Generic Name: diazepam (dye AZ e pam)
Brand names: Valium
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.
Diazepam is used for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety. Diazepam may also be used to relieve agitation, shakiness, and hallucinations during alcohol withdrawal and relieve certain types of muscle spasms. It may also be used to treat seizures, insomnia, and other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Diazepam may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to diazepam, or if you have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a severe breathing problem, or sleep apnea. This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use diazepam if you are pregnant.
Before taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, asthma or other breathing problems, kidney or liver disease, seizures, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Do not drink alcohol while taking diazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.
Never take more of this medication than your doctor has prescribed. An overdose of diazepam can be fatal.
Diazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. This medication should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Diazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Diazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to diazepam, or if you have:
myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness disorder);
severe liver disease;
narrow-angle glaucoma;
a severe breathing problem; or
sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medicine. 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 mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
FDA pregnancy category D. Diazepam can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine while you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication. Diazepam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The sedative effects of diazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking diazepam. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 months old.
Take diazepam exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never 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.
Diazepam should be used for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 months without your doctor's advice. Do not stop using diazepam suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may have increased seizures or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking diazepam. Withdrawal symptoms include tremor, sweating, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps, stomach pain, vomiting, and unusual thoughts or behavior. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms.
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.
Store diazepam at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
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.
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.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of diazepam can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, limp or weak muscles, fainting, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.
Do not drink alcohol while taking diazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Diazepam can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
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, anxiety, agitation, hostility;
double vision, hallucinations;
weak or shallow breathing;
feeling like you might pass out;
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 diazepam side effects may include:
drowsiness, tired feeling;
dizziness, spinning sensation;
blurred vision;
sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares;
muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;
slurred speech;
nausea, vomiting, constipation;
headache, memory problems;
drooling or dry mouth;
skin rash; or
loss of interest in sex.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, other sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by 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);
ketoconazole (Nizoral);
omeprazole (Prilosec);
phenytoin (Dilantin);
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 aripiprazole (Abilify), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Pentazine, Phenergan, Phenadoz, Promethegan), and others;
narcotic medications such as fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), oxycodone (OxyContin), and others; or
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), citalopram (Celexa), doxepin (Sinequan), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with 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.