Bensedin Diazepam 10mg | Anxiety Relief Tablets

Description

Diazepam is used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and fits or seizures. It is also used in hospitals to relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sweating or difficulty sleeping.

It can also be taken for relaxation before surgery or other medical or dental procedures. This is called premedication.

It works by increasing the levels of a calming chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in your brain.

Diazepam is only available with a prescription.

It comes as tablets, a liquid that you swallow, or in a rectal tube – a medicine that is pushed into the anus. It can also be given as an injection in a hospital.

Key Facts

• The most common side effect of Diazepam is drowsiness.
• It is not recommended to use Diazepam for more than 4 weeks.
• If you feel sleepy while taking Diazepam, do not drive, cycle, or use any tools or machines.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking Diazepam. It can make you sleep very deeply. You may experience difficulty breathing and difficulty waking up.
• You can become dependent on Diazepam, but this is less likely if you take it for up to 4 weeks at the lowest dose that relieves your symptoms.
• Diazepam is also known as Valium, but this brand is no longer available in the UK.

Who should and shouldn’t use Diazepam?

Who can use it?

Most adults aged 18 and over can use diazepam tablets and liquids. People aged 65 and over may need to use a lower dose.

Children from 1 month of age can use it for muscle spasms.

Adults and children can use a diazepam rectal tube.

Who should not use it?

Diazepam is not suitable for some people. To make sure it is safe for you, tell your doctor before you start taking Diazepam if you:

• Have an allergic reaction to Diazepam or any other medicine
• Have liver or kidney problems.
• Suffer from myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness.
• Suffer from sleep apnea, a condition that causes breathing problems during sleep.
• If you suffer from depression or have thoughts of harming or killing yourself,
• have been diagnosed with a personality disorder
• Have experienced issues with alcohol or drugs
• and have recently suffered a loss or death
• Have arteriosclerosis, a disease that affects the blood flow to your brain.
• Your blood has low levels of a protein called albumin.
• You are trying to conceive, are currently pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
• are over 65
• are going under general anesthesia for surgery or other medical treatment

How and when to take Diazepam (Dosage)?

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose of Diazepam for you. You must take Diazepam exactly as your doctor tells you.

Dosage for Tablets and Liquid

The usual dose is:

• Anxiety – 2 mg taken three times a day. This may be increased to 5 mg to 10 mg taken thrice daily.
• Sleep problems (related to anxiety) – 5 mg to 15 mg taken once a day at bedtime
• Muscle spasms in adults: 2 mg to 15 mg per day. The dose can be taken 1 mg twice a day and may be increased to 5 mg three times a day. It can be increased to a maximum of 20 mg and taken three times a day if needed.
• Muscle spasms in children (1 month to 17 years): The dose varies depending on age. It is usually taken twice a day, with an interval of 10 to 12 hours between each dose.

Your dose may be lower if you are over 65 years of age or have kidney or liver problems or severe breathing problems.

Dosage for Rectal Tube

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose of diazepam rectal tube for you or your child based on your weight, age, and general health.

How to take or Use Diazepam

How to take Tablets and Liquid

Take diazepam tablets or liquid with a glass of water. You can take them with or without food.

If you are taking Diazepam in liquid form, the medicine comes with a plastic syringe or spoon so you can measure the correct dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Please do not use a kitchen spoon because it cannot measure the correct amount.

How to use Rectal Tubes

A Diazepam rectal tube (or Diazepam rectal) can be used if you or your child has a seizure or convulsions.

If you have been prescribed a rectal tube, a family member, friend, or caregiver must know how to use this medication. Read the instructions carefully.

If you have a seizure, you should also know how long to wait before receiving rectal Diazepam. This will depend on the type of seizure and its duration.

Before prescribing a diazepam rectal tube, your doctor will talk to you and your family member or caregiver about how to identify the type of seizure that needs to be treated with this medication. You will also teach your family member or caregiver how to use the medication.

How Long to Take Diazepam?

How long you need to take Diazepam depends on why you are taking it. It is usually only recommended for short periods of up to 4 weeks.

If you are prescribed Diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be gradually reduced to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you forget to take

If you regularly take Diazepam and forget a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. Skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Never take two doses simultaneously or an extra dose to compensate for a missed one.

If you often forget to take your medicine, set an alarm to remind you. You can also ask your pharmacist for advice on remembering to take your medicine.

If you take too much

If you exceed the prescribed dose of Diazepam, you may experience the following symptoms:

• poor coordination or difficulty speaking
• feeling sleepy
• a slow or irregular heartbeat
• uncontrolled eye movements
• muscle weakness
• feeling overstimulated

The amount of Diazepam that can lead to an overdose varies from one individual to another.

Diazepam Side Effects

Diazepam can cause side effects in some people, but many people experience no or only mild side effects, which are as follows:

Common Side Effects

The following common side effects of Diazepam affect more than 1 out of 100 people.

You can help manage them by feeling sleepy or dizzy, confused, having trouble coordinating or controlling your movements, or shaking hands (tremors).

Serious Side Effects

It is rare, but some people experience serious side effects when taking Diazepam.

Call a doctor or 111 now if:

• Your skin turns yellow, or the whites of your eyes turn yellow, although this is less noticeable on brown or black skin.
• You perceive sights or sounds that do not exist (hallucinations).
• You believe things that are not true (delusions)
• You keep falling over.
• You suffer from unusual mood swings, for example, if you talk more than usual or feel overly excited, restless, agitated, irritable or aggressive – these side effects are more common in children or if you are over 65
• Call 999 now or go to the emergency room if your breathing is slow or shallow.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you suffer from memory loss (amnesia).

Serious Allergic Reactions

In rare cases, Diazepam can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

The following conditions may show serious allergic reactions and require immediate hospital treatment.

• Your lips, mouth, throat, or tongue suddenly swell
• You are breathing very fast or have difficulty breathing (you may be panting heavily or feel like you are choking or gasping for air)
• You may feel a tightness in your throat or have trouble swallowing.
• Your skin, tongue, or lips turn blue, grey, or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be more noticeable on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• You suddenly become very confused, sleepy, or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot wake up
• a child is limp, lethargic, or unresponsive (the head may fall to the side, back, or forward, or it may not be easy to lift the head or concentrate on the face)
• You or the person who is ill may also develop a swollen, raised, itchy, blistered, or scaly rash.

Long-term Side Effects

If you are prescribed Diazepam for more than four weeks, your dosage may be gradually reduced upon discontinuation to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Other Side Effects of Diazepam

This is not an exhaustive list of the side effects of Diazepam. The leaflet that comes with your medicine contains a full list.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility when taking Diazepam

Diazepam and Pregnancy

You can take Diazepam during pregnancy, but long-term use, especially towards the end of pregnancy, may make your baby sleepy after birth.

You may need to continue taking Diazepam during pregnancy, as you need to stay healthy.

If you become pregnant while taking Diazepam, talk to your doctor. They can explain the risks and benefits of taking Diazepam and help you choose the best treatment for you and your baby.

Diazepam and Breastfeeding

If your doctor or nurse says your baby is healthy, you can use Diazepam while breastfeeding if you take a low dose occasionally or for very short periods.

Diazepam usually passes into breast milk in small amounts. It can accumulate in your milk if you use it for a long time or in high doses. This may make your baby sleepy and make breastfeeding difficult. You mustn’t share a bed with your baby until you have finished taking Diazepam.

If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, as other medicines may be better for you while breastfeeding. However, this will depend on what you are using Diazepam for.

If you take Diazepam while breastfeeding and notice that your baby is not feeding well, seems unusually sleepy or breathing abnormally, or have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, midwife, or nurse as soon as possible.

Diazepam and Fertility

There is no clear evidence that taking Diazepam reduces fertility in men or women.

If you are trying to get pregnant or have difficulty getting pregnant while taking Diazepam, talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you:

• are trying to get pregnant
• are pregnant
• are breastfeeding

Taking Diazepam with other Medicines and Herbal Supplements

Be careful with other medicines.

Some medicines make Diazepam less effective and increase the risk of side effects.

Before you start taking Diazepam, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Antipsychotics used to treat mental health problems
• Antidepressants used to treat depression
• Anticonvulsants used to treat seizures
• Hypnotics used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders
• Sedating antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine and promethazine, can cause drowsiness.
• Powerful painkillers include codeine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, pethidine, and tramadol.
• HIV medicines such as ritonavir, atazanavir, efavirenz or saquinavir
• Antifungal medicines such as fluconazole
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – Medicines used to reduce stomach acid, such as omeprazole or esomeprazole
• Muscle relaxants such as baclofen or tizanidine
• Disulfiram, a medicine for alcohol dependence
• Isoniazid, a medicine for tuberculosis (TB)
• Rifampicin, a medicine used to treat bacterial infections
• Theophylline, a medicine for asthma and other breathing problems

Mixing Diazepam with Herbal Remedies or Supplements

Do not take herbal remedies for anxiety or insomnia, such as valerian or passion flower, with Diazepam. They can increase the drowsiness effects of Diazepam and also have other side effects.

There is not enough information to say that it is safe to take other herbal remedies and complementary medicines with Diazepam. They are not tested the same way as prescription and over-the-counter medicines and generally have not been tested for their effects on other medicines.