When Is It Prescribed?
Serax (oxazepam) is prescribed to treat anxiety, nervousness and tension associated with anxiety disorders.
This medication may also be prescribed for purposes other than what’s listed above.
When Will My Medication Start to Work?
You should start feeling the effects of Serax (oxazepam) within three hours. The time it takes to experience the full effects of this medication depends on dosage and varies from person to person.
The habit-forming potential for this medication is high. Do not stop taking Serax (oxazepam) abruptly, since this could cause unpleasant psychological or physical withdrawal symptoms. Do not use if you have had negative reactions to other benzodiazepines.
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side-effects from Serax (oxazepam) and may require a lower dose of this medication.
Are There any Drug Interactions?
When taking Serax (oxazepam), other sedatives, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers should not be used unless your prescribing doctor or therapist approves.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Issues
Serax (oxazepam) is in the FDA pregnancy category D, which means that this medication is known to harm an unborn baby. Do not take Serax (oxazepam) without first talking to your doctor or therapist if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
It is not known whether Serax (oxazepam) passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor or therapist if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Other Important Information and Precautions
Do not take Serax (oxazepam) if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, since this medication may worsen your condition.
Before taking Serax (oxazepam), tell your prescribing doctor or therapist if you:
- have kidney disease
- have liver disease
- have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other respiratory disease
- are depressed or have suidical thoughts
You may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment, if you have any of these conditions.
In addition to the information listed above, there may be other important issues or precautions related to this medication. For further information, you can ask your prescribing doctor or therapist.
Side-Effect Information
Only some people will experience side-effects -- and no one experiences them in exactly the same way. If you should experience any
side-effects, contact your prescribing doctor or therapist right away and continue taking your medication until otherwise advised.
The following list may not contain all of the side-effects associated with this medication:
| Most
common Side-Effects |
drowsiness, lethargy |
| Infrequent
Side-Effects |
headache, tremor,
dizziness, slurred speech, edema, nausea, rash |
| Rare
Side-Effects/Risks |
Liver damage,
low white blood cell count |
Side-effects and risks other than those listed above may also occur. Talk to your prescribing doctor or therapist about any potential or existing side-effects that you’re concerned about.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by 4therapy.com is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is made to that effect.
4therapy.com’s medication information is a reference resource designed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge, and judgment of healthcare practitioners in patient care. 4therapy.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information 4therapy.com provides.
