Sometimes, your doctor may have prescribed you a medicine called Diazepam to help you deal with the nervousness, muscle pain, or anxiety you feel before certain medical tests. Some people may be familiar with it under the brand name Valium. Although it is a very useful medicine, it is important to know exactly what it is and use it safely. So, let's talk about it all in simple terms today.
What kind of medicine is Diazepam?
Simply put, it's a drug that calms your nervous system and makes it work more smoothly. It's like a temporary solution to a nervous breakdown. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines.
Doctors mainly use this medicine for several reasons:
- Reduce Anxiety: Reduce fear, nervousness, and anxiety. Sometimes this is given before surgery.
- Control Seizures: Helps control some types of seizures.
- Reduce muscle spasms: It provides relief from conditions such as muscle tightness and spasms.
- Reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms: It is also used to control severe symptoms that occur when you suddenly stop drinking alcohol after becoming addicted to it.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before your doctor prescribes Diazepam, it is very important to give you a complete description of your health condition. This is because this medicine is not compatible with some medical conditions. See the table below. If you have any of these conditions, be sure to tell your doctor about it.
| Your health condition | Why is it important to inform the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Alcohol or drug addiction | Diazepam also carries a high risk of addiction. It is also very dangerous to take it with alcohol. |
| Mental illness (such as depression, bipolar disorder) | Some mental symptoms may change due to this medication. |
| Glaucoma condition | Special care should be taken as it can increase eye pressure. |
| Liver or kidney disease | This medicine is eliminated from the body through these organs. If their function is reduced, the effect of the medicine may be unnecessarily increased. |
| Lung or respiratory disease | This medicine can cause slight shortness of breath. It is dangerous for someone who already has breathing problems. |
| Myasthenia Gravis | Since this is a disease that weakens the muscles, diazepam can make the condition worse. |
| Suicidal thoughts | If you have a history of having these thoughts, it is imperative to inform your doctor. |
| Being pregnant or trying to get pregnant/breastfeeding | This medicine can affect the baby in the womb and the baby through breast milk. |
How should I use the medicine?
Take this pill with a glass of water. If you experience stomach upset, take it with a meal or a little milk. Take only the prescribed dose as directed by your doctor. Never take more than the prescribed amount.
This is very important: If you have been taking this medicine for a long time, never stop taking it suddenly. Doing so can cause serious side effects. If you need to stop taking it, do so only by gradually reducing the dose as directed by your doctor.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you accidentally take too much medicine, go to the nearest Emergency Department (ETU) without delay. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
The doctor has prescribed this medicine for you only. Do not give it to anyone else. It is dangerous and against the law.
What are the things to be careful about when taking medication?
You may feel drowsy or dizzy. So , do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce the risk of dizziness and falls, especially if you are elderly, do not stand up suddenly. Get up slowly.
Taking this medicine with alcohol is very dangerous. It can cause extreme drowsiness and dizziness, and can even stop breathing, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, avoid alcohol completely while taking this medicine.
If you are taking other medications that cause drowsiness (e.g., some cough and allergy medications), tell your doctor about that as well. The effects of both medications can add up and make you more drowsy.
Possible side effects
Like any medicine, diazepam can cause side effects. Some are serious, while others are common. Learn about them in the table below.
| Nature of the side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor or ETU immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS Depression) | Slow or shallow breathing, difficulty breathing, extreme drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty waking up. |
| Mental changes | Suicidal thoughts, worsening mental status, depressive symptoms. |
| Usually not serious but tell your doctor if it persists. | |
| Minor side effects | Dizziness, drowsiness, headache. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual, talk to your doctor.
How to keep medicine safe?
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children and pets. Keep this medicine in a safe place that can be protected from theft, as it can be addictive. Store at room temperature (between 15-30 degrees Celsius), away from light, and in a dry place, with the bottle tightly closed.
It is very important to dispose of unused and expired medications. This can be a serious hazard if it falls into the hands of someone else. Consult your doctor about this. If this is not possible, crush the pills, mix them with something like used tea leaves or coffee grounds, put them in a well-sealed bag, and throw them in the trash.
Take-Home Message
- Diazepam is a useful and powerful medicine. Always use it as directed by your doctor.
- Avoid stopping this medication suddenly for any reason. Stopping should be done under medical advice, by gradually reducing the dosage.
- Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking this medication. It is very dangerous.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
- Store the medicine in a safe place out of the reach of children and others.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience serious side effects such as difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, or suicidal thoughts.
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