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Increase Your Awareness with Basic Facts about Diazepam (Valium®)
Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ April 7, 2026
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 names:
- Diazepam Intensol®
- Valium®
- Valrelease®
Diazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines.
The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs:
- Valium®
- Xanax®
- Halcion®
- Ativan®
- Klonopin®
Benzodiazepines street names are:
- 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 muscle spasms
- preoperative anxiety relief
- management of certain refractory epilepsy patients and adjunct in severe recurrent convulsive seizures
- an adjunct in status epilepticus
Diazepam 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):
- Sedation
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Anterograde amnesia
- Depression
- Ataxia
- Irritability
- Disinhibition
- Local injection site reaction
- Headache
- Tremor
- Dystonia
- Urinary retention
- Incontinence
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diplopia
- Libido changes
- Rash
- Menstrual irregularities
- ALT and/or AST elevation
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately:
- Respiratory depression
- Suicidality
- Dependency and abuse
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Cardiovascular collapse
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension
- Syncope
- Paradoxical CNS stimulation
IMPORTANT WARNING:
Diazepam may cause serious or life-threatening breathing problems, drowsiness, or coma if used along with certain medications. Tell your doctor if you are taking or plan to take medications for cough or for pain. Call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical care if you experience: unusual dizziness, lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, or unresponsiveness. Be sure that your caregiver or family members know which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor or emergency medical care if you are unable to do so.
Diazepam may be habit forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer time than your doctor tells you to. Tell your doctor if you have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, if you use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness.
Do not stop taking this medication or take fewer doses without talking to your doctor. Call your doctor or get emergency medical treatment if you experience any of the following symptoms: unusual movements; ringing in your ears; anxiety; memory problems; difficulty concentrating; sleep problems; seizures; shaking; muscle twitching; changes in mental health; depression; burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet; seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear; thoughts of harming or killing yourself or others; overexcitement; or losing touch with reality.
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.
US BOXED WARNING
Simultaneous use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, and death—Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients with inadequate alternative treatment options.
Minimize dose to the minimum to prevent fatal respiratory depression
- 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.
For further information, consult the resources listed below or explore any other reputable, evidence‑based source.
Sources used:
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, accessed February 20, 2026.
- National Library of Medicine, Diazepam, Dhaliwal JS, Rosani A, Saadabadi A. Diazepam. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537022/, accessed February 20, 2026.
- American Addiciion Centers, Diazepam Addiction: Signs, Effects, and Treatment, accessed February 20, 2026.
- 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 February 20, 2026.
- Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement, Benzodiazepines Drug Fact sheet, accessed February 20, 2026.
- 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 February 20, 2026.
- 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 February 20, 2026.
- Teva, Diazepam Tablets, accessed February 20, 2026.
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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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