Diazepam: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Diazepam?

What is Diazepam for?

Diazepam is a medication to treat anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and seizures. This drug is also used to relax muscle spasms and as a sedative before medical procedures.

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine class of drugs that work on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. These drugs work by increasing the effects of certain brain chemicals. This drug can also be used to prevent nightmares (night terror)

The diazepam dosage and the side effects of diazepam are detailed below.

What are the rules for taking Diazepam?

Take diazepam as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your health condition, age, and response to therapy. If you are taking this medication in liquid form, use a medication measuring device to measure the correct dose as prescribed. Do not use a household spoon as the dosage can be inappropriate. If you are taking oral concentrate solution, use a dropper to measure the dose and mix it in a drink or soft food (eg applesauce, pudding) beforehand.

Take this drug exactly as given. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently or give it a longer break than prescribed as this drug can be addictive. Also, if this medication is used long-term or to control seizures, do not stop taking the medication suddenly without the doctor's knowledge. Some conditions can worsen when the medicine is stopped suddenly. Your dose can be tapered off.

If used long term, this drug may not work very well and may require a different dosage. Talk to your doctor if medications don't work well. Avoid consuming grape or grapefruit juice while you are on this drug therapy unless your doctor recommends it. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is Diazepam stored?

Diazepam is a drug that should be stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Diazepam dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the Diazepam dosage for adults?

For anxiety, the dosage of diazepam is:

• Diazepam tablets 2 mg 3 times a day, a maximum of 30 mg / day
• Diazepam injection or ampoule 2-5 mg (moderate anxiety) or 5-10 mg (severe anxiety) 1 dose. Can be repeated in 3-4 hours, if needed.

To treat withdrawal symptoms, the dosage of diazepam is:

• Diazepam 5-20 mg tablets, repeat within 2-4 hours, if needed. Or 10 mg, 3-4 times during the first 24 hours, then 5 mg 3-4 times a day as needed.
• Diazepam injection or ampoule: 10-20 mg

To treat muscle spasms, the dosage of diazepam is:

• Diazepam tablets 2-15 mg / day in divided doses
• Diazepam injection or ampoule: 10 mg, can be repeated 4 hours later if needed

To treat seizures, the dosage of diazepam is:

• Diazepam injection: initial dose 5-10 mg, can be repeated 10-15 minutes up to max 30 mg. Continue with the maintenance dose once the seizures have stopped.

For sedation before endoscopy or radiology, the dosage of diazepam is:

• Oral diazepam: 5-20 mg

What is the dosage of Diazepam for children?

Diazepam dose for seizures in children

• 2 -5 years: 0.1-0.5 mg / kg, rounded to the nearest available dose. Can be repeated in 2-5 minutes, max 5-10 mg
• > 5 years: 1 mg / kg, rounded to the nearest available dose. Can be repeated in 2-5 minutes, max 5-10 mg
• Not recommended for babies under 6 months of age.

Diazepam dose for anxiety in children 1-12 years

• Oral: 0.12-0.8 mg / kg / day in divided doses every 6-8 hours if needed.
• Injections: 0.04-0.3 mg / kg every 2-4 hours as needed, up to a maximum of 0.6 mg / kg in 8 hours.

Diazepam dose for prevention of febrile seizures in children

• Oral: 1 mg / kg / day in divided doses every 8 hours. Initial therapy for early signs of fever and continue for 24 hours after fever has cleared up.

Dosage of diazepam for light anesthesia in children

Oral:

• 1-12 years: 0.2-0.3 mg / kg 45-60 minutes before procedure, up to a maximum of 10 mg
• 13-18 years: 5 mg 45-60 minutes before the procedure, can be repeated at a dose of 2.5 mg.

Injection or infusion:

• 1-12 years: 0.04-0.3 mg / kg IM every 2-4 hours as needed, up to a maximum of 0.6 mg / kg in 8 hours.
• 13-18 years: 2-10 mg 2-4 times daily as needed.

Diazepam dose for tetanus in children

• Less than 1 month: 0.83-1.67 mg / kg / hour by continuous infusion, or 1.67-3.33 mg / kg, slowly, every 2 hours (20-40 mg / kg / day). Diazepam injection is not recommended because the drug of choice for newborns contains benzyl alcohol and propylene glycol.
• 1 month to 5 years: 1-2 mg by injection or infusion, slowly, repeated every 3-4 hours as needed, or 15 mg / kg / day in divided doses every 2 hours.
• Over 5 years: 5-10 mg intravenously or injected, slowly, repeated every 3-4 hours as needed.

In what dosage is Diazepam available?

Diazepam is available in the following dosages:

• 50 mg / 10 mL
• 5 mg / mL

Diazepam side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Diazepam?

The most common side effects of diazepam are:

• Memory problems
• Drowsiness, feeling tired
• Dizziness, spinning sensation
• Difficulty sleeping or restless
• Weak muscles
• Nausea, constipation
• Drooling or dry mouth, talking rero
• Blurred vision, double
• Mild, itchy or skin rash
• Decreased sexual arousal

Call your doctor if you have:

• Confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior
• Risk behavior is difficult to resist, is not afraid of harm
• Depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or self-harm
• Hyperactivity, agitation, aggression, irritability
• New or worsening seizures
• Weakness or shortness of breath
• Feelings like you are going to die
• Twitch, tremor
• Loss of control or voiding
• Little or no tub

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Diazepam Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Diazepam?

Before starting treatment,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to diazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), lorazepam (Ativan)), prazepam (Centrax), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), or other drugs
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, especially the antihistamine cimetidine (Tagamet) digoxin (Lanoxin) disulfiram (Antabuse) fluoxetine (Prozac) isoniazid (INH, Laniazid, Nydrazid) ketoconazole (Nizoral) levodopa (Larodopa, Sinemet) medication for depression, seizures, pain, Parkinson's disease, asthma, flu, or allergy to metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) muscle relaxant oral contraceptive probenecid (Benemid) propoxyphene (Darvon) propranolol (Inderal) ranitidine (Zantac) rifampin (Rifadin) sedative sleeping pills theophylline (Theo-Dur) sedative valproic acid (Depakene) and vitamins. These drugs can increase the drowsiness caused by diazepam
• If you are taking an antacid, take diazepam first, then wait 1 hour before taking the antacid
• Tell your doctor if you have or have had seizure glaucoma or lung, heart, or liver disease
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant and are taking diazepam, contact your doctor immediately

Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using diazepam if you are ≥ 65 years of age. Elderly people should not use diazepam because it is not as safe as other drugs that can be used to treat the same condition.

• If you are going to have surgery, such as dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using diazepam
• You should know that this drug can make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or run a motorized vehicle until the effects of the drug wear off
• Note that alcohol can increase the drowsiness caused by this drug
• Tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Smoking can decrease the effectiveness of this drug

Is Diazepam safe for pregnant and lactating women?

Studies in breastfeeding mothers show that diazepam exerts harmful effects on the baby. Get a prescription for other medicines from your doctor, or you will need to stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

There is no adequate research on the risks of using diazepam in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the pregnancy risk category D (there is evidence that it is risky) according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, or the equivalent of the POM in Indonesia.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Diazepam Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Diazepam?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Although certain drugs cannot be used together, in other cases 2 different drugs can be used simultaneously although drug interactions may occur. In this case, the doctor can change the dose, or other warnings may be needed. While you are using this medicine it is very important for your doctor to know if you are taking any of the drugs mentioned below. The following interactions were selected based on differences in drug potential and not necessarily all included.

Using this drug with other drugs is usually not recommended, but may be needed in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may have changed the dose or frequency of use of one or both drugs.

• Alfentanil
• Amobarbital
• Anileridine
• Aprobarbital
• Buprenorphine
• Butabarbital
• Butalbital
• Carbinoxamine
• Carisoprodol
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chlorzoxazone
• Cobicistat
• Codeine
• Dantrolene
• Eslicarbazepine Acetate
• Ethchlorvynol
• Etravirine
• Fentanyl
• Fosphenytoin
• Phospropofol
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Itraconazole
• Ketorolac
• Levorphanol
• Meclizine
• Meperidine
• Mephenesin
• Mephobarbital
• Meprobamate
• Metaxalone
• Methadone
• Methocarbamol
• Methohexital
• Mirtazapine
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Orlistat
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Pentobarbital
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Primidone
• Propoxyphene
• Remifentanil
• Secobarbital
• Sodium Oxybate
• Sufentanil
• Suvorexant
• Tapentadol
• Thiopental
• Zolpidem

Drug interactions can increase your risk of serious side effects, but using both drugs may be the best therapy for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may have changed the dose or frequency of use of one or both drugs.

• Amitriptyline
• Amprenavir
• Clarithromycin
• Dalfopristin
• Disulfiram
• Erythromycin
• Fluvoxamine
• Ginkgo
• Isoniazid
• Perampanel
• Quinupristin
• Rifapentine
• Roxithromycin
• St. John's Wort
• Theophylline
• Troleandomycin

Can food or alcohol interact with Diazepam?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

The following interactions were selected based on differences in drug potential and not necessarily all included.

Drug interactions can increase your risk of serious side effects, but using both drugs may be the best therapy for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may have changed the dose or frequency of use of the drug, or given you specific rules regarding your consumption of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Grapefruit juice

What health conditions can interact with Diazepam?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. notify your doctor if you have other health problems, in particular:

• Alcohol abuse or a history of consumption
• Drug abuse or dependence or a history of drug use
• Respiratory problems or severe lung disease
• Closed angle glaucoma
• Severe liver disease
• Myasthenia gravis
• Sleep apnea (stopping breathing while sleeping)
• Depression or a history of depression
• Kidney illness
• Mild or severe liver disease

Diazepam overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.