What Is Diazepam (Valium)?
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine. It appears to be sold under the major brand Valium. However, it also seems to be a controlled substance, and patients may not take it for long periods. This medication may cause significant withdrawal effects as well. The severity of this may worsen the longer that patients take this medication. Thus, patients may wish to speak to their doctor about alternative coping skills and long-term medicines as well.
Although it carries risks, diazepam appears to be a powerful medication for muscle spasms. It may also be an effective short-term anxiety treatment. This medication seems to be approved for use in emergency detox centers. Some patients may also find that this is a useful medication for seizures. However, it may be prescribed with another epilepsy treatment.
How It Should Work
Diazepam appears to slow down various functions in the body. This is why it may often be considered a sedative. The effects of this medication should help reduce the severity of a patient's panic. It may also help stop the brain function that can trigger painful muscle spasms.
If this medication is used to treat epilepsy, it may also keep electrical pulses in the brain regular. In other words, it may prevent seizures from stopping abnormal pulses from flooding the brain. This medication also seems to increase GABA levels. GABA is a chemical that should help keep individuals calm. It may also keep their emotions level and prevent significant spikes or drops.
Uncover the possible uses for this medication next.
Possible Uses
It seems as if diazepam may be used to treat several different issues. As discussed, some of these issues include epilepsy, anxiety disorders, and muscle spasms. This medication may also sedate patients before medical procedures. It appears that doctors most often use it when their patients do not need general anesthesia. Diazepam may reduce the severity of a panic attack and lessen anxiety in other patients. It seems like it is most effective at dealing with the anxiety-inducing thought spirals that often come with anxiety disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder. Officials appear to have also approved this medication to treat some instances of alcohol withdrawal.
This also seems to be an effective short-term medication for acute panic after disasters and similar events. It also seems to work on anxiety for short-term cases while doctors investigate other medications and patients develop the right coping skills.
Continue reading to uncover potential side effects next.
Potential Side Effects
Patients should only deal with mild side effects if they take this medication at a low dose for only short periods. It does seem quite possible to experience severe side effects if this medication is misused. Patients may experience an allergic reaction to this medication. They may see symptoms such as throat swelling and hives. If they do, emergency medical attention may be necessary. This medication may also interfere with a patient's breathing. They may deal with blue lips, be hard to wake, or have long pauses in their breathing. Should this occur, emergency attention is likely necessary.
Patients may also want to call their doctor if they experience mood changes, drowsiness, new seizures, anxiety, irritation, or suicidal thoughts as well. Seniors may find that the sedative effects of this medication last longer for them. They may also experience muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and drowsiness. This can lead to increased fall risk.
Learn about possible precautions to take next.
Possible Precautions
Patients do not seem to be able to take diazepam for long periods safely. It appears that they will develop a tolerance to it and can rely on it, even if they are not predisposed to addiction. There seems to be a physical dependence due to how this medication can impact GABA levels in the brain. Specifically, this medication can increase GABA, which means the patient's brain may stop producing as much of this chemical on its own. It can trigger a long process of withdrawal. In addition, suddenly stopping this medication may result in dangerous consequences.
Besides limiting the time that patients take this medication, they may also want to avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol with this medication may increase their risk of breathing issues. Individuals prone to falling, including seniors, may also wish to take extra precautions to prevent falls. This medication seems to cause side effects such as dizziness and coordination problems, which may result in falls.
Continue reading to learn about potential medication interactions next.
Potential Medication Interactions
Patients may wish to write down all of the medications and supplements that they currently take. This list should include both prescription and over-the-counter medicine. Patients should want this list because there may be many potential medication interactions linked to diazepam. Their doctor can likely only prevent them if they know what patients are taking.
Breathing issues may be magnified if patients take opioids along with this medication. Other potential interactions appear to include sodium oxybate, ketoconazole, and cimetidine. Diazepam may also interact poorly with herbal remedies such as St. John's Wort, valerian root, and passionflower. Some stimulants may also result in a significant medication interaction. Thus, the list seems to be quite essential to make.
