II. Indications

III. Class

  1. Short acting Benzodiazepine

IV. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Half Life: 8 to 15 hours
  2. Metabolism via Glucuronidation to inactive metabolites

V. Dosing: General

  1. Anxiety Disorder
    1. Elderly: 10 mg orally 3 times daily (and may advance to 15 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily)
    2. Moderate: 10 to 15 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily
    3. Severe: 15 to 30 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily
    4. Maximum Daily Dose: 120 mg/day
  2. Acute Alcohol Withdrawal
    1. Give 15 to 30 mg orally three to four times daily

VI. Dosing: Equivalent dosing (for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal)

  1. Valium = Dose x1.0
  2. Phenobarbital = Dose x3.0

VII. Safety

  1. Pregnancy Category D
  2. Avoid in Lactation
  3. Schedule IV Controlled Substance

IX. References

  1. (2019) Med Lett Drugs Ther 61(1578): 121-6
  2. (2020) Presc Lett, Resource #361206, Appropriate Use of Benzodiazepines
  3. Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 55
  4. Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia

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Cost: Medications

oxazepam (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
OXAZEPAM 10 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.83 each
OXAZEPAM 15 MG CAPSULE Generic $1.07 each
OXAZEPAM 30 MG CAPSULE Generic $1.24 each