Generic Name
Diazepam
Brand Name
Valium, Diastat, and Diastat AcuDial
Class
Anxiolytics, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, antianxiety agents, and skeletal muscle relaxants
Proposed Mechanism(s) of Action
Binds to benzodiazepine receptors at the GABA-A ligand-gated channel, thus allowing for neuronal hyperpolarization. Benzodiazepines enhance the inhibitory action of GABA via boosted chloride conductance. Diazepam also produces inhibitory action in the spinal cord and may provide therapeutic benefits for muscle spasms.
Indication
Anxiety disorder, symptoms of anxiety, acute agitation, muscle spasm, spasticity caused by upper motor neuron disorders, athetosis, stiff man syndrome, convulsive disorders (adjunctive), preoperative anxiety, and initial treatment of status epilepticus.
Off-Label Use
Insomnia, sedation in ICU, seizure disorder, and acute repetitive seizures (Orphan).
Side Effects
Serious
Respiratory depression, hepatic dysfunction (rare), renal dysfunction, blood dyscrasias,...
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References and Reading
Physicians’ Desk Reference (71st ed.). (2017). Montvale: Thomson PDR.
Stahl, S. M. (2007). Essential psychopharmacology: The prescriber’s guide (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Additional Information
Drug Interaction Effects. http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html.
Drug Molecule Images. http://www.worldofmolecules.com/drugs/.
Free Drug Online and PDA Software. www.epocrates.com.
Free Drug Online and PDA Software. www.medscape.com.
Gene-Based Estimate of Drug interactions. http://mhc.daytondcs.com:8080/cgi bin/ddiD4?ver=4&task=getDrugList.
Pill Identification. http://www.drugs.com/pill_identification.html.
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Gonzalez, E.A. (2018). Diazepam. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1649
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1649
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