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

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

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

Ontology: Oxazepam (C0029997)

Definition (NCI) A synthetic benzodiazepine derivative with anxiolytic and sedative hypnotic properties. Although the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, oxazepam appears to enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor affinity for GABA, thereby prolonging synaptic actions of GABA.
Definition (MSH) A benzodiazepine used in the treatment of anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and insomnia.
Definition (CSP) benzodiazepine used in the treatment of anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and insomnia.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D010076
SnomedCT 387455006, 79225003
LNC LP16227-8, MTHU003351
English Oxazepam, oxazepam, 2H-1,4-Benzodiazepin-2-one, 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-, Ro 5-6789, Seresta, oxazepam (medication), OXAZEPAM, Oxazepam [Chemical/Ingredient], WY-3498, Oxazepam (product), Oxazepam (substance)
Swedish Oxazepam
Czech oxazepam
Finnish Oksatsepaami
Russian OKSAZEPAM, NOZEPAM, TAZEPAM, НОЗЕПАМ, ОКСАЗЕПАМ, ТАЗЕПАМ
Japanese オキサゼパム
Croatian OKSAZEPAM
Polish Oksazepam
Spanish oxacepam (producto), oxacepam (sustancia), oxacepam, oxazepam (sustancia), oxazepam, Oxazepam
French Oxazepam
German Oxazepam
Italian Oxazepam
Portuguese Oxazepam

Ontology: Serax (C0702214)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D010076
English serax, Serax