Last Updated:
August 1st, 2025
Oxazepam Addiction | Symptoms, Effects and Causes
What is oxazepam?
Oxazepam is a type of benzodiazepine prescribed to treat anxiety and symptoms linked to alcohol withdrawal. It works by calming excessive activity in the brain, which helps reduce restlessness and emotional distress. Because of its slower onset compared to some other benzodiazepines, it’s often used when a more gradual calming effect is preferred.
In the UK, oxazepam isn’t as widely prescribed as other anxiety medications like diazepam or lorazepam, but it still has a place in clinical treatment, particularly in cases where a slower-acting medication is better suited.
Is oxazepam addictive?
Even though oxazepam is considered less intense in its onset, it still carries a risk of addiction. As with most benzodiazepines, taking oxazepam for longer than prescribed or at higher doses can lead to both physical and psychological dependence.
What often begins as a helpful solution to anxiety or sleep issues can slowly shift into something more consuming. The sense of calm oxazepam provides can become something you start to ‘chase’, eventually feeling as though it needs to be used for everyday functioning.
Over time, your body may also begin to tolerate oxazepam, meaning you need more to achieve the same relief. This can lead to a dangerous cycle of increasing use, which only strengthens the grip of dependence.
Withdrawal symptoms like tension, insomnia, tremors, and irritability can make it difficult to stop using the medication, even if you want to. That’s why oxazepam is usually recommended for short-term use, but even short-term use doesn’t guarantee immunity from addiction.
Struggling with an addiction? If you are ready to seek help, reach out to us today, and a member of our compassionate team will help you find the best option for starting your recovery journey.
What are the signs of oxazepam addiction?
Recognising the signs of addiction can be difficult, especially when the medication was originally taken for valid reasons. But being informed about what to look out for doesn’t mean you’re assuming the worst—it means you’re being proactive about your well-being or that of someone you care about.
We’re not here to scare anyone away from a medication that may genuinely help. But we are here to help you spot if that helpful relationship has started to become unhealthy.
- Persistent fatigue: feeling drained or groggy throughout the day, regardless of how much sleep you’ve had.
- Muscle weakness: a general sense of physical tiredness or reduced strength.
- Tremors: slight shaking of the hands or body, especially between doses.
- Headaches: tension-type headaches that become more noticeable when a dose is missed.
- Dizziness or unsteadiness: struggling with balance or feeling light-headed more often than usual.
- Slurred speech: noticing slower, less coordinated speech after taking the medication.
- Increased anxiety when not using: rather than easing anxiety, the medication seems to cause it when it wears off.
- Emotional numbness: feeling detached from situations or less emotionally responsive.
- Forgetfulness or mental fog: trouble remembering conversations or completing simple tasks.
- Cravings: frequently thinking about your next dose or feeling uneasy if it’s delayed.
- Irritability: snapping at others or feeling tense for no clear reason.
- Restlessness: struggling to sit still or relax without taking the medication.
- Taking more than prescribed: increasing your dose without your doctor’s input.
- Frequent refills or doctor shopping: trying to get multiple prescriptions to maintain your supply.
- Avoiding activities: cancelling plans to stay home and use or recover from the medication.
- Neglecting important responsibilities: missing work, deadlines, or family duties.
- Hiding usage: being secretive or defensive when asked about the medication.
- Inability to stop: trying to cut down but finding it harder than expected.
If some of these signs sound familiar, it might be a good time to consider taking some time to reflect on your relationship with oxazepam.
Do I have an oxazepam addiction?
Sometimes, it’s easier to ignore the early warning signs than to face the possibility of addiction. But if something doesn’t feel quite right, or if you’ve started to wonder about your relationship with oxazepam, it’s worth pausing for a moment to ask yourself a few honest questions.
Below are six questions designed to help you reflect. A single ‘yes’ doesn’t confirm anything, but if these resonate, it might be time to seek support.
- Do you feel nervous, anxious or unwell when you haven’t taken your usual dose?
- Have you tried to cut down or stop taking oxazepam but found it too difficult?
- Are you taking more than prescribed or in a way your doctor didn’t recommend?
- Do you feel like you need the medication to function or feel normal?
- Have you noticed mood changes, memory issues or lack of motivation since starting the medication?
- Are you secretive or defensive when someone asks about your use?
If any of this feels close to home, it would be beneficial to reach out for professional support.
Do I need support for oxazepam addiction?
It’s easy to feel stuck in the cycle of addiction, especially when the substance you’ve come to rely on is one that was meant to help. That ‘in-between’ place (where you’re still functioning but starting to feel the strain) is often the hardest place to be.
You might wonder if your problem is “serious enough” to warrant support. You might tell yourself others have it worse. But if oxazepam is starting to feel like something you can’t manage without, that’s enough of a reason to reach out.
When it comes to benzodiazepines like oxazepam, rehab is the safest and most effective path forward.
How can professional support help me with Oxazepam addiction?
Rehab for oxazepam addiction starts with an initial assessment. This is where professionals take time to understand what you’re going through to tailor your treatment to your needs.
Next is detox, a period where your body is gradually supported in coming off the medication. This process can feel uncomfortable, especially if withdrawal symptoms are strong, but you won’t go through it alone.
After detox, therapy becomes the focus. You might take part in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), one-to-one counselling, group therapy or holistic approaches like meditation and art therapy. These sessions aim to help you understand what led to the addiction, how to manage future anxiety in healthy ways, and how to build a more balanced life moving forward.
Rehab doesn’t end when you walk out the door. Aftercare is there to help you transition back into daily life with continued support, making relapse less likely and giving you tools to handle everyday challenges without turning back to oxazepam.
What are the next steps?
If you’re concerned about oxazepam addiction, whether it’s for yourself or someone close to you, Addiction Helper is here to guide you. Our service is free and confidential, and we’ll listen without judgment.
We can help you find the right kind of support, whether that’s oxazepam rehab or simply a conversation to help you figure out what comes next. Change doesn’t happen all at once, but reaching out could be your first small step.
Call Addiction Helper today. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Our compassionate team are ready and available to take your call, and guide you towards lasting the lasting addiction recovery you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
(Click here to see works cited)
- “Oxazepam Patient Tips: 7 Things You Should Know.” Drugs.Com, www.drugs.com/tips/oxazepam-patient-tips. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
