Diazepam injection

What is this medicine?

DIAZEPAM (dye AZ e pam) is a benzodiazepine. It is used to treat anxiety and nervousness. It also can help treat alcohol withdrawal, relax muscles, and treat certain types of seizures. This medicine can also be used before surgery and certain procedures.

How should I use this medicine?

The medicine is for injection into a muscle or into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this medicine may be prescribed for children as young as 1 month of age for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing problems

• confusion

• loss of balance or coordination

• signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired

• suicidal thoughts or other mood changes

• trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• dizziness

• headache

• nausea, vomiting

• pain, redness, or irritation at the site where injected

• tiredness

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• narcotic medicines for cough

• sodium oxybate

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• alcohol

• antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold

• certain antibiotics like clarithromycin, erythromycin, rifampin

• certain medicines for anxiety or sleep

• certain medicines for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat

• certain medicines for depression, like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline, tranylcypromine

• certain medicines for fungal infections like ketoconazole, itraconazole, clotrimazole

• certain medicines for psychotic disturbances

• certain medicines for seizures like carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, valproate

• cimetidine

• cyclosporine

• dexamethasone

• general anesthetics like lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine

• MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate

• medicines that relax muscles for surgery

• narcotic medicines for pain

• omeprazole

• paclitaxel

• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine

• theophylline

• warfarin

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• an alcohol or drug abuse problem

• bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis or other mental health condition

• glaucoma

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• lung or breathing disease

• myasthenia gravis

• Parkinson's disease

• seizures or a history of seizures

• suicidal thoughts

• an unusual or allergic reaction to diazepam, other benzodiazepines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Tell your doctor or health care professional if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

If you are taking another medicine that also causes drowsiness, you may have more side effects. Give your health care provider a list of all medicines you use. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take. Do not take more medicine than directed. Call emergency for help if you have problems breathing or unusual sleepiness.