Valium
Buy ValiumValium Information
Generic Name: Diazepam
Valium (diazepam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.
In acute alcohol withdrawal, Valium (diazepam) may be useful in the symptomatic relief of acute agitation, tremor, impending or acute delirium tremens and hallucinosis.
Diazepam is a useful adjunct for the relief of skeletal muscle spasm due to reflex spasm to local pathology (such as inflammation of the muscles or joints, or secondary to trauma); spasticity caused by upper motor neuron disorders (such as cerebral palsy and paraplegia); athetosis; stiff-man syndrome; and tetanus.
Injectable diazepam is a useful adjunct in status epilepticus and severe recurrent convulsive seizures.
Diazepam is a useful premedication (for injectable solution only, the IM route is preferred) for relief of anxiety and tension in patients who are to undergo surgical procedures. Intravenously, prior to cardioversion for the relief of anxiety and tension and to diminish the patient's recall of the procedure.
How Does Valium Work?
In animals, Valium appears to act on parts of the limbic system, the thalamus and hypothalamus, and induces calming effects. Valium, unlike chlorpromazine and reserpine, has no demonstrable peripheral autonomic blocking action, nor does it produce extrapyramidal side effects; however, animals treated with diazepam do have a transient ataxia at higher doses. Diazepam was found to have transient cardiovascular depressor effects in dogs. Long-term experiments in rats revealed no disturbances of endocrine function.
Injectable Solution Only: Injections into animals have produced localized irritation of tissue surrounding injection sites and some thickening of veins after intravenous use.
How To Take Valium and Valium Dosage and Administration
Injectable Solution
Dosage should be individualized for maximum beneficial effect. The usual recommended dose in older children and adults ranges from 2 mg to 20 mg IM or IV, depending on the indication and its severity. In some conditions, e.g., tetanus, larger doses may be required. In acute conditions the injection may be repeated within one hour although an interval of 3 to 4 hours is usually satisfactory. Lower doses (usually 2 mg to 5 mg) and increase in dosage should be used for elderly or debilitated patients and when other sedative drugs are administered.
For dosage in infants above the age of 30 days and children. Facilities for respiratory assistance should be readily available.
- Intramuscular: Diazepam injectable solution should be injected deeply into the muscle.
- Intravenous Use: The solution or emulsion should be injected slowly, taking at least one minute for each 5 mg (1 ml) given. Do not use small veins such as those on the dorsum of the hand or wrist. Extreme care should be taken to avoid intra-arterial administration or extravasation.
Do not mix or dilute diazepam injectable solution with other solutions or drugs in syringe or infusion container. If it is not feasible to administer diazepam directly IV, it may be injected slowly through the infusion tubing as close as possible to vein insertion.
Injectable Emulsion
Valium injectable emulsion is intended for intravenous use only and should NOT be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Dosage should be individualized for maximum beneficial effect. The usual recommended dose in older children and adults ranges from 2 mg to 20 mg IV, depending on the indication and its severity.
In some conditions, e.g., tetanus, larger doses may be required. There are data comparing intravenously administered diazepam injectable emulsion in females and males that are suggestive of (1) a slightly lower bioavailability of diazepam for females compared to males, and (2) for younger patients (ages 20-55), a relative potency for females compared to males of roughly 2/3. In acute conditions the injection may be repeated within one hour although an interval of 3 to 4 hours is usually satisfactory. Lower doses (usually 2 mg to 5 mg) and increase in dosage should be used for elderly or debilitated patients and when other sedative drugs are administered.
For dosage in infants above the age of 30 days and children. Facilities for respiratory assistance should be readily available.
- Intravenous Use: The emulsion should be injected slowly, taking at least one minute for each each 5 mg (1 ml) given. Do not use small veins, such as those on the dorsum of the hand or wrist. Extreme care should be taken to avoid intra-arterial administration or extravasation.
If you suspect a Valium Overdose
Manifestations of diazepam overdosage include:
- somnolence
- confusion
- coma
- diminished reflexes
Overdose Management
Respiration, pulse and blood pressure should be monitored, as in all cases of drug overdosage, although, in general, these effects have been minimal following overdosage. General supportive measures should be employed, along with intravenous fluids, and an adequate airway maintained. Hypotension may be combated by the use of levarterenol (for injectable solution), norepinephrine (for injectable emulsion), or metaraminol (for either form). Dialysis is of limited value.
Valium Side Effects
Valium Drug Interactions
Valium is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to this drug; acute narrow angle glaucoma; and open angle glaucoma unless patients are receiving appropriate therapy.
Injectable Emulsion Only: Because the diazepam emulsion vehicle contains soybean oil, Valium injectable emulsion should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to soy protein.
Valium Precautions and Contraindications
Although seizures may be brought under control promptly, a significant proportion of patients experience a return to seizure activity, presumably due to the short-lived effect of diazepam after I.V. administration. The physician should be prepared to readminister the drug. However, diazepam is not recommended for maintenance, and once seizures are brought under control, consideration should be given to the administration of agents useful in longer term control of seizures.
If Valium is to be combined with other psychotropic agents or anticonvulsant drugs, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents to be employed, particularly with known compounds which may potentiate the action of Valium such as phenothiazines, narcotics, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors and other antidepressants. In highly anxious patients with evidence of accompanying depression, particularly those who may have suicidal tendencies, protective measures may be necessary. The usual precautions in treating patients with impaired hepatic function should be observed. Metabolites of Valium are excreted by the kidney; to avoid their excess accumulation, caution should be exercised in the administration to patients with compromised kidney function.
Since an increase in cough reflex and laryngospasm may occur with peroral endoscopic procedures, the use of a topical anesthetic agent and the availability of necessary countermeasures are recommended. Injectable forms of Valium have produced hypotension or muscular weakness in some patients, particularly when used with narcotics, barbiturates or alcohol.
Valium Clinical Trials and Studies
Storing Valium
Store at or below 25° C (77° F).
