Valium Injection

In the U.S.

• Valium

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution
• Emulsion

Therapeutic Class: Antianxiety

Pharmacologic Class: Benzodiazepine, Long Acting

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause some people, especially older persons, to become drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, clumsy or unsteady, or less alert than they are normally. Also, this medicine may cause double vision or other vision problems. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or able to think or see well.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. CNS depressants are medicines that slow down the nervous system, which may cause drowsiness or make you less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates (used for seizures); muscle relaxants; or anesthetics (numbing medicines), including some dental anesthetics. This effect may last for a few days after you or your child stop taking this medicine. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you or your child are using this medicine.

Do not stop taking it without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent a worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, such as convulsions (seizures), hallucinations, stomach or muscle cramps, tremors, or unusual behavior.

Before using diazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to oxazepam or temazepam; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis), lung/breathing problems (such as COPD, sleep apnea), mental/mood disorders (such as depression, thoughts of suicide, psychosis), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol), glaucoma, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, brain problems that could affect breathing (such as decreased consciousness, head injury).

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

For some children, instead of having a calming effect, diazepam may have the opposite effect, causing mental/mood changes (such as agitation, hallucinations, restlessness).

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness and loss of coordination. These side effects can increase the risk of falling. For some older adults, instead of having a calming effect, diazepam may have the opposite effect, causing mental/mood changes (such as agitation, hallucinations, restlessness).

This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away. Consult your doctor for more details.

This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe drowsiness, slow reflexes, slow/shallow breathing, fainting, loss of consciousness.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.

Missed Dose

Not applicable. This medication is not usually given on a regular schedule.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.Information last revised July 2017. Copyright(c) 2017 First Databank, Inc.

You should not use Valium if you are allergic to diazepam or similar medicines (Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Xanax, and others), or if you have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a severe breathing problem, or sleep apnea.

Before you take Valium, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, asthma or other breathing problems, kidney or liver disease, seizures, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Do not start or stop taking Valium during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Diazepam may cause harm to an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking diazepam for seizures.

Valium may be habit-forming. Misuse of habit-forming medicine can cause addiction, overdose, or death.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 months old.

Taking Valium with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

• cimetidine;

• disulfiram (Antabuse);

• omeprazole;

• phenytoin;

• an antibiotic--clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;

• an antidepressant such as fluoxetine and others;

• antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole;

• heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem, nicardipine, quinidine, verapamil, and others; or

• HIV/AIDS medicine--atazanavir, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, or ritonavir.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with diazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Applies to diazepam: oral capsule extended release, oral solution, oral tablet

Other dosage forms:

• injection emulsion, injection solution
• rectal gel/jelly, rectal kit

Along with its needed effects, diazepam (the active ingredient contained in Valium) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking diazepam:

• Shakiness and unsteady walk
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• agitation
• black, tarry stools
• blistering, flaking, or peeling of the skin
• blurred vision
• changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
• chills
• confusion
• cough
• dark urine
• decrease in the frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• discouragement
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
• fast heartbeat
• fast or irregular breathing
• feeling sad or empty
• feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
• feeling that others can hear your thoughts
• feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
• fever
• headache
• hyperexcitability
• increased muscle spasms or tone
• irritability
• itching or rash
• lack of memory of what takes place after a certain event
• loss of appetite
• loss of bladder control
• loss of interest or pleasure
• lower back or side pain
• nausea
• nightmares
• outbursts of anger
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• restlessness
• seizures
• slurred speech
• sore throat
• sweating
• trouble concentrating
• trouble sleeping
• trouble speaking
• ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual behavior
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual feeling of excitement
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking diazepam:

• Change in consciousness
• difficult or troubled breathing
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• lack of coordination
• loss of consciousness
• loss of strength or energy
• muscle pain or weakness
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• sleepiness
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Some side effects of diazepam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Constipation
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• diarrhea
• difficulty with swallowing
• double vision
• dry mouth
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• increased interest in sexual intercourse
• increased watering of the mouth
• indigestion
• loss of sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• passing of gas
• seeing double
• sensation of spinning

• May be used for the short-term relief of anxiety.
• May also be used to relieve symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal.
• May be used in addition to other treatments to relieve muscle spasm due to inflammation, trauma, or conditions such as cerebral palsy or paraplegia.
• Can also be used in the treatment of prolonged seizures in conjunction with other anti-seizure medications.
• Valium is available as a generic under the name diazepam.