Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline

Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline is a combination medication that is used for treating depression associated with anxiety. By combining a tricyclic antidepressant and a benzodiazepine, it helps to reduce anxiety and improve symptoms of depression. Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline comes in tablet form and is typically taken one to four times daily. Side effects may include dizziness, bloating, dry mouth, and constipation.

 

What Is Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline?

Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline (Limbitrol®) is a prescription medication that is used to treat depression associated with anxiety. As the name implies, it is a combination of amitriptyline (Elavil®), an antidepressant, and chlordiazepoxide (Librium®), an anxiety treatment.
 
(Click What Is Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline?

Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline is currently made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Generic versions of the combination medicine are made by a few different manufacturers.
 

How Does Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Work?

Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline is a combination drug consisting of two different medications -- chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline. It is part of a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several different effects on the body, including:
 
  • Stopping seizures
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Causing sleepiness
  • Relaxing muscles
  • Impairing short-term memory.
     
All benzodiazepines can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dosage. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain, and this action helps to relieve the symptoms of anxiety.
 
Amitriptyline (the other component of the combination medicine) belongs to a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It is not entirely clear how amitriptyline works. It does affect several chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. It is thought that perhaps amitriptyline allows these chemicals to stay in the brain longer, which can help with depression symptoms.
 
(Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;