Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications 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 process Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on September 11, 2020 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD Updated on September 25, 2020 Print laflor / Getty Images 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% of the drug will have been eliminated from the body with this span of time. You may need to take a larger loading dose of Librium for a period of time to achieve the therapeutic effects. Once you gradually build up to peak concentrations in the blood, you can switch to a lower dose. 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 age Liver function Body mass Dosage Period of usage Other drugs in your system Genetics All of these factors contribute to how quickly or slowly you eliminate Librium from the system. Physiological Factors Librium is metabolized by 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 nearly half the rate (40%) 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) often taking twice as long to eliminate Librium compared to those of normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25). Pharmaceutical Factors The higher the dosage and period of usage, the longer it will take to clear Librium from the body. Those who never quite 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 always readily detected. 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 hours Saliva test: 1-10 days Urine test: 1-6 weeks Hair 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: Agitation Insomnia Tremors Sweating Muscle aches Abdominal cramps Nausea or vomiting Depression and mood swings Trouble 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 you've 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 advised under the care of a doctor. Excessive exercise, however, is not recommended, as it could exacerbate some of your withdrawal symptoms. 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 co-administration of these drugs, including the potentially life-threatening depression of the central nervous system. Because of these risks, the FDA has issued its strongest warning 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 1-800-222-1222. Why Benzodiazepines Are Classified as Controlled Substances Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. 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P T. 2013;38(9):545-560. George O. Addiction Resource. How Long Does Librium Stay In One’s System? Drug Test. Updated May 7, 2020. Juergens J. Addiction Center. Librium Withdrawal and Detox. Updated January 2, 2019. Guina J, Merrill B. Benzodiazepines I: Upping the Care on Downers: The Evidence of Risks, Benefits and Alternatives. J Clin Med. 2018;7(2):17. doi:10.3390/jcm7020017 U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA urges caution about withholding opioid addiction medications from patients taking benzodiazepines or CNS depressants: careful medication management can reduce risks. Updated September 26, 2017. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines; requires its strongest warning. Updated September 20, 2017. Additional Reading Stevens L, Rodin I. Benzodiazepines and Drugs for Dementia. In: Psychiatry (Second Edition). London: Churchill Livingstone; 2011. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3396-4.00019-6 Speak to a Therapist for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.