Trade names
Oxazepam, Adumbran®, Praxiten®Oxazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. It has a sedative (calming) and anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) effect and is used as a tranquilizer. Tranquilizers are a special class of psychotropic drugs which have an anxiety-relieving and sedative effect.
Oxazepam is an active metabolite of diazepam. A metabolite is a breakdown product of a substance. Diazepam is also a benzodiazepine.
No other active metabolites are formed from oxazepam itself. It belongs to the group of medium-acting benzodiazepines. Its average duration of action is about 10 hours. This means that it works longer than other benzodiazepines, but also slower.
Indication
Oxazepam is not usually prescribed for insomnia, but is used to treat sleep disorders. However, due to its anxiolytic and sedative effects it is also indicated for depression and anxiety disorders. In addition, oxazepam has muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effects typical of the class of benzodiazepines.
Mode of action
Like all benzodiazepines, the active ingredient unfolds its effect at the so-called GABAa receptor. There it acts as an allosteric activator. This means that oxazepam increases the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA at its receptor.
GABA is a very important messenger substance in the central nervous system. Oxazepam therefore only works in the presence of the messenger GABA and not alone. Ultimately, the activation of this GABAa receptor leads to the cells of the nervous system becoming less sensitive to excitatory stimuli. This results in the calming and relaxing effect of oxazepam.
Dosage Oxazepam
Oxazepam is taken orally. The dosage varies depending on the patient’s body weight, age and problem. As a rule, for anxiety disorders and states of arousal, no more than three tablets (20 – 30 mg oxazepam), up to a maximum of six tablets, are taken daily.
This information is valid for adults. Children up to 14 years of age are usually given 0.5 – 1 mg/kg body weight distributed over 3 – 4 single doses per day. For the treatment of insomnia, adults usually take one tablet (10 mg), maximum three.
However, the exact dosage is determined by the doctor and can vary greatly. The maximum duration of intake should not exceed 4 weeks. The medication should be discontinued abruptly.
