Details

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine. It affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety. Diazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms. Diazepam is sometimes used with other medications to treat seizures. To make sure diazepam is safe for you, tell your doctor 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 behaviour or a history of drug or alcohol addiction. When treating seizures, do not start or stop taking diazepam during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Diazepam may cause harm to an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking diazepam for seizures. If you take diazepam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug.

Typical Uses

Diazepam is used to treat anxiety, acute alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. It is also used to relieve muscle spasms and to provide sedation before medical procedures. This medication belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA). Diazepam may also be used to prevent extremely bad nightmares (night terrors).

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of diazepam include confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behaviour unusual risk-taking behaviour, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself hyperactivity, agitation, aggression, hostility new or worsening seizures weak or shallow breathing, a feeling like you might pass out muscle twitching, tremor loss of bladder control or little or no urinating.

Drug Interactions

• Diazepam+buprenorphine- Using buprenorphine together with other medications that cause central nervous system depression such as diazepam can lead to serious side effects such as respiratory distress, coma, or even death. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Diazepam+clozapine- Talk to your doctor before using clozapine together with diazepam. Combining these medications can increase the effects of both medications. Depending on the doses you are using and the routes by which they are taken (orally or by injection), you may experience side effects such as extreme drowsiness, confusion, shallow breathing, low blood pressure, weak pulse, and incoordination.

• Diazepam+droperidol- Using droperidol together with diazepam can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

• Diazepam+fluvoxamine- Ask your doctor before using diazepam together with fluvoxamine. This can cause drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, fainting, or coma. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take both medications.

Mechanism of action

Diazepam belongs to a class of medication called as benzodiazepine. It acts by increasing the activity of chemical called as GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) in the brain, which helps to calm the excessive electrical nerve activity.

Pregnancy Category : D