Precautions and warnings

People with kidney or liver problems, breathing issues, brain disorders, elderly individuals, people with mental health conditions, epilepsy, a history of alcohol or drug addiction, weak gag reflex, or obesity should use this medication with caution. It can cause drowsiness and other effects on the brain. Stop using the medication if the patient develops unusual or psychiatric reactions. Be extra careful in patients with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. This medicine may also increase the risk of falling. Its safety and effectiveness have not been proven in children.

Drug Interactions

This drug can strongly increase the sedative effects of other medicines that slow down the central nervous system, such as antivirals (like amprenavir and ritonavir), anesthetics, strong painkillers (narcotic analgesics), antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiety medications, epilepsy drugs, allergy medicine (antihistamines), blood pressure medicines, muscle relaxants (such as tizanidine and baclofen), and nabilone.

Some antibiotics (like isoniazid and erythromycin), birth control pills, cimetidine, and omeprazole can slow down how quickly this drug is removed from your body, increasing its effects. Other antibiotics (like rifampicin) can make your body clear this drug faster, lowering its effect.

Combining this drug with disulfiram can raise the drug’s level in your blood. It may also slow down the removal of digoxin, and reduce how well theophylline works. When taken with levodopa, it can temporarily worsen symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Contraindications

Do not use if you have allergies to this medication, myasthenia gravis, existing nervous system depression or coma, breathing problems, severe breathing difficulties or sleep apnea, serious liver problems, or acute narrow angle glaucoma. This medicine should also not be used in children.

Mode of actions

Diazepam is a long-lasting medication in the benzodiazepine family. It helps prevent seizures, reduce anxiety, relax muscles, promote calmness, and can cause some memory loss. Diazepam works by attaching to certain receptors in the brain (on GABA neurons) and making these neurons more responsive to the calming effects of a natural chemical called GABA. This lets more chloride ions enter the cells, making the nerve cells less likely to send signals, which leads to a calming and stabilizing effect on the brain.

Dosage & Administration

Adult: PO Severe anxiety 2 mg 3 times/day. Max: 30 mg/day.
Insomnia 5-15 mg/day at bedtime.
Anesth premed 5-20 mg before general anesth.
Adjunct in management of seizures 2-60 mg/day in divided doses.
Muscle spasms 2-15 mg/day in divided doses, up to 60 mg/day in severe spastic disorders.
Alcohol w/drawal syndrome 5-20 mg, repeat 2-4 hr later if needed.

IV Anesth premed 100-200 mcg/kg. Sedation in minor surgical and medical procedures 10-20 mg. Adjunct in the management of seizures 10-20 mg, repeat if needed after 30-60 min.

IV/IM Muscle spasms 10 mg, repeat 4 hr later if needed.
Alcohol w/drawal syndrome 10-20 mg. Severe anxiety Up to 10 mg, repeat if needed after 4 hr.

Rectal Severe anxiety As rectal soln: 500 mcg/kg, repeat 12 hr later if needed. As supp: 10-30 mg. Anesth premed As rectal soln: 500 mcg/kg.

Adjunct in the management of seizures As rectal gel: 200-500 mcg/kg, repeat 4-12 hr later if needed. Muscle spasms As rectal soln: 500 mcg/kg, repeat 12 hrly if needed.

Children:
Status epileptius, convulsions, due to poisoning, febrile convulsions 0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg body weight, IV / IM or 1 mg per year of life
Tetanus As for adult’s dose
Pre-operative medication 0.2 mg/kg body weight

Pregnancy & Lactation

This medicine is not allowed during pregnancy. Do not use it if you are pregnant. It can be absorbed through the skin and lungs caused can damage your unborn child’s organs and cause congenital disabilities. Strict effective birth control during treatment and for six months after stopping this medicine. If you do become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and discuss your doctor right away.

There is no specific information on whether this medicine passes into breast milk or not. Considering the possible risks for the children, breastfeeding while using this medicine is not recommended and at least two weeks after the last dose. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Pack Size & Price