Valium was released in 1963 as an improved version of Librium. It is more potent than Librium and quickly surpassed Librium in terms of sales. After the success of Valium, other pharmaceutical companies started introducing other benzodiazepine derivatives. If you are using the concentrated solution, discard the opened bottle after 90 days. This medication may interfere with certain lab tests, possibly causing false test results.
Drug Metabolism
- Patients should be advised against the simultaneous ingestion of alcohol and other CNS-depressant drugs during Valium therapy.
- The plasma half-life of diazepam is prolonged in neonates, in the elderly, and in patients with kidney or liver disease 6.
- Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
- How benzodiazepines affect a person depends on many things, but there is no safe level of benzodiazepine use.
- A controlled substance is a drug that the DEA regulates to ensure safety, facilitate medical use, and prevent misuse within legal guidelines.
- The dosage is based on your medical condition, age, and response to treatment.
If you are not sure why your doctor has prescribed diazepam, ask your doctor. When federal and state drug classifications disagree, it can lead to legal conflicts. While some states have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use, it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance at the federal level.
What are the advantages of benzodiazepines?
Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or https://sober-house.org/choosing-an-alcohol-rehab-treatment-program/ clear vision until you can do it safely. If directed by your doctor, take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well.
Valium – Uses, Side Effects, and More
No matter which brand you are prescribed, diazepam works in the same way to treat your condition. Diazepam works by increasing the effect of several naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that make you feel calm, relaxed and sleepy. Some states have also implemented harm reduction a proclamation on national impaired driving prevention month 2022 measures, such as supervised injection sites or needle exchange programs, for substances like heroin or other opioids. These practices have been shown to be highly effective in preventing disease but may conflict with federal drug laws, which maintain a more punitive approach.
Information to help you understand the possible harms from long-term use of benzodiazepines and how to lower risk of dependence. This means that they slow down the activity of the central nervous system and the messages travelling between the brain and the body. You can also visit healthdirect’s list of medicines that contain diazepam to read the CMI for the brand of diazepam prescribed.
Schedule 3 substances in the United States are considered to have a lower potential for abuse compared with Schedule 1 and 2 drugs. They have accepted medical uses and a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule 2 and Schedule 2N substances in the United States are drugs considered to have a high potential for misuse but with acknowledged medical uses under strict regulation. In the United States, Schedule 1 drugs are substances classified as having a high potential for misuse, no current medical use, and a lack of safety even under medical supervision. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
All of these drugs can depress breathing, resulting in an increased risk of overdose or death if mixed. Mixing benzodiazepines with other depressant (downer) drugs like alcohol, gabapentin and opioids (such as heroin, buprenorphine, and methadone) can pose serious health risks. Diazepam is also used to relax muscles and treat muscle spasms caused by injury or conditions such as cerebral palsy and paraplegia.
Drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, or unsteadiness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Valium. You should refer to the prescribing information for Valium for a complete list of interactions.
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. Suddenly stopping this medication may cause serious (possibly fatal) withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, trouble sleeping, restlessness, hallucinations/confusion, depression, nausea, or seizures. The plasma half-life of diazepam is prolonged in neonates, in the elderly, and in patients with kidney or liver disease 6.
Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction.
Benzodiazepines should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of alcohol or drug abuse (see DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE). Valium is not recommended in the treatment of psychotic patients and should https://sober-home.org/cbt-for-alcoholism-and-drug-addiction-does-it-work/ not be employed instead of appropriate treatment. In acute alcohol withdrawal, Valium may be useful in the symptomatic relief of acute agitation, tremor, impending or acute delirium tremens and hallucinosis.
Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed medications. They’re an important means of treating many conditions, ranging from mental health disorders to brain-related diseases. While these medications can treat many conditions and help millions, they’re not without risks. If your healthcare provider prescribes one of these medications, don’t hesitate to ask for guidance, and take the medications exactly as prescribed. That way, you can benefit from these medications and reduce the risk of problems along the way.
Diazepam accumulates upon multiple dosing and there is some evidence that the terminal elimination half-life is slightly prolonged. Food, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, medicine and illegal drugs do not count as psychoactive substances. Federal and state drug laws coexist in the United States, creating a complex legal landscape.