Diazepam: Dosage, Benefits, Side Effects & Usage Guide

What is Diazepam?

Diazepam is a drug that belongs to the benzodiazepine group. Diazepam works by increasing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

This medication can be used to treat anxiety disorders or alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Diazepam can be used with other medications to treat seizures and muscle stiffness.

You can only get diazepam with a doctor’s prescription. It comes as a tablet, liquid, or suppository (a medicine you put in your anus).

Caution in Using Diazepam

Here are some things you need to pay attention to before using this medicine:

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it, or to other benzodiazepines (such as oxazepam, temazepam), or if you have any other allergies. Diazepam may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.
• Also tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially if you have a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis), lung/breathing problems (such as COPD, sleep apnea ), mental/mood disorders (such as depression, suicidal thoughts, psychosis), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such as drug/alcohol overuse or addiction), glaucoma, liver disease, kidney disease.
• This medication may cause dizziness or drowsiness, or blurred vision. So, avoid driving, using machinery, or doing anything that requires alertness or clear vision while taking this medication.
• Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the medicines you are taking (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
• For some children, instead of calming them, this medication may have the opposite effect. For example, it may cause mental/mood changes (such as agitation, hallucinations, restlessness). To find out if this medication is safe for your child, ask your doctor or find out Is It OK to Give Diazepam to a Child Having Seizures.
• Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness and loss of coordination. These side effects can increase their risk of falling.
• This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away before using this medication.
• This medication also passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breastfeeding while taking this medication is also not recommended by doctors.

Benefits of Diazepam

This medicine is useful for:

1. Treating anxiety disorders

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine drug that works by increasing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain. The neurotransmitter GABA plays a role in reducing excessive nerve activity, thereby helping to reduce feelings of anxiety and tension.

This medication is often prescribed for short-term anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder or acute anxiety before a medical procedure.

2. Relieves alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Diazepam is used to treat alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which are symptoms that appear when someone stops consuming alcohol after long-term use.

Symptoms that may be reduced include tremors (shaking), excessive sweating, restlessness, seizures, or difficulty sleeping ( insomnia ).

3. Overcoming muscle spasms and stiffness

Diazepam is useful as an anticonvulsant drug in treating various types of seizures, including febrile seizures in children, epilepsy, and status epilepticus (prolonged seizures).

This drug works by suppressing excessive electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures.

4. Help patients relax before surgery or medical/dental procedures.

Diazepam is often given before surgery, endoscopy, or dental procedures to reduce anxiety and help the patient relax.

Its sedative effect calms the patient without causing loss of consciousness, so the patient remains conscious but not overly anxious or stressed.

Diazepam Dosage

The dosage of this medicine is different for each patient. Be sure to follow the dosage recommended by your doctor or the instructions for use listed on the packaging when taking this medicine. Here are the general dosages of the medicine:

1. To overcome anxiety

• Adults: 2-10 milligrams (mg), 2 to 4 times daily.
• Older adults: Initially, 2 to 2.5 mg, once or twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose if necessary.
• Children 6 months and older: Initially, 1 to 2.5 mg, 3 or 4 times daily. Your child’s doctor may increase the dose if necessary.
• Children under 6 months of age: Use not recommended by doctors.

2. For alcohol withdrawal symptoms

• Adults: 10 mg, 3 or 4 times during the first 24 hours, then 5 mg 3 to 4 times per day as needed.
• Older adults: Initially, 2–2.5 mg once or twice daily. Your doctor will gradually increase the dose as needed.

3. For muscle spasms

• Adults: 2-10 mg, 3 or 4 times daily.
• Older adults: Initially, 2 to 2.5 mg, once or twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose if necessary.
• Children 6 months and older: Initially, 1–2.5 mg, 3 or 4 times daily. Your pediatrician may increase the dose if necessary.
• Children under 6 months of age: Use not recommended by doctors.

4. For seizures

• Adults: 2-10 mg, 2 to 4 times daily.
• Older adults: Initially, 2 to 2.5 mg, once or twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose if necessary.
• Children 6 months and older: Initially, 1–2.5 mg, 3 or 4 times daily. Your pediatrician may increase the dose if necessary.
• Children under 6 months of age: Use not recommended by doctors.

The information above is the general dosage for diazepam tablet form. While the dosage in suppository form, the doctor will determine based on the patient’s weight, age and general health.

Facts about Diazepam

1. Nicknamed the “tranquilizer”. Diazepam is often referred to as Valium (its famous brand) and is widely known as a sedative for anxiety and nervous disorders.
2. Fast-acting but addictive. This drug works in a short time to calm the nervous system, but its long-term use can cause addiction.
3. Used for various conditions. In addition to anxiety, diazepam is also used to treat seizures, muscle relaxation, and even relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

How to Use Diazepam

Take this medication exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as directed on the label. Do not use more than the recommended amount or longer than recommended.

Here’s how to use this medicine:

• For tablets, swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush or chew it.
• For liquid forms, use the measuring spoon or cup provided in the package to get the right dose. Do not use a tablespoon to measure the dose.
• You should use this medicine only for a short time. Do not take this medicine for more than 4 months without your doctor’s advice.
• Do not stop taking your medication without first asking your doctor.

What Do Studies Say About Diazepam?

Research published in Neuropsychopharmacology in 2018, discusses how diazepam can help with anxiety and social disorders, which arise after someone suddenly stops using amphetamines.

In this study, rats that had previously been given amphetamines experienced increased anxiety, decreased social interactions, and disruption of nerve cells in the brain that play a role in regulating feelings of pleasure and motivation.

However, after being given diazepam, these negative effects decreased, and the mice became calmer and could interact normally.

The results of this study indicate that diazepam can help reduce the effects of amphetamine withdrawal, especially in terms of anxiety and social behavior, although its use must still be monitored due to the risk of side effects and dependence.

Diazepam Side Effects

Drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, or unsteadiness are some of the possible side effects. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, such as:

• Mental/mood changes, such as memory problems, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, restlessness, and depression.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Difficulty walking.
• Muscle weakness.
• Tremor.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin.
• Signs of infection, such as a sore throat that doesn’t go away, fever, and chills.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching or swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.

Diazepam Interactions

Some products that can interact with diazepam include clozapine, fluvoxamine, orlistat, sodium oxybate.

Taking diazepam with other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death.

Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products, such as opioid pain relievers or cough relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone), other drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine ).

Diazepam Contraindications

Doctors do not recommend this medicine for people with the following conditions:

• Have ever had an allergic reaction to diazepam or any other medication?
• Have liver or kidney problems.
• Having myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness.
• Having sleep apnea, a condition that causes breathing problems during sleep.
• Experiencing depression or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
• Are trying to get pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding?
• Over 65 years of age.

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