Diazepan Prodes 10mg

About Diazepam

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).

It comes as tablets, a liquid that you swallow, or in a rectal tube – medicine that's squeezed into your bottom (anus). It can also be given as an injection in hospital.

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.

Who Can Take Diazepam

• - Most adults aged 18 years and over can take diazepam tablets and liquid. People aged over 65 might need to take a lower dose.
• - Children aged 1 month and older can take it for muscle spasms.
• - Diazepam rectal tubes can be used by adults and children.

Who May Not Be Able To Take Diazepam

Diazepam is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting to take diazepam if you:

• - Have ever had an allergic reaction to diazepam or any other medicine.
• - 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 a personality disorder.
• - Have ever 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.

Dosage

Your doctor will decide the right dose of diazepam for you. It's important to take diazepam exactly as your doctor tells you to.

Dosage for tablets and liquid

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.

Dosage For Rectal Tubes

Your doctor will decide the right dose of diazepam rectal tubes for you or your child according to your weight, age and general health.

How To Take Or Use It

Tablets And Liquid

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.

If you're having a seizure, they also need to know how long to wait before giving you rectal diazepam. This depends on the type of seizure and how long it lasts.

Before prescribing diazepam rectal tubes your doctor will talk to you and your family member or carer about how to recognise the type of seizure that should be treated with this medicine. They will also teach your family member or carer how to give the medicine.

How Long To Take It

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.

Side Effects of Diazepam

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 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).