This may even be fatal. You may be given the drug flumazenil to reverse a benzodiazepine overdose. This drug may increase your risk for seizures. Your doctor will regularly reassess your condition to see if diazepam is still appropriate for you to take. This drug may cause more frequent and more severe seizures. If you suddenly stop taking diazepam, you may temporarily have more seizures. Taking it a second time after an allergic reaction could be fatal.
It may stop your liver from processing this drug correctly, causing more of it to stay in your body for longer. This may increase your risk for side effects. This drug can interfere with your judgment, thinking, and motor skills. It can also make you drowsy and cause your breathing to slow down or stop. Also, your body processes alcohol and this drug in similar ways. That means that if you drink alcohol, this drug might take longer to leave your body.
This may cause worse side effects. For people with kidney disease: Diazepam is removed from your body by your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, more of the drug may stay in your body for longer, putting you at risk for side effects. Your doctor may adjust your dosage and monitor you more closely. For people with acute narrow-angle glaucoma : Talk to your doctor if you have glaucoma.
You may have a higher risk for becoming addicted, dependent, or tolerant to diazepam. For people with liver disease: Diazepam is processed by your liver. If you have liver problems, more of this drug may stay in your body, putting you at risk for side effects. Your doctor may adjust your dosage of diazepam and monitor you more closely. Diazepam may make these problems worse. Your doctor will monitor you more closely. Myasthenia gravis is a disease that causes extreme muscle weakness and tiredness.
For people with breathing problems: Let your doctor know if you have breathing problems. Diazepam affects your CNS and may make it more difficult for you to breathe or cause you to stop breathing. Your doctor may start you on a lower dosage and monitor you more closely. If your breathing problems are severe or you have sleep apnea, your doctor may prescribe a different medication for you instead.
For pregnant people: Diazepam is a category D pregnancy drug. That means two things:. Taking this drug during pregnancy may cause babies to be born with deformities, muscle weakness, breathing and eating problems, low body temperatures, and withdrawal symptoms. Diazepam should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit for the mother justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
For people who are breastfeeding: Diazepam passes into breast milk and can cause serious effects in a child who is breastfed. For seniors: Seniors may have a higher risk for side effects, such as motor ataxia loss of muscle coordination while you move. This drug may also have more of a sedative effect in seniors.
You may experience more dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, or a slowing or stopping of breathing. Your doctor will prescribe the lowest dosage possible to control your symptoms. For children: Keep this drug out of the reach of children. Diazepam can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects. Below is a list of medications that can interact with diazepam.
Alcohol can increase the effects of diazepam. It can make you go into a very deep sleep. There's a risk you will not be able to breathe properly, and may have difficulty waking up.
Using cannabis, heroin or methadone with diazepam will increase the drowsy effects of diazepam. There's a risk you will not be able to breathe properly, and you may have difficulty waking up. Using cocaine or other stimulants like MDMA ecstasy and amphetamines with diazepam can also lead to drowsiness. Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking diazepam. Grapefruit juice may increase the amount of diazepam in your blood. It's a good idea to avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking diazepam.
Caffeine is a stimulant and may reduce the calming effects of diazepam. It's best not to have drinks like coffee, tea and cola because they contain caffeine. Alcohol can increase the effects of diazepam and make you go into a very deep sleep. Diazepam will not affect any contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. Some contraceptive pills can keep diazepam in your body for longer and increase its effect.
You can also get bleeding in between your periods if you take diazepam and contraceptive pills together. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking diazepam will reduce fertility in either men or women.
If you're trying to get pregnant, or you're having problems getting pregnant while on diazepam, speak to your doctor. Do not drive a car or ride a bike if diazepam makes you sleepy during the daytime, gives you blurred vision, or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions. This may be more likely when you first start taking diazepam, but could happen at any time for example, when starting another medicine.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Even if your ability to drive is not affected, the police have the right to request a saliva sample to check how much diazepam is in your body. UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking diazepam. Do not operate machinery if you experience any side effects, such as feeling sleepy, being forgetful, or poor co-ordination.
It depends on which country you're travelling to. Different countries have different rules and regulations for diazepam. It's important to plan ahead and find out whether you can take your medicine abroad. It's best to only take the amount that you need while abroad.
You can contact the embassy for the country you're visiting. The GOV. UK website has a full list of foreign embassies in the UK. If you have anxiety, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help ease symptoms:. If you're having trouble sleeping, there are some things you can do to help yourself get a good night's sleep:.
Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February Diazepam On this page About diazepam Key facts Who can and can't take diazepam How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.
About diazepam Diazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. Diazepam is available on prescription only. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? The most common side effect is feeling drowsy. You're not recommended to use diazepam for longer than 4 weeks. If you take diazepam and feel sleepy, do not drive or use tools or machines. Do not drink alcohol while taking diazepam.
It can make you sleep very deeply. You may have breathing problems and difficulty waking up. It's also known as Valium, but this brand is not available in the UK anymore. It can also be taken by children aged 1 month or older for muscle spasms. Diazepam rectal tubes can be used by adults and children.
To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting diazepam if you: have had an allergic reaction to diazepam or any other medicine in the past have liver or kidney problems have myasthenia gravis , a condition that causes muscle weakness have sleep apnoea , a condition that causes breathing problems when you're asleep have depression or thoughts of harming yourself or suicide have been diagnosed with personality disorder have or have had problems with alcohol or drugs have recently had a loss or bereavement have arteriosclerosis , a condition that affects the blood flow to your brain have low levels of a protein called albumin in your blood are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or breastfeeding are over 65 are going to be put to sleep have a general anaesthetic for an operation or other medical treatment.
Rectal tube Diazepam rectal tubes or rectal diazepam can be used if you or your child is having a fit. Tablets and liquid Take diazepam tablets or liquid with a drink of water. You'll usually take your medicine 1 to 3 times a day.
The usual dose for: anxiety - is 2mg taken 3 times a day. This can be increased to 5mg to 10mg 3 times a day. This can be given as 1mg twice a day and go up to 5mg 3 times a day. The dose can be increased up to 20mg 3 times a day if needed. It's usually given twice a day, with 10 to 12 hours between each dose. What if I forget to take it? Manufacturer advises monitor concentration and adjust dose. Nitrous oxide. Diazepam potentially affects the concentration of phenytoin.
Rifampicin moderately decreases the exposure to diazepam. Manufacturer advises avoid. Ritonavir is predicted to increase the exposure to diazepam. Sodium oxybate.
Tocilizumab is predicted to decrease the exposure to diazepam.
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