A prescription medication, Serax is the trade name for the drug Oxazepam. Serax is classified as a benzodiazepine, but is more accurately a short to medium 3-hydroxy benzodiazepine derivative. Serax has been in wide use since the 1960’s and is indicated in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia as is also helpful in relieving the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. This drug has many potential uses because it has so many properties such as anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative, as well as skeletal muscle relaxant.
Serax can be used for a wide variety of conditions due to its wide array of properties, but it is most often used in the treatment of insomnia, especially in those patients who have a difficult time staying asleep instead of those who have trouble falling asleep. It can also be very helpful in treating the anxiety that accompanies depression in many people and it can also be used successfully to treat social phobias, post traumatic stress disorder, as well as premenstrual syndrome.
Serax is generally prescribed according to need and the severity of the condition that is being treated. For those with mild to moderate anxiety 10 to 15 mg three to four times a day is usually sufficient. When treating severe anxiety 15 to 40 mg three to four times a day will usually suffice. When treating alcohol withdrawal the dosage should be from 15 to 30 mg three to four times a day. Serax is like all medications in that it has the ability to cause some unintended side effects. These side effects are similar to those that are experienced with other benzodiazepines and may include headache, the impairment of memory, paradoxical excitement, transient global amnesia, dizziness, and drowsiness. If the medication is stopped suddenly without being reduces slowly it may cause symptoms such as muscle cramping, vomiting, tremors, sweating, insomnia, depression, and seizures. Patients and doctors should discuss side effects as they occur to determine if Serax continues to be the best course of treatment.