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DIAZEPAM is a brand name for Diazepam. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: Diazepam injection may be used in severe or disabling anxiety and agitation; for the control of status epilepticus, epileptic and febrile convulsions; to relieve muscle spasm; as a sedative in minor surgical and dental procedures; or other circumstances in which a rapid effect is required.
Verbatim from this product's MHRA label. Tap a section to expand.
Dosage depends on individual response, age and weight.
Adults:
In severe anxiety or acute muscle spasm, diazepam 10mg may be given intravenously or intramuscularly and repeated after 4 hours. 3mg per kg bodyweight may be given intravenously and repeated every 1- 4 hours; alternatively, a continuous infusion of 3 to 10mg per kg every 24 hours may be used or similar doses may be given by nasoduodenal tube.
25mg per kg (usually 10-20mg) is given by intravenous injection. The dose can be repeated if necessary after 30 to 60 minutes. Once the patient is controlled, recurrence of seizures may be prevented by a slow infusion (maximum total dose 3mg per kg over 24 hours).
2mg per kg by injection (usually10-20mg) adjusted to the patient’s requirements.
Elderly:
Elderly or debilitated patients should be given not more than half of the usual dose. Hepatic/renal impairment Dosage reduction may also be required in patients with liver or kidney dysfunction. 3mg per kg (or 1mg per year of life) is given by intravenous injection.
The dose can be repeated if necessary after 30 to 60 minutes. 2mg per kg may be given parenterally.
Neonates:
Not recommended; dosage has not been established and Diazepam Injection contains benzyl alcohol which should be avoided in injections to neonates. 0ml solution per minute). It is advisable to keep the patient supine for at least an hour after administration.
Except in emergencies, a second person should always be present during intravenous use and facilities for resuscitation should always be available. It is recommended that patients should remain under medical supervision until at least one hour has elapsed from the time of injection.
They should always be accompanied home by a responsible adult, with a warning not to drive or operate machinery for 24 hours. Intravenous injection may be associated with local reactions and thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis may occur.
In order to minimise the likelihood of these effects, intravenous injections of diazepam should be given into a large vein of the antecubital fossa. Where continuous intravenous infusion is necessary it is suggested that 2m1 Diazepam Injection is mixed with at least 200m1 of infusion fluid such as Sodium Chloride Injection or Dextrose Injection and that such solutions should be used immediately.
). It is low when limited to short term use. 8 Withdrawal symptoms). This should be considered when treating patients for more than a few days; abrupt discontinuation should be avoided and the dose reduced gradually. 8 Undesirable Effects).
The condition occurs most often several hours after administration. To reduce the risk, where appropriate and possible, patients should be able to have an uninterrupted sleep of 7-8 hours after administration. Use in patients with concomitant mental illness As with other benzodiazepines, extreme caution should be used if prescribing diazepam for patients with personality disorders.
The disinhibiting effects of benzodiazepines may be manifested as the precipitation of suicide in patients who are depressed or show aggressive behaviour towards self and others. Benzyl alcohol poisoning This medicinal product contains 15mg/ml of benzyl alcohol.
There is a risk of benzyl alcohol poisoning with prolonged use of high-dose intravenous infusions of diazepam injection containing benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol may cause toxic reactions and anaphylactoid reactions in infants and children up to three years old.
Must not be given to premature babies or neonates. This medicinal product contains benzoic acid and sodium benzoate which may increase the risk of jaundice in newborn babies. 34mmol sodium per ml. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.
e. 100mg per ml. Harmful for those suffering from alcoholism. To be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women, children and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease or epilepsy. 5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction Alcohol: Enhanced sedation or respiratory or CNS depression with concomitant administration of diazepam.
Concomitant use should be avoided.
2 Posology and Method of Administration), chronic pulmonary insufficiency, porphyria, muscle weakness, myasthenia gravis, coma, a known history of drug or alcohol abuse, or organic brain changes, particularly arteriosclerosis. Diazepam may enhance the effects of other CNS depressants; their concurrent use should be avoided.
2 Posology and Method of Administration). Benzodiazepines should be used with caution in the elderly as long term use is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. 8 Undesirable Effects). It is low when limited to short term use.
8 Withdrawal symptoms). This should be considered when treating patients for more than a few days; abrupt discontinuation should be avoided and the dose reduced gradually. 8 Undesirable Effects). The condition occurs most often several hours after administration.
To reduce the risk, where appropriate and possible, patients should be able to have an uninterrupted sleep of 7-8 hours after administration. Use in patients with concomitant mental illness As with other benzodiazepines, extreme caution should be used if prescribing diazepam for patients with personality disorders.
The disinhibiting effects of benzodiazepines may be manifested as the precipitation of suicide in patients who are depressed or show aggressive behaviour towards self and others. Benzyl alcohol poisoning This medicinal product contains 15mg/ml of benzyl alcohol.
There is a risk of benzyl alcohol poisoning with prolonged use of high-dose intravenous infusions of diazepam injection containing benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol may cause toxic reactions and anaphylactoid reactions in infants and children up to three years old.
Must not be given to premature babies or neonates. This medicinal product contains benzoic acid and sodium benzoate which may increase the risk of jaundice in newborn babies. 34mmol sodium per ml. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.
Known sensitivity to benzodiazepines or any of the ingredients Severe or acute respiratory insufficiency/depression Sleep apnoea syndrome Severe hepatic insufficiency Avoid injection in neonates (contains benzyl alcohol) Diazepam injection should not be used in phobic or obsessional states nor be used alone in the treatment of depression or anxiety associated with depression due to the risk of suicide being precipitated in this patient group.
Diazepam Injection should not be used for the primary treatment of psychotic illness. In common with other benzodiazepines the use of diazepam may be associated with amnesia and Diazepam Injection should not be used in cases of loss or bereavement as psychological adjustment may be inhibited.
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
Other brands of Diazepam in United Kingdom.
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Brand names are compiled from public regulatory records for active-ingredient mapping only. Drugvu is not affiliated with any manufacturer. This is not medical advice.
There is evidence that diazepam is adsorbed onto plastic infusion bags and giving sets. It is therefore recommended that glass bottles should be used for the administration of diazepam by intravenous infusion.
General anaesthetics and narcotic analgesics:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression. If such centrally acting depressant drugs are given parenterally in conjunction with intravenous diazepam, severe respiratory and cardiovascular depression may occur; careful monitoring is required.
g. fentanyl), it is recommended that diazepam be given after the analgesic and that the dose be carefully titrated to meet the patient's needs. Premedication with diazepam may decrease the dose of fentanyl derivatives required for induction of anaesthesia.
Antibacterials:
Agents that interfere with metabolism by hepatic enzymes (isoniazid and to a lesser extent erythromycin) may reduce the clearance of diazepam and potentiate its action. Known inducers of hepatic enzymes, for example, rifampicin, may increase the clearance of diazepam.
Antidepressants:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory or CNS depression with concomitant administration of mirtazapine or tricyclic antidepressants. Diazepam plasma levels increased by concomitant fluvoxamine or fluoxetine.
Antiepileptics:
Enhanced sedaion or respiratory and cardiovascular depression. Known inducers of hepatic enzymes, for example, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin, may increase the clearance of benzodiazepines, however, despite enzyme stimulation, the net effect of adding these antiepileptics can be augmentation of benzodiazepine-induced sedation.
Serum phenytoin levels may rise, fall or remain unaltered. In addition, phenytoin may cause diazepam serum levels to fall. Concomitant sodium valproate may increase serum levels of diazepam, with associated drowsiness.
Antihistamines:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression with sedative antihistamines.
Antihypertensives:
Enhanced hypotensive effect with concomitant administration of ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers or hydralazine. Enhanced sedative effect with alpha blockers and possibly moxonidine.
Antipsychotics:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression. Increased plasma concentrations of zotepine. Severe hypotension, collapse, respiratory depression, potentially fatal respiratory arrest and unconsciousness have been reported in a few patients on benzodiazepines and clozapine.
Caution is advised when initiating clozapine therapy in patients taking benzodiazepines. Increased risk of hypotension, bradycardia and respiratory depression with concomitant administration of parenteral benzodiazepines with intramuscular olanzapine.
Antivirals:
Amprenavir, ritonavir and saquinavir have been shown to reduce the clearance of diazepam and may potentiate its actions, with risk of extreme sedation and respiratory depression – avoid concomitant use.
Anxiolytics:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression with other anxiolytics.
Digoxin:
Reduced clearance of digoxin. Disulfiram: has been shown to reduce clearance and may potentiate actions of benzodiazepines.
Diuretics:
Enhanced hypotensive effect when benzodiazepines and diuretics are used concomitantly. Dopaminergic agents: diazepam may cause inhibition of levodopa.
Hypnotics:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression.
Lofexidine:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression.
Muscle relaxants:
Increased CNS depressant effects with baclofen and tizanidine.
Nabilone:
Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression.
Nicotine:
Diazepam metabolism is accelerated by smoking.
Nitrates:
Enhanced hypotensive effect when benzodiazepines and nitrates are used concomitantly.
Oral contraceptives:
May reduce the clearance of diazepam and may potentiate its actions. […]
e. 100mg per ml. Harmful for those suffering from alcoholism. To be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women, children and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease or epilepsy.