DIAZEPAM - INJECTION
Common Brand Name(s): Valium
Phonetic Pronunciation: (dye-AZZ-eh-pam)
Information last revised May 2010
What does DIAZEPAM-INJECTION look like?
diazepam 5 mg/mL Syringe
diazepam 5 mg/mL Syringe
Uses:
Diazepam is used to treat anxiety and muscle spasms. The injection form is used when the medication cannot be taken by mouth. It is also used in patients with alcohol withdrawal to prevent seizures and treat other symptoms (e.g., agitation, anxiety, hallucinations). This medication is also used for short-term treatment of serious seizures that do not stop (status epilepticus). It is not for ongoing daily use to prevent seizures. It is also used before surgeries or procedures to cause drowsiness, decrease anxiety, and cause forgetfulness about the procedure or surgery. This medication belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA) that causes calm.
Missed Dose
Not applicable. This medication is not usually given on a regular schedule.
How To Use
Learn all preparation and usage instructions in the product package. Do not mix with other medications in the same syringe/solution. If any of the information is unclear, consult your doctor or pharmacist. This medication is given by injection into a vein or deep into a muscle by a health care professional. Giving the medication too fast can cause heart problems. If giving this medication into a vein, inject it slowly into a large vein because the medication is very irritating to the vein. Do not inject this medication into an artery or into the skin. This medication may be available in a vial, ampule, pre-filled syringe, or pre-filled syringe with autoinjector. The autoinjector automatically delivers a dose of 10 milligrams deep into the muscle. It cannot be used when a lower dose is needed. Do not use the autoinjector for injecting into a vein. The liquid should be clear to pale yellow. Before using this product, check it visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. If you are using a form of this drug that requires preparation, prepare it just before using. Discard any unused solution. If you have questions about the use of this medication, consult the pharmacist. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. You will be closely monitored for several hours after receiving this medication. If your doctor orders you to continue to receive this medication, you should be switched to a form that can be taken by mouth as soon as possible. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as shakiness, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, seizures, mental/mood changes such as anxiety/agitation) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately. Rarely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction) is possible with this medication. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. When used for an extended time, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Drug Interactions
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: fluvoxamine, sodium oxybate. If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: kava, phenytoin. Other medications can affect the removal of diazepam from your body, which may affect how diazepam works. Examples include cimetidine, ketoconazole, omeprazole, among others. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, clozapine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone, MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that may cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. This medication contains a small amount of alcohol. Tell your doctor if you are taking drugs such as disulfiram or metronidazole that can cause an unpleasant reaction when combined with alcohol. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood count, liver function tests) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: extreme drowsiness/dizziness, confusion, slow/shallow breathing, loss of consciousness.
Precautions
Before using diazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines (e.g., chlordiazepoxide); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: breathing trouble during sleep (sleep apnea), severe breathing problems (except in patients who are breathing with help from a machine), certain blood disorder (porphyria), certain eye problem (glaucoma), a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis). Before using this medication, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: breathing problems (e.g., asthma), brain problems that could affect breathing (e.g., decreased consciousness, head injury), depression, history of drug/alcohol abuse, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (e.g., depression), certain type of seizure (petit mal). This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. For at least 3 hours after receiving this drug, you should not get out of bed without help. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until the effects of the medication wear off (at least 24 hours). Avoid alcoholic beverages. Get up slowly to avoid dizziness and lightheadedness when rising from a sitting or lying position. Alcoholic beverages will increase these effects. Caution is advised when using this drug in children because it may affect children differently, causing restlessness or mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations) instead of calm. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially confusion and dizziness. This medication may also affect the elderly differently, causing restlessness or mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations) instead of calm. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Consult your doctor before using this medication. This drug may pass into breast milk and have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Storage
Store vials at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C). Store pre-filled injectors at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Side Effects
Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, unsteadiness, or pain/burning/redness at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, strange thoughts), muscle weakness, pain/swelling/signs of infection at the injection site, vision changes (e.g., blurred/double vision). Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, easy bleeding/bruising, chest pain, loss of consciousness, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), slurred speech, severe stomach/abdominal pain, unusual tiredness, dark urine, difficulty walking, yellowing eyes/skin. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.
The information contained in the First DataBank databases is intended to supplement the knowledge of physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals regarding drug therapy problems and patient counselling information. This information is advisory only and is not intended to replace sound clinical judgment in the delivery of healthcare services. First DataBank disclaims all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including any warranty as to the quality, accuracy, and suitability of this information for any purpose.
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