Valium is a safe and effective anxiolytic-sedative drug, which is widely used in modern medical practice. Valium is useful in treating various neuropsychiatric disorders including caused by physical brain lesions.
Valium tablets contain 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg of Diazepam. This active ingredient is classified as a benzodiazepine and has sedative, amnesic, anxiolytic, muscle-relaxant and anticonvulsant effects.
Valium has several therapeutic actions, therefore has different indications for use. Today, Valium is approved to manage:
- anxiety disorders and panic attacks;
- skeletal muscle spasms, athetosis and spasticity;
- effectscaused by acute alcohol withdrawal.
Anxiolytic-sedative drug Valium is intended as short-term use. During the first week of treatment, the drug improves mental status. Use of Valium for up to 4 weeks helps to reduce intensity or to completely get rid of mental or musculoskeletal disorders.
If use of the recommended doses of Valium for 4 weeks does not cause sufficient clinical response, the treatment can be continued. Regular assessment of benefit-risk balance of Valium allows to use this medication for up to 16 weeks.
To improve mental status,a wide range of Valium doses from 3mg to 40mg per day is used. Many factors affect frequency, number and duration of using Valium tablets, the main ones are:
- the patient’s weight and age;
- type and severity of neuropsychological illness;
- time of occurrence and intensity of symptoms;
- use of other anxiolytic-sedative drugs;
- diseases of the heart and internal organs;
- occurrence and development of adverse reactions.
Intensity of amnesic, sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and musclerelaxant action directly depends on the drug dose. An optimal therapeutic effect is achieved when using the recommended dosesof Valium up to 4 times a day, at approximately regular intervals.
- The recommended range of daily doses for adults makesfrom 4mg to 40mg of Valium. The total daily dose for adults should be divided into 2-4 intakes, every 6, 8 or 12 hours.
- Regardless of causes and severity of neuropsychological illness in children, the minimum effective doses of Valium are taken at the beginning of treatment. On the first day of treatment, children should take from 1mg to 2.5mg every 6 or 8 hours.
Depending on the clinical response and tolerability, the daily dose for children is gradually increased. Valium is not authorized to treat patients under 0.5 years of age.
- Elderly people should take lower dosescomparing to adult patients under 65 years. The initial recommended frequency of administration for elderlymakes 2mg or 2.5mg of Valium once or twice daily at approximately regular intervals.
Frequency and duration of using Valium 2mg, 5mg and 10mg tablets should be adapted for each patient. This will help to get the desired effect and minimize risk of adverse reactions.
When using anxiolytic-sedative drug Valium, side effects include drowsiness, insomnia, nightmares, psychosis, irritability, anger, mania, aggression, anxiety, increase in spasticity, hypotension, blurred vision, changes in libido, nausea and constipation.
In order to reduce risk of side effects of Valium (Diazepam), it is necessary to followthe recommendations, such as:
- use of Valium every day at the same time;
- use of anxiolytic-sedative drug during or after meals;
- intake of small doses of Valium 4 times per day;
- reduction of a single and daily dose.
If side effects do not go away, develop and decrease in the daily dose does not help, stop using Valium pills. Valium should not be used in people with acute glaucoma, sleep apnea, severe hepatic insufficiency, myasthenia, or severe respiratory failure.