Diazepam
From Ganfyd
rINN: Diazepam
Other Names
Valium® Diazemuls®
Pharmacological Information
Pharmacology Images
Web information on Diazepam
Mechanism of Action
Potentiates GABA
Relevant Clinical Literature
UK Guidance
Regulatory Literature
Other Literature
Please read pharmacological data limitations
Other Wikis
Medpedia on Diazepam (Less technical, good quality control)
Wikipedia on Diazepam (Less technical, ? quality control)
It became a blockbuster for Roche after its properties were described in 1961[1].
Contents |
Indications
- Short term relief of severe anxiety
- Adjunctive therapy at the start of antidepressant therapy
- Control of status epilepticus
- Muscle relaxant
- Adjunct in acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome
- Perioperative
Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics
Diazepam has a high lipid solubility. It shows a biphasic half-life, with an initial decrease in blood levels due to re-distribution. The subsequent half-life is between 20-100 hours.
However, metabolites of diazepam are also active and some, for instance desmethyldiazepam, have even longer half-lives than diazepam itself. Therefore, the effective half-life of diazepam and its metabolites can be considerable with a danger of accumulation in the elderly.
Dosage
5-30mg daily in divided doses
Can be given in similar doses intravenously as Diazemuls® (emulsified preparation - as otherwise irritant to veins).
Side-effects
- Sedation
- Addiction
- Pneumonia[2].
References
- ↑ Randall L O, Heise G A, Schallek W, Bagdon R E, Banziger R, Boris A, Moe R A & Abrams W B. Pharmacological and clinical studies on Valium™ a new psychotherapeutic agent of the benzodiazepine class. Curr. Ther. Res. 3:405-25, 1961.
- ↑ The impact of benzodiazepines on occurrence of pneumonia and mortality from pneumonia: case-control and cohort study Thorax doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202374
