Valium

Diazepam (Valium) is a commonly used sedative and anti-anxiety drug in the benzodiazepine group. White or white with a slight yellowish tinge, fine crystalline powder, practically insoluble in water, hardly soluble in alcohol.

The drug has a sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant (relaxes muscles) and amnestic action. Enhances the effect of sleeping pills, narcotic, neuroleptic, analgesic drugs, alcohol.

Diazepam is on the WHO Essential Medicines List, which defines the minimum set of medicines needed in a health care system. The drug is used, in particular, for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, epileptic convulsions, muscle spasms, alcohol dependence. In preparation for certain medical procedures, such as endoscopy, diazepam is used to sedate the patient or for anesthesia.

General information

Diazepam is one of the main benzodiazepine tranquilizers that has found wide application in medical practice.

The drug and its main metabolites are excreted mainly in the urine.

Therapeutic effects and indications for use

Diazepam is prescribed for various neuropsychiatric diseases: neurosis, psychopathy, as well as neurosis-like and psychopathic conditions in schizophrenia, organic brain damage, including cerebrovascular diseases, somatic diseases accompanied by signs of emotional stress, anxiety, fear, increased irritability , senestoipochondriacal, obsessive and phobic disorders, with sleep disorders. It is also used to relieve psychomotor agitation and anxious agitation in these diseases.

In children’s psychoneurological practice, diazepam is prescribed for neurotic and neurosis-like conditions, accompanied by the above phenomena, as well as headaches, enuresis, mood and behavioral disorders.

Diazepam is used in epilepsy for the treatment of convulsive paroxysms, mental equivalents, for the relief of status epilepticus. In connection with the muscle relaxant effect, the drug is also used in various spastic conditions.

In combination with other drugs, diazepam is prescribed for the treatment of withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism.

In anesthesiology practice it is used for preoperative preparation of patients.

In dermatological practice, it is used for itchy dermatoses.

The drug reduces the nocturnal secretion of gastric juice, which can play an important role when prescribing it as a sedative and hypnotic for patients with gastric ulcer

The drug also has an antiarrhythmic effect.

Diazepam is used for premedication and ataralgesia before endoscopy and surgery in combination with analgesics and other neurotropic drugs.

Diazepam is an integral part of the hypnotic drug reladorm (see Cyclobarbital).

Application methods

Apply diazepam inside, intravenously or intramuscularly. A sedative effect is observed within a few minutes after intravenous and 30-40 minutes after intramuscular administration of diazepam, the therapeutic effect is observed after 3-10 days. After removing the acute manifestations of the disease, diazepam is prescribed orally.

A solution of sibazon should not be administered in the same syringe with other drugs in order to avoid precipitation.

Dosage

When taken orally, it is recommended to prescribe the drug to adults, starting with a dose of 0.0025-0.005 g (2.5-5 mg) 1-2 times a day, and then gradually increase it. Usually a single dose for adults is 0.005-0.01 g (5-10 mg). In some cases (with increased arousal, fear, anxiety), a single dose can be increased to 0.02 g (20 mg). When treated in a hospital and with careful medical supervision, the daily dose can reach 0.045 g (45 mg). In outpatient treatment, it is not recommended to prescribe more than 0.025 g (25 mg) per day.

The maximum daily dose is 0.06 g (60 mg). The daily therapeutic dose is given in 2-3 doses.

Weakened and elderly people are recommended to take the drug in reduced doses (0.0025 g (2.5 mg) 1-2 times a day).

For sleep disorders, adults are prescribed 2.5-5 mg at bedtime.