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.
Diazepam will work quite quickly or more slowly depending on what you're taking it for: seizures or fits – diazepam rectal tubes should start to work within 10 minutes. anxiety – you should start to feel a bit better within a few hours, but it may take a week or 2 for you to feel the full effects.
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.
Neither food nor antacid altered the rate of diazepam absorption and did not impair the completeness of absorption. Higher peak total plasma diazepam concentrations occurred in the postprandial as opposed to the fasting state, but this was an artifact of reduced protein binding (increased free fraction) due to fasting.
Rare Valium side effects include:
Gastrointestinal issues that can include nausea, constipation, and other issues.
diazePAM food
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with diazePAM and lead to potentially dangerous side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
Drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, or unsteadiness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
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.
If you are taking diazepam to help you sleep, you should take it just before bedtime. Diazepam can be taken before or after food.
For anxiety: Adults—2 to 10 milligrams (mg) 2 to 4 times a day. Older adults—At first, 2 to 2.5 mg 1 or 2 times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
The physiological effects of Valium (diazepam) don't last long, only about 4-6 hours. However, Valium's long half life makes Valium drug test detectable in your system for days after you take it.
Valium is a long-acting drug with effects that last for more than 12 hours. Its long duration of action is due to two main reasons: Valium is soluble in fat, and quickly leaves the bloodstream to reside in fat. Once diazepam is out of the blood, it takes longer for the body to break it down and get rid of it.
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.
Diazepam causes drowsiness and muscle weakness and can impair concentration, alertness and judgement. These effects may continue into the following day. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
The benzodiazepines have a limited role in insomnia and diazepam is used for the short-term management of insomnia associated with anxiety. The BNF recommends a dose of 5 to 15 mg by mouth at bedtime.
Valium (diazepam) is a medication that can be used to treat anxiety as well as alcohol withdrawal and seizures. Valium also has a sedative effect that is useful for treating muscle spasms. Valium for anxiety works by calming the brain and nerves.
With diazepam, a nonbasic lipophilic amine, there was 30% uptake during the first pass through the human lung--significantly less than that observed with verapamil. With thiopental, an acidic lipophilic barbiturate, only 14% of the injected drug accumulated in the lung during the first pass.
Notes for Professionals: Patients taking benzodiazepines for insomnia should not use caffeine-containing products prior to going to bed as these products may antagonize the sedative effects of the benzodiazepine.
Prolonged Valium use can lead to rebound anxiety and exacerbate a number of concurrent mental health issues. Many treatment programs are equipped to address both issues simultaneously.
Subjectively, caffeine and theophylline counteracted diazepam induced drowsiness and mental slowness. The results suggest, therefore, that the ample use of methylxanthines compensates various side-effects of benzodiazepines in man. It may also increase the need of sedation and thus the consumption of benzodiazepines.
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine sleeping pill.
Response and effectiveness. 90% of Valium is absorbed and the peak effect of Valium is seen within 1 to 1.5 hours in most people. Diazepam is 98% bound to plasma proteins. Food delays the time to peak to about 2.5 hours.
Valium, diazepam, is a long-acting benzodiazepine, that is often used, against recommendation, to treat anxiety disorders such as panic disorder.
Valium is a drug used for managing anxiety disorders and short-term treatment of anxiety symptoms. The drug, which is also sold under the generic name diazepam, works by actually slowing down activity in your brain.