Serax Abuse

Function

• Classified by the DEA as a depressant, Serax is the trade name for oxazepam, a medication indicated in the short-term treatment of sleeplessness and severe or debilitating anxiety. A member of the benzodiazepine family of drugs, Serax is chemically related to other anti-anxiety medications such as diazepam, clonazepam and lorazepam. Like these other prescription-only drugs, Serax is often abused for its depressant, or "downer" effects on the user.

Effects

• Abused primarily by users who exceed the recommended dose prescribed by a physician or obtain the drug illegally on the street, Serax produces distinct effects on the brain that some users find desirable. As a central nervous system depressant, Serax may produce feelings of calm and well-being, or even a "high" during the onset of the drug's effects.

Time Frame

• One factor that leads someone who is using Serax for legitimate medical reasons into the realm of abuse is time. Like other depressants in its family, oxazepam is typically indicated only for short-term use: no longer than two weeks, according to Non-Benzodiazepines.org.

  Using Serax for longer than indicated will produce tolerance--the body's increased resistance to the drug's effects. This often leads to abuse when the user increases his dose to achieve the desired effects. Dependence occurs when someone has been abusing oxazepam for a period of time that is long enough to produce withdrawals when the drug is gone.

Considerations

• After prolonged abuse of Serax, withdrawal is a serious concern for any abuser of the medication. When someone suddenly stops taking oxazepam after becoming physically and psychologically dependent on the drug, withdrawal symptoms can be severe, according to the American Association of Family Physicians.

  Withdrawal symptoms include severe anxiety, insomnia and strong cravings for oxazepam. More severe withdrawals may cause gastrointestinal problems such as stomach cramps and can even cause seizures.

Warning

• Combining Serax with other drugs to increase their effects is another common abuse practice, and can be deadly. Some abusers of Serax may take oxazepam along with alcohol or opiates such as heroin, morphine and codeine, or even with other benzodiazepines to enhance the euphoric and depressant effects of the other chemicals. Including Serax in such drug "cocktails" is potentially deadly, since oxazepam enhances the depressant effects of alcohol, opiates and other benzodiazepines. These combinations can cause loss of consciousness and respiratory depression, sometimes leading to death after the user falls asleep and stops breathing.

Prevention/Solution

• If you or someone you know is abusing Serax, it is crucial to contact a physician as soon as possible to prevent the situation from getting worse. Also, a Serax overdose should be treated as an emergency--if you witness someone else showing signs such as clumsiness, slow breathing or loss of consciousness, call the emergency services immediately.