Benzodiazepines
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Street names: Librium, CDX, Libritabs
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Long-acting calm, anxiety relief, alcohol-withdrawal control
- The original benzodiazepine (1960)
⚠Key risks
- Same class dependence and withdrawal-seizure risk
- Long half-life = accumulation in elderly, falls
- The standard alcohol-detox medication — diverted for self-detoxing, which without monitoring can still seize
- Often given out too freely in South Asia
✚Overdose signs
- Sedation
- Confusion
- Slow breathing in combination
📋Quick facts
Also known asLibrium, CDX, Libritabs
CategoryBenzodiazepines
Schedule / classSchedule IV (US)
Appearance5–25 mg capsules/tablets, green/white/yellow
Street price~$0.50–$2 per capsule grey-market
Legal statusRx-only, Schedule IV; first-line for alcohol withdrawal in most protocols
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: FDA, NHS
Category comparison — Benzodiazepines
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) | Schedule IV | Same class dependence and withdrawal-seizure risk; Long half-life = accumulation in elderly, falls | ~$0.50–$2 per capsule grey-market |
| Diazepam | Schedule IV | Dependence in 2–4 weeks of daily use; Dangerous withdrawal (seizures) — never stop cold turkey | ~$1–$10 per 10 mg tablet |
| Oxazepam (Serax) | Schedule IV | Still dependence-forming with daily use; Less potent per mg — users underestimate doses | ~$0.50–$2 per tablet |
| Alcohol (Ethanol) | Legal adult product worldwide; sale to minors banned | THE most harmful drug in most countries by total harm scores: liver disease (cirrhosis), cancer (7 types — breast, colon, liver...); Dependence: ~10-15% of regular heavy drinkers; withdrawal can KILL (seizures, delirium tremens — deadlier than heroin withdrawal) | ~$1–$3 per standard drink retail |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) look like?
5–25 mg capsules/tablets, green/white/yellow
What are the signs of a Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) overdose?
Sedation; Confusion; Slow breathing in combination Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Same class dependence and withdrawal-seizure risk Withdrawal can be life-threatening — medical tapering is essential.