Diazepam

indication for use

Short-term (two to four weeks only) treatment of severe anxiety that is disabling or subjecting the individual to unacceptable distress.

Short-term (two to four weeks only) treatment of severe insomnia that is disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress (oral forms of diazepam only).

Night terrors and sleepwalking in children (oral forms of diazepam only).

Relieving anxiety and causing sedation before surgery or medical procedures (pre-med).

Managing symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol (used in combination with other treatment for alcoholism).

Controlling convulsions (fits) caused by poisoning (intravenous and rectal forms of diazepam only).

Controlling repeated fitting with no recovery of conciousness between seizures (status epilepticus) (intravenous and rectal forms of diazepam only).

Fitting associated with fever (febrile convulsions).

Controlling muscle spasms due to tetanus or poisoning.

Not to be used in

• A sudden worsening of any underlying lung disease (acute pulmonary insufficiency).
• Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression).
• Syndrome involving short spells when breathing stops during sleep (sleep apnoea syndrome).
• Long-term psychotic illness.
• Phobias or obsessional states.
• Severely decreased liver function.
• Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• This medicine may be harmful to a developing baby and it should be avoided during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. This is particularly important during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and before or during labour. Regular use during pregnancy should especially be avoided, as the baby could become dependent on the medicine and then suffer withdrawal symptoms after the birth. If this medicine is used in late pregnancy or during labour it may cause floppiness, low body temperature and breathing or feeding difficulties in the baby after birth. Ask your doctor for further information.
• Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers as it may be harmful to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Drowsiness.
• Drowsiness and lightheadedness the next day.
• Confusion.
• Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia).
• Loss of memory (amnesia).
• Unexpected increase in aggression (paradoxical aggression).
• Muscle weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Slurred speech.
• Tremor.
• Skin rashes.
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
• Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention).
• Urinary incontinence.
• Visual disturbances such as blurred vision.
• Changes in sex drive.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension).
• Blood disorders.
• Jaundice.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/depression/medicines/diazepam.html#ixzz2HICGpEsY