Description

Diazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines.

It’s used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures or fits. It’s also used in hospital to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating or difficulty sleeping.

It can also be taken to help you relax before an operation or other medical or dental treatments. This is known as a pre-med.

It works by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Key facts

• The most common side effect of diazepam 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, cycle 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 possible to get addicted to diazepam, but you’re less likely to get addicted if you take it at the lowest dose that helps your symptoms, for up to 4 weeks.
• Diazepam is also known as Valium, but this brand is not available in the UK anymore.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, diazepam can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Common side effects

These common side effects of diazepam happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

• Feeling sleepy or drowsy
• Confusion
• Problems with your co-ordination or controlling your movements
• Shaky hands (tremors)

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking diazepam.Call a doctor or call 111 now if:

• your skin turns yellow, or the whites of your eyes turn yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin
• you see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)
• you think things that are not true (delusions)
• you keep falling over
• you have unusual mood changes such as talking more than usual or feeling overexcited, agitated, restless, irritable or aggressive – these side effects are more likely in children or if you’re over 65

Make an appointment to see your doctor if you have memory loss (amnesia).Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

• your breathing becomes very slow or shallow

Find your nearest A&E

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, diazepam may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who’s unwell may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Long-term side effects

Diazepam can cause withdrawal symptoms if you take it for a long time.If you’re prescribed diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be reduced gradually when you stop taking it to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of diazepam. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Information Leaflet

Diazepam – 2mg, 5mg, 10mg – Patient Information Leaflet

Dosage Recommendation

The usual dose is:

• anxiety – 2mg, taken 3 times a day, this can be increased to 5mg to 10mg, taken 3 times a day
• sleep problems (related to anxiety) – 5mg to 15mg, taken once a day at bedtime
• muscle spasms in adults – 2mg to 15 mg a day. This can be taken as 1mg twice a day and can go up to 5mg taken 3 times a day. The dose can be increased to up to 20mg, taken 3 times a day if needed
• muscle spasms in children (aged 1 month to 17 years) – the dose varies depending on age. It’s usually taken twice a day, with 10 to 12 hours between each dose

Your dose might be lower if you’re over 65 or have kidney or liver problems or severe breathing problems.

How to take or use it

Take diazepam tablets or liquid with a drink of water. You can take them with or without food.If you’re taking diazepam as a liquid, the medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.

How long to take it for

How long you’ll need to take diazepam for depends on why you’re taking it. It is usually only recommended for a short period of time of up to 4 weeks.If you’re prescribed diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be reduced gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

If you forget to take it

If you’re taking diazepam regularly and forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

If you take more than your prescribed dose of diazepam you may get symptoms including:

• poor co-ordination or trouble speaking
• feeling sleepy
• a slow or irregular heartbeat
• uncontrolled eye movements
• muscle weakness
• feeling overexcited

The amount of diazepam that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if you take more than your prescribed dose of diazepamGo to 111.nhs.uk or call 111If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.Take the diazepam packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.