Valium - Diazepam

diazepam

Diazepam is a member of the benzodiazepine family. Benzodiazepines are sedatives that cause dose-related depression of the central nervous system. They are useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms.

Diazepam is used for the short-term relief of symptoms related to anxiety disorders. It is also used for relief of muscle spasms in certain neurological diseases, to abort active seizures and can be combined with other drugs in treating severe recurrent seizures.

Diazepam is also used for the treatment of agitation, tremors, delirium, seizures, and hallucinations as a result of alcohol withdrawal.

Proper use of Diazepam:

Diazepam may be taken with or without food, with a full glass of water.

Dosage must be individualized for maximum beneficial effect. Adults usual dose is 2 mg to 10 mg, 2 to 4 times daily, depends on disorder. Diazepam should not be given to children under 6 months of age.

For the elderly or people with liver disorders, initial dose is at the low end of the range, with the dose being increased as required. They may be more likely to experience side effects from Valium and may require a lower dose of this medication.

Diazepam is metabolized by the liver and excreted mainly by the kidney. Dosages of diazepam may need to be lowered in patients with abnormal kidney function.

If you miss a dose of Valium and you are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your health care provider. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Diazepam can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer time than your doctor tells you to. Tolerance may develop with long-term or excessive use, making the drug less effective. Diazepam must be taken regularly to be effective. Do not skip doses even if you feel that you do not need them. Do not take Diazepam for more than 4 months or stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug suddenly can worsen your condition and cause withdrawal symptoms (anxiousness, sleeplessness, and irritability). Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually.

Precautions:

Before taking Valium (diazepam) tell your doctor or therapist if you have: kidney problems, heart disease, liver problems, seizure disorder, any allergies, asthma, brochitis, emphysema, or another respiratory disease, symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts. You may not be able to take Valium, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of these conditions.

Do not take this medication if you have narrow-angle glaucoma (an eye condition) since it could worsen this condition.

Use alcohol cautiously since it can increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Valium. Alcohol along with this medication could also increase your risk of having a seizure.

Do not exceed the recommended dose or take this medicine for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking this medicine for longer than prescribed may be habit-forming. Reduce the dosage gradually since stopping this drug suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms.

This medication is not safe for use during pregnancy and breast-feeding. It has been shown to cause harm to the human fetus. Diazepam passes into breast milk and has had undesirable effects on nursing infants.

Drug interactions:

There are other drugs that could affect the way Valium works. They can interact with Valium, cause unwanted effects or reduce the drug’s effectiveness. If you are using any other medications, including both prescription or over-the-counter, be sure to tell your doctor. Also tell him about vitamins, minerals and herbal products. Never start using a new drug without first discussing it with your doctor.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you drink alcohol or take other sedative medications including barbiturates or opioid pain medications. Cimetidine (Tagamet), valproic acid (for seizures) and some antidepressants; Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft can increase the effects, and side effects of diazepam.

Side effects:

The most common adverse effects reported are drowsiness and ataxia. Other reactions noted less frequently are fatigue, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, diplopia, vertigo, headache, slurred speech, tremors, hypoactivity, dysarthria, euphoria, impairment of memory, confusion, depression, incontinence or urinary retention, constipation, skin rash, generalized exfoliative dermatitis, hypotension, changes in libido.

The more serious adverse reactions occasionally reported are leukopenia, jaundice, hypersensitivity and paradoxical reactions.

Paradoxical reactions such as hyperexcited states, anxiety, excitement, hallucinations, increased muscle spasticity, insomnia, rage, as well as sleep disturbances and stimulation, have been reported; should these occur, the drug should be discontinued.

Symptoms of overdose include drowsiness, oversedation and ataxia. When the effects of drug overdosage begin to wear off, the patient exhibits some jitteriness and overstimulation. The cardinal manifestations of overdosage are drowsiness and confusion, reduced reflexes and coma. There are minimum effects on respiration, pulse and blood pressure unless the overdosage is extreme.