Levsin vs. Librax

• Are Levsin and Librax the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Levsin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Librax?
• What Is Levsin?
• What Is Librax?
• What Drugs Interact with Levsin?
• What Drugs Interact with Librax?
• How Should Levsin Be Taken?
• How Should Librax Be Taken?

Levsin (hyoscyamine) and Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) are used to treat different stomach and intestinal disorders, including peptic ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome.

Levsin is also used to control muscle spasms in the bladder, kidneys, or digestive tract, and to reduce stomach acid. Levsin is sometimes used to reduce tremors and rigid muscles in people with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and is also used as a drying agent to control excessive salivation, runny nose, or excessive sweating.

Librax is also used to treat intestinal infections.

The brand name Librax is no longer available in the U.S. Generic versions may be available.

Levsin is one of the principal anticholinergic/antispasmodic components of belladonna alkaloids and Librax is a combination of a benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic/spasmolytic.

Side effects of Levsin and Librax that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or bloating.

Side effects of Levsin that are different from Librax include nervousness, headache, trouble sleeping (insomnia), heartburn, changes in taste, problems with urination, impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, flushing, dry skin, and decreased sweating.

Side effects of Librax that are different from Levsin include tiredness, weakness, dry eyes, swelling, skin rash, and irregular menstrual periods.

Both Levsin and Librax may interact with alcohol, MAO inhibitors, or antidepressants.

Levsin may also interact with amantadine, haloperidol, or phenothiazines.

Librax may also interact with barbiturates, blood thinners, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, or narcotics.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if Librax is stopped abruptly.

Common side effects of Levsin include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• nervousness,
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• vision problems,
• headache,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• constipation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• bloating,
• heartburn,
• changes in taste,
• problems with urination,
• impotence,
• loss of interest in sex,
• trouble having an orgasm,
• flushing,
• dry skin, and
• decreased sweating.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects of Levsin including:

• mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, unusual excitement),
• fast/irregular heartbeat,
• loss of coordination, or
• slurred speech.

Common side effects of Librax include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• weakness,
• blurred vision,
• dry eyes,
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• abdominal bloating,
• swelling,
• skin rash, and
• irregular menstrual periods.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) including:

• decreased sweating,
• dry/hot/flushed skin,
• fast or irregular heartbeat,
• loss of coordination,
• slurred speech,
• fainting,
• uncontrollable or unusual muscle movements,
• mental/mood changes (such as confusion, agitation, unusual excitement, depression, or strange thoughts),
• difficulty urinating,
• decreased sexual ability, or
• slow or shallow breathing.

Levsin (hyoscyamine) is one of the principal anticholinergic/antispasmodic components of belladonna alkaloids used to treat different stomach and intestinal disorders, including peptic ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome. Levsin is also used to control muscle spasms in the bladder, kidneys, or digestive tract, and to reduce stomach acid. Levsin is sometimes used to reduce tremors and rigid muscles in people with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and is also used as a drying agent to control excessive salivation, runny nose, or excessive sweating. Levsin is available in generic form.

Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) is a combination of a benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic/spasmolytic used to treat stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections.

Levsin may interact with amantadine, haloperidol, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Levsin should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Librax may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), or MAO inhibitors.

Librax may also interact with alcohol, barbiturates, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Dosage of Levsin for adults and children 12 years of age and older: 1 to 2 tablets every four hours or as needed. Do not exceed 12 tablets in 24 hours. Pediatric patients 2 to under 12 years of age: ½ to 1 tablet every four hours or as needed. Do not exceed 6 tablets in 24 hours.

Librax (lorazepam) is administered orally. For optimal results, dose, frequency of administration, and duration of therapy should be individualized according to patient response. To facilitate this, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg tablets are available.

The usual range is 2 to 6 mg/day given in divided doses, the largest dose being taken before bedtime, but the daily dosage may vary from 1 to 10 mg/day.

For anxiety, most patients require an initial dose of 2 to 3 mg/day given two or three times a day.

For insomnia due to anxiety or transient situational stress, a single daily dose of 2 to 4 mg may be given, usually at bedtime.

For elderly or debilitated patients, an initial dosage of 1 to 2 mg/day in divided doses is recommended, to be adjusted as needed and tolerated.

The dosage of Librax (lorazepam) should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects. When higher dosage is indicated, the evening dose should be increased before the daytime doses.