This can affect the level of CYP450 metabolism and, in turn, the elimination of Librium from the body. Some of these anomalies are not readily detected or currently unknown by scientists Librium Detection by Test Some tests are able to detect Librium well after drug levels have dropped to undetectable levels for others. The following is an estimated range of times (detection windows) during which Librium can still be reliably detected: Blood tests: 6-48 hoursSaliva test: 1-10 daysUrine test: 1-6 weeksHair follicle test: up to 90 days Withdrawal and Safe Elimination If you decide to stop taking Librium (or have developed a dependence on the drug and need to detox), you should only do so under the direction of your prescribing doctor. If you stop cold turkey, you risk serious withdrawal symptoms, including: AgitationInsomniaTremorsSweatingMuscle achesAbdominal crampsNausea or vomitingDepression and mood swingsTrouble feeling pleasure (dysphoria) Some of these symptoms, like depression and insomnia, can persist for more than a month. To mitigate the risk, doctors will formulate a tapering process wherein the Librium dose is progressively reduced over the course of several weeks. Even if youve only been on Librium for a few weeks, tapering is still advised to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. To help speed the process, you can drink a lot of water to encourage the clearance of the drugs through the kidneys. Exercise can help speed your natural metabolism but should be done under the care of a doctor. Excessive exercise may only exacerbate the stomach aches and nausea commonly experienced after you stop using Librium. Risk of Addiction With Benzodiazepines A Word From Verywell Because Librium is a benzodiazepine, extra care should be taken if an opioid drug is co-prescribed for pain. The FDA has found serious risks associated with the coadministration of these drugs, including the potentially life-threatening depression of the central nervous system. Because of these risks, the FDA has issued its strongest warningâ€"a black box warningâ€"on opioid and benzodiazepine labels. The combined use of these drugs may result in respiratory arrest and death. Alcohol can trigger the same effects and should be avoided if you taking Librium. If you suspect a Librium overdose, call 911 or the National Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222. Why Benzodiazepines Are Classified as Controlled Substances