Diazepam — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
Diazepam: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine sold in the U.S. under 8 brand and generic names, for alcohol withdrawal delirium, muscle spasticity and status epilepticus. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Benzodiazepine
Treats
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium, Muscle Spasticity and Status Epilepticus
From the FDA label for Diazepam (application ANDA217843). Other diazepam products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Dosage should be individualized for maximum beneficial effect. While the usual daily dosages given below will meet the needs of most patients, there will be some who may require higher doses. In such cases dosage should be increased cautiously to avoid adverse effects. ADULTS: USUAL DAILY DOSE: Management of Anxiety Disorders and Relief of Symptoms of Anxiety. Depending upon severity of symptoms—2 mg to 10 mg, 2 to 4 times daily Symptomatic Relief in Acute Alcohol Withdrawal. 10 mg, 3 or 4 times during the first 24 hours, reducing to 5 mg, 3 or 4 times daily as needed. Adjunctively for Relief of Skeletal Muscle Spasm. 2 mg to 10 mg, 3 or 4 times daily Adjunctively in Convulsive Disorders. 2 mg to 10 mg, 2 to 4 times daily Geriatric Patients, or in the presence of debilitating disease. 2 mg to 2.5 mg, 1 or 2 times daily initially; increase gradually as needed and tolerated. PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: Because of varied responses to CNS-acting drugs, initiate therapy with lowest dose and increase as required. Not for use in pediatric patients under 6 months. 1 mg to 2.5 mg, 3 or 4 times daily initially; increase gradually as needed and tolerated. Discontinuation or Dosage Reduction of Diazepam Tablets To reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions, use a gradual taper to discontinue diazepam tablets or reduce the dosage. If a patient develops withdrawal reactions, consider pausing the taper…
Diazepam side effects
Side effects most commonly reported were drowsiness, fatigue, muscle weakness, and ataxia. The following have also been reported: Central Nervous System : confusion, depression, dysarthria, headache, slurred speech, tremor, vertigo Gastrointestinal System : constipation, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances Special Senses : blurred vision, diplopia, dizziness Cardiovascular System : hypotension Psychiatric and Paradoxical Reactions : stimulation, restlessness, acute hyperexcited states, anxiety, agitation, aggressiveness, irritability, rage, hallucinations, psychoses, delusions, increased muscle spasticity, insomnia, sleep disturbances, and nightmares. Inappropriate behavior and other adverse behavioral effects have been reported when using benzodiazepines. Should these occur, use of the drug should be discontinued. They are more likely to occur in children and in the elderly. Urogenital System : incontinence, changes in libido, urinary retention Skin and Appendages : skin reactions Laboratories : elevated transaminases and alkaline phosphatase Other : changes in salivation, including dry mouth, hypersalivation Antegrade amnesia may occur using therapeutic dosages, the risk increasing at higher dosages. Amnestic effects may be associated with inappropriate behavior. Minor changes in EEG patterns, usually low-voltage fast activity, have been observed in patients during and…
Every diazepam product we track (8)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Diazepam pill imprints
Imprint
Strength
Colour
Shape
Maker
3927;TEVA
10 mg
blue
round
—
MYLAN;345
5 mg
orange
round
—
MYLAN;477
10 mg
green
round
—
How long diazepam stays in your system
The elimination half-life of diazepam is about 48 hours (up to 48 hours), but it varies strongly with age — roughly 20 hours at age 20 and rising by about 1 hour for each year of age. This is the parent drug's half-life. Diazepam has an active metabolite, N-desmethyldiazepam (nordiazepam), whose half-life is much longer (up to 100 hours), so the drug's effects last well beyond the parent number. Clearance is also markedly slower in older adults and in liver disease — the half-life is 2 to 5 times longer in cirrhosis (individual cases over 500 hours) — so effective duration can be far longer.
Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Frequently asked questions
What is diazepam?
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine derivative. The chemical name of diazepam is 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one. It is a white or almost white crystalline powder, practically insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol 96%, in chloroform and in alcohol. The molecular formula is C 16 H 13 ClN 2 O, and the molecular weight is 284.75. The structural formula is as follows: Diazepam is available for oral administration as tablets containing 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg diazepam USP. In addition to the active ingredient diazepam USP, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: corn starch, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate and pregelatinized starch (maize). In addition 5 mg tablets contain yellow iron oxide and 10 mg tablets contain FD&C Blue No. 1. Chemical Structure
What kind of drug is diazepam?
The FDA classifies diazepam as a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines boost the brain's main calming chemical, GABA, by binding to the GABA-A receptor and making its chloride channel open more often. This quiets nerve activity, producing sedation, reduced anxiety, muscle relaxation, and protection against seizures. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does diazepam stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of diazepam is about 48 hours (up to 48 hours), but it varies strongly with age — roughly 20 hours at age 20 and rising by about 1 hour for each year of age — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the parent drug's half-life. Diazepam has an active metabolite, N-desmethyldiazepam (nordiazepam), whose half-life is much longer (up to 100 hours), so the drug's effects last well beyond the parent number. Clearance is also markedly slower in older adults and in liver disease — the half-life is 2 to 5 times longer in cirrhosis (individual cases over 500 hours) — so effective duration can be far longer. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take diazepam with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run diazepam against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Who shouldn’t take diazepam
Diazepam tablets are contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to diazepam and, because of lack of sufficient clinical experience, in pediatric patients under 6 months of age. Diazepam tablets are also contraindicated in patients with myasthenia gravis, severe respiratory insufficiency, severe hepatic insufficiency, and sleep apnea syndrome. It may be used in patients with open-angle glaucoma who are receiving appropriate therapy, but is contraindicated in acute narrow-angle glaucoma.
Diazepam drug interactions
Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction Inform patients that the use of diazepam, even at recommended dosages, exposes users to risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death, especially when used in combination with other medications (e.g., opioid analgesics), alcohol, and/or illicit substances. Inform patients about the signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine abuse, misuse, and addiction; to seek medical help if they develop these signs and/or symptoms; and on the proper disposal of unused drug (see WARNINGS: Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction and DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE ).
We track 8 diazepam-containing products in the U.S.: Diazepam, Diastat, Diastat Acudial, Dizac, Libervant, Valium, Valrelease and Valtoco. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does diazepam come in?
Across the brands we track, diazepam is currently marketed as injectable, solution, topical, tablet, film, capsule, extended release and spray/inhaler, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic diazepam?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic diazepam product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.