What is diazepam?
Diazepam oral tablet is a controlled substance drug that’s available as the brand-name drug Valium. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version.
Diazepam is also available as an oral solution and a rectal gel.
Why it's used
Diazepam oral tablet is used to treat the following conditions:
• anxiety
• symptoms caused by alcohol withdrawal, such as agitation or tremors
• add-on treatment for skeletal muscle spasms
• add-on treatment for certain types of seizures
It may be used as part of a combination therapy. That means you need to take it with other drugs.
How it works
Diazepam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. A class of drugs refers to medications that work similarly. They have a similar chemical structure and are often used to treat similar conditions.
Diazepam increases the activity of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), a special chemical that can send signals throughout your nervous system. If you don’t have enough GABA, your body may be in an excited state and cause you to have anxiety, get muscle spasms, or have seizures. When you take this drug, you’ll have more GABA in your body. This will help decrease your anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures.
Diazepam side effects
Diazepam oral tablet can slow down your brain’s activity and interfere with your judgment, thinking, and motor skills. You shouldn’t drink alcohol or use other drugs that can also slow down your brain’s activity while you’re on diazepam. You also shouldn’t drive, operate machinery, or do other tasks that require alertness until you know how this drug affects you. There are additional effects that you should also be aware of.