Valium (Diazepam) - Summary

VALIUM SUMMARY

Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine derivative.

Valium 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 may be useful in the symptomatic relief of acute agitation, tremor, impending or acute delirium tremens and hallucinosis.
Valium 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, and stiff-man syndrome.
Oral Valium may be used adjunctively in convulsive disorders, although it has not proved useful as the sole therapy.
The effectiveness of Valium in long-term use, that is, more than 4 months, has not been assessed by systematic clinical studies. The physician should periodically reassess the usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.

See all Valium indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Valium (Diazepam)

Safety and effectiveness of long-term treatment with diazepam auto-injector administered by caregivers in an outpatient setting for the treatment of acute repetitive seizures. [2014]
OBJECTIVE: Part 1 of this phase III study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of caregiver administered diazepam auto-injector (AI) in subjects with acute repetitive seizures (ARS) and demonstrated that diazepam AI was well-tolerated and significantly more effective than placebo AI in delaying the time to next seizure or rescue...

Lorazepam vs diazepam for pediatric status epilepticus: a randomized clinical trial. [2014]
IMPORTANCE: Benzodiazepines are considered first-line therapy for pediatric status epilepticus...

Valproate versus diazepam for generalized convulsive status epilepticus: a pilot study. [2011.12]
Background and purpose: Evidence-based data to guide the management of status epilepticus (SE) after failure of primary treatment are still scarce and the alternate needs to be found when phenytoin (PHT) is not available or contraindicated. Comparison of intravenous (IV) valproate (VPA) and diazepam (DZP) infusion has not been conducted in adults with SE...

Diazepam pharmacokinetics after nasal drop and atomized nasal administration in dogs. [2011.02]
The standard of care for emergency therapy of seizures in veterinary patients is intravenous (i.v.) administration of benzodiazepines, although rectal administration of diazepam is often recommended for out-of-hospital situations, or when i.v...

Clinical efficacy and cardiorespiratory effects of alfaxalone, or diazepam/fentanyl for induction of anaesthesia in dogs that are a poor anaesthetic risk. [2011.01]
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and cardiorespiratory effects of alfaxalone as an anaesthetic induction agent in dogs with moderate to severe systemic disease... CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Induction of anaesthesia with alfaxalone resulted in similar cardiorespiratory effects when compared to the fentanyl-diazepam-propofol combination and is a clinically acceptable induction agent in sick dogs.

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Clinical Trials Related to Valium (Diazepam)

Comparison of Absorption of Vaginal Diazepam Using Different Delivery Systems [Terminated]
The purpose of this study is to determine which of three delivery systems of vaginal diazepam have the best systemic absorption, measured by serum diazepam levels. The three delivery systems are: moistened tablet, suppository or cream. Additionally the study will compare the side effects and absorption of vaginal diazepam with oral diazepam. Vaginal diazepam is used off-label vaginally to relax pelvic floor muscles and reduce pelvic pain caused from pelvic floor dysfunction.

A Study of Diazepam After Intranasal and Intravenous Administration to Healthy Volunteers [Completed]
The purpose of this clinical research study is to assess the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of two formulations of diazepam after intranasal (nasal spray) and injectable diazepam after intravenous (I. V.) administration

Vaginal Diazepam for the Treatment of Female Pelvic Pain [Recruiting]
To determine the efficacy of intravaginal diazepam for the treatment of pelvic pain associated with pelvic floor hypertonic disorder.

Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) With Diazepam [Active, not recruiting]

PTSD is a pervasive and frequent disorder. Early psychological treatment - but not

pharmacology - effectively prevent PTSD.

Current pharmacological studies did not include treatment given immediately after trauma exposure. However, a recent study of opiates suggests that their early administration may reduce the

likelihood of developing PTSD - possibly by mitigating early post-traumatic distress (UCR) -

within an adequate window of time.

Benzodiazepines are often used to reduce anxiety and agitation during stressful situations -

including traumatic event. These compounds may increase the likelihood of developing PTSD when administered few days

after the traumatic event - but their effect as an immediate intervention has not been

studied - despite their frequent and uninformed use at this stage.

This work will evaluate the effect of diazepam - a BZ compound - on PTSD symptom trajectory

following traumatic event in a randomized controlled design. Following the studies of opiates it is hoped that diazepam, administered within hours of the traumatic event, and before the first night sleep (a memory consolidating condition) will reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD. However, an adverse effect cannot be excluded, and thus the investigators posit a bidirectional hypothesis. The importance of this work is that it will provide the necessary evidence to sanction a frequently practiced use of benzodiazepines.

A Comparison of Lorazepam and Diazepam in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of two commonly used medications in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, diazepam and lorazepam.

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Reports of Suspected Valium (Diazepam) Side Effects

Drug Ineffective (31),  Insomnia (27),  Somnolence (21),  Toxicity TO Various Agents (21),  Headache (20),  Coma (16),  Sopor (16),  Fatigue (15),  Anxiety (15),  Suicide Attempt (15), more >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Valium review by 53 year old male patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		anxiety/depression
Dosage & duration:		5mg taken 3 times daily for the period of still taking
Other conditions:		depression
Other drugs taken:		paxil
		Reported Results
Benefits:		The paxil ,valium combination releived my symtoms.
Side effects:		No side effects from valium,side effects from paxil were ,feeling off balance,sharp pains in the eyes,sexual disfunction. Finally went off paxil.
Comments:		I was prescribed paxil for depression, it worked but the side effects became to much after about 2 yrs, but for those 2 yrs . my depression and axiety were under control. The valium does releive my anxiety symtoms . I was taking 20 mg paxil one time a day at waking and 5 mg valium 3 times a day if i was feeling nervous. Have since started taking a vitamin called GH3 and a liquid multi vitamin with cannibis at bed time, have been depression and anxiety free for one year.

Valium review by 35 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		sciatica and low back pain
Dosage & duration:		5 mg taken 1x a day for the period of 6 months
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		i had a severe fall and tore the psoas muscle and damaged the SI joint. Before i was in great physical shape. After I could barely walk a block. After PT which only mildly helped I asked for various meds. Vicodin helped some but left me hung over. Valium released the muscle seizures and allowed me slowly to return to exercise. It's not used much now that there's Flexeril, but F. can lead to depression and doesn't as effectively release muscle tension (in my case).
Side effects:		some sluggishness in the early morning, and sometimes an overall sense of dehydration, but that can be countered with drinking lots of fluids.
Comments:		I determined that the best solution was to take it before bed--i could sleep through the night with it, whereas without I often woke up and had to take more ibuprofen and still slept poorly.

Valium review by care giver of 29 year old male patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Marginally Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		anxiety
Dosage & duration:		10mg taken one pill for the period of one instance
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		The valium was prescribed for the patient in an attempt to relieve anxiety prior to a minor surgery being performed.
Side effects:		The patient was still experiencing anxiety during the minor surgery. After the procedure was over, the patient experienced wobbly legs and had difficulty paying attention.
Comments:		Valium was prescribed for the patient to use prior to having minor surgery to relieve his anxiety.