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Increase Your Awareness with Basic Facts about Valium (Diazepam)
By Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ January 30, 2023
Picture displayed is a general pill and should not be used as a pill identifier.
The following highlights the facts. More information can be obtained through the sites listed below as well as many other informational sites regarding prescription drugs. Medication facts can change. Make sure you have all up-to-date information.
Quick facts YOU Need to Know
Diazepam, brand name Valium
Class of drug called benzodiazepines.
- Benzos
- Downers
Diazepam is FDA approved for the management of:
- anxiety disorders
- short term relief of anxiety symptoms
- spasticity associated with upper motor neuron disorders, adjunct therapy for musscle spasms
- preoperative anxiety relief
- management of certain refractory epilepsy patients
- adjunct in severe recurrent convulsive seizures
- an adjunct in status epilepticus
Diazepem off-label (non-FDA approved) use includes:
- sedation in the ICU
- short-term treatment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy
Adverse Effects:
Like most benzodiazepines, the adverse reactions of diazepam include CNS and respiratory depression, dependence, and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
Possible side effects of Diazepam (Valium):
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- tiredness
- muscle weakness
- headache
- dry mouth
- nausea
- constipation
- confusion
- difficulty urinating
- frequent urination
- changes in sex drive or ability
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately:
- loss of control of bodily movements
- uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- slurred speech
- slowed breathing and heartbeat
Diazepman may increase the risk of serious or life-threatening breathing problems, sedation, or coma if used along with certain medications.
Diazepam may be habit forming.
Diazepam may cause a physical dependence.
Asthma Warning:
Benzodiazepines and zopiclone may increase the likelihood of asthma exacerbation, and benzodiazepines may also increase the likelihood of mortality following exacerbation. Data suggest that caution should be exercised when prescribing benzodiazepines to patients with asthma.
- Inform you healthcare prescriber of all medications, including non-prescription, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
- Inform your healthcare prescriber if you have ever used street drugs or large amounts of alcohol.
- Inform your healthcare prescriber if you have myasthenia gravis, sleep apnea, lung or liver disease.
- Tell your healthcare prescriber is you have or have ever had open-angle glaucoma, depression or other mental illness; seizures; or heart disease.
- Tell you healthcare prescriber if you every had any negative reactions to medications for mental illness.
- Tell your healthcare prescriber if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- Tell you healthcare prescriber if you are breastfeeding.
- Discuss with your healthcare prescriber the risks and benefits of taking Diazepam.
- Diazepam may make you drowsy.
These are just a few tips. Please read more at: MedlinePlus.go
Sources used:
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, accessed January 25, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic, Benzodiazepines (Benzos), accessed January 25, 2024
- National Library of Medicine, Dhaliwal JS, Rosani A, Saadabadi A. Diazepam. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537022/ accessed January 25, 2024.
- American Addicition Centers, Diazepam Addiction: Signs, Effects, and Treatment, accessed January 25, 2024
- National Library of Medicine, Nakafero G, Sanders RD, Nguyen-Van-Tam JS, Myles PR. Association between benzodiazepine use and exacerbations and mortality in patients with asthma: a matched case-control and survival analysis using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2015 Aug;24(8):793-802. doi: 10.1002/pds.3799. Epub 2015 May 27. PMID: 26013409, accessed January 25, 2024.
- Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement, Benzodiazepines Drug Fact sheet, accessed January 25, 2024.
- National Library of Medicine, Pétursson H. The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Addiction. 1994 Nov;89(11):1455-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb03743.x. PMID: 7841856, accessed January 25, 2024.
- National Library of Medicine, Anatomy, Central Nervous System, Thau L, Reddy V, Singh P. Anatomy, Central Nervous System. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542179/, accessed January 26, 2024.
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Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
Medical Disclaimer: We share informational resources that are intended to help you with your self-care plan. We are not professionals. We write based on personal experience and personal research.
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