Valium belongs to the group of medicines
called central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that slow down
the nervous system).
Valium is used to relieve anxiety. However, Valium
should not be used to relieve nervousness or tension caused
by the stress of everyday life.
Sometimes Valium is used to treat insomnia
(trouble in sleeping). However, if used regularly (for example, every day)
for insomnia, they usually are not effective for more than a few weeks.
Many of the benzodiazepines are used in the treatment of other
conditions, also. Diazepam is used to help relax
muscles or relieve muscle spasm. Diazepam injection
is used before some medical procedures to relieve anxiety and to reduce
memory of the procedure. Chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, diazepam, and
oxazepam are used to treat the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alprazolam
and clonazepam are used in the treatment of panic disorder. Clobazam,
clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, and lorazepam are used in the treatment
of certain convulsive (seizure) disorders, such as epilepsy. The
benzodiazepines may also be used for other conditions as determined by
your doctor.
Valium may be habit-forming (causing mental
or physical dependence), especially when taken for a long time or in high
doses.
Special precautions
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your
doctor will make. For Valium , the following
should be considered:
Allergies� tell your doctor if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to Valium .
Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other
substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes. Certain Valium
products may contain lactose, parabens, or soybean oil.
Pregnancy� Chlordiazepoxide and diazepam have
been reported to increase the chance of birth defects when used during the
first 3 months of pregnancy. Although similar problems have not been
reported with the other benzodiazepines, the chance always exists since
all of the benzodiazepines are related.
Too much use of a Valium during pregnancy may
cause the baby to become dependent on the medicine. This may lead to
withdrawal side effects after birth. Also, use of Valium during
pregnancy, especially during the last weeks, may cause body temperature
problems, breathing problems, difficulty in feeding, drowsiness, or muscle
weakness in the newborn infant.
Valium given just before or during labor may
cause weakness in the newborn infant. When diazepam is given in high doses
(especially by injection) within 15 hours before delivery, it may cause
breathing problems, muscle weakness, difficulty in feeding, and body
temperature problems in the newborn infant.
Breast-feeding� Valium may pass into
the breast milk and cause drowsiness, difficulty in feeding, and weight
loss in nursing babies of mothers taking these medicines.
Children� Most of the side effects of these
medicines are more likely to occur in children, especially the very young.
These patients are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of Valium
.
Older adults� Most of the side effects of these
medicines are more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more
sensitive to the effects of Valium .
Other medicines� although certain medicines
should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines
may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases,
your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be
necessary.
Other medical problems� the presence of other
medical problems may affect the use of Valium .
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems,
especially:
- Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
- Drug abuse or dependence (or history of)�Dependence on
benzodiazepines may be more likely to develop
- Brain disease�CNS depression and other side effects of
benzodiazepines may be more likely to occur
- Difficulty in swallowing (in children) or
- Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease or
- Hyperactivity or
- Mental depression or
- Mental illness (severe) or
- Myasthenia gravis or
- Porphyria or
- Sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing during sleep)�Benzodiazepines
may make these conditions worse
- Epilepsy or history of seizures�Although some benzodiazepines
are used in treating epilepsy, starting or suddenly stopping treatment
with these medicines may increase seizures
- Glaucoma, acute narrow angle�Benzodiazepines should NOT be
used if you have this condition.
- Glaucoma, open angle�Benzodiazepines can be used but your
doctor should be monitoring your condition carefully.
- Kidney or liver disease�Higher blood levels of
benzodiazepines may result, increasing the chance that side effects
will occur
Side effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted
effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do
occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side
effects occur:
• Less common
- Anxiety; confusion (may be more common in the elderly);
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat ; lack of memory of
events taking place after benzodiazepine is taken (may be more
common with triazolam); mental depression
• Rare
- Abnormal thinking, including disorientation, delusions (holding
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts), or loss of sense of
reality ; agitation; behavior changes, including
aggressive behavior, bizarre behavior, decreased inhibition, or
outbursts of anger; convulsions (seizures);
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not
there); hypotension (low blood pressure); muscle
weakness; skin rash or itching ; sore throat, fever, and
chills; trouble in sleeping; ulcers or sores in mouth or
throat (continuing); uncontrolled movements of body, including
the eyes; unusual bleeding or bruising ; unusual
excitement, nervousness, or irritability ; unusual tiredness
or weakness (severe); yellow eyes or skin
• Symptoms of overdose
- Confusion (continuing); convulsions (seizures);
drowsiness (severe) or coma; shakiness; slow heartbeat;
slow reflexes; slurred speech (continuing) ; staggering;
troubled breathing ; weakness (severe)
After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust.
During this time, check with your doctor if you notice any of the
following side effects:
• More common
- Irritability; nervousness; trouble in sleeping
• Less common
- Abdominal or stomach cramps; confusion ; fast or
pounding heartbeat; increased sense of hearing;
increased sensitivity to touch and pain; increased sweating;
loss of sense of reality; mental depression ; muscle
cramps; nausea or vomiting; sensitivity of eyes to
light; tingling, burning, or prickly sensations;
trembling or shaking
• Rare
- Confusion as to time, place, or person; convulsions
(seizures); feelings of suspicion or distrust;
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not
there)
Other than the above information, there is no additional information
relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication.
What are the possible side effects of Valium?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips,
tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
-
confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
-
unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of
danger;
-
depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
-
hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;
-
hallucinations;
-
feeling light-headed, fainting;
-
muscle twitching, tremor;
-
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
-
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
urinating less than usual or not at all.
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
-
drowsiness, tiredness;
-
blurred vision;
-
sleep problems (insomnia);
-
muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;
-
slurred speech;
-
nausea, vomiting, constipation;
-
headache;
-
drooling;
-
skin rash; or
-
loss of interest in sex.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially
bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Valium?
Before taking Valium, tell your doctor if you take any other seizure
medications, or if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
cimetidine (Tagamet);
-
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol),
mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal,
Solfoton);
-
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine
(Parnate);
-
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine),
haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or
thioridazine (Mellaril);
-
narcotic medications such as butorphanol (Stadol), codeine,
hydrocodone (Loratab, Vicodin), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran),
meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian,
MS Contin, Oramorph), naloxone (Narcan), oxycodone (OxyContin),
propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or
-
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine
(Ascendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine
(Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine
(Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil),
nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil),
sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Valium,
or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect diazepam. Tell your
doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you
use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without
telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has information about diazepam written for health
professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Diazepam is available with a prescription under the brand name Valium.
Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your
pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it
is new to you.
-
Valium 2 mg--white, round, scored tablets with a cut-out
"V" design
-
Valium 5 mg--yellow, round, scored tablets with a cut-out
"V" design
-
Valium 10 mg--blue, round, scored tablets with a cut-out
"V" design
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