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Generic Name: diazepam (dye AZ e pam)
Brand Names: Valium

What is diazepam?

Diazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Diazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

Diazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms.

Diazepam may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about diazepam?

Before taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by diazepam.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diazepam?

Before taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• glaucoma;

• asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;

• kidney or liver disease;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or

• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use diazepam, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

How should I take diazepam?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Measure the liquid form of diazepam with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Your symptoms may return when you stop using diazepam after using it over a long period of time. You may also have seizures or withdrawal symptoms when you stop using diazepam. Withdrawal symptoms may include tremor, sweating, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps, stomach pain, vomiting, unusual thoughts or behavior, and seizure (convulsions).

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood and liver function may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Benzodiazepines are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Symptoms of a diazepam overdose may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, fainting, or coma.

What should I avoid while taking diazepam?

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can increase some of the side effects of diazepam.

Diazepam 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 diazepam?

Before taking diazepam, 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 diazepam, 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

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.