Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S

Description

About

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called “Benzodiazepines”, specifically used in the short-term treatment of severe anxiety disorders although over some time it has also found some other applications such as in the treatment of epilepsy, mood disorders/ panic attacks, as muscle relaxants. Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is chemically composed of Diazepam, available as oral tablets to be taken strictly under a doctor’s prescription. 

Diazepam, contained in the Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S, imposes its inhibiting effect on the brain by acting through GABA A receptors. It reduces neuronal transmission and subsequently slows down the excitability of neurons in the brain. Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S can be prescribed to adults and children alike more than 6 months of age, the dosage of which depends on age, the severity of the condition, the patient’s response to medicine, and their comorbidities.  Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is started on a low dose which is gradually increased.

Unlike other anxiety medicines, Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S in tablet form has a fast onset of therapeutic effects which may be seen within 1-hour of oral intake, these effects last longer. But treatment with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S must not be continued for longer periods, not more than 2 to 4 weeks or even less. Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is contraindicated for use in pregnant and lactating mothers. 

Abrupt discontinuation of Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S can cause serious withdrawal symptoms for which reason it is tapered down gradually before stopping the treatment altogether. Also strictly use Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S in the dosage advised for the prescribed amount of time, ensuring not to exceed it since it has the potential of causing addiction. The most common side effects of this medication are nausea, headache, drowsiness, and dizziness, confusion and reduced alertness, amnesia. 

Indications

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is prescribed to adults and children 6 months and above and it is used in the treatment of:

• Severe Anxiety disorder
• Epilepsy 
• Panic attacks
• Alcohol withdrawal 
• Muscle spasm/ rigidity 
• Preoperative Anxiety management 

How does Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S work?

Diazepam, contained in the Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is a long-acting Benzodiazepine that binds to and enhances the inhibiting effect of GABA A receptors on the brain cells. It reduces neuronal transmission and subsequently slows down the excitability of neurons in the brain producing a relaxed state of reduced brain function which helps with sleep, relaxed muscles, a state of hypnosis, and sedation.

How to use Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is available in the form of oral tablets. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water without chewing. In general, the treatment with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is started at the lowest effective dose which is gradually increased in potency and frequency over days to weeks as tolerance develops. Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is usually prescribed to be taken two to four times daily. Tolerance is common to develop with such drugs, dosage is titrated accordingly to match the therapeutic dose. Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S can be taken in divided doses 3 to 4 times or as prescribed by the doctor. 

Available Potency of Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S 

• 2 mg –   Tablet
• 5 mg –   Tablet
• 10 mg – Tablet

Dosage

Adult Dose

Therapy for anxiety with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S may be started with a low dose to be increased gradually in increments. Generally following dosage regime is followed for the treatment of different conditions:

Anxiety: 2 to 10 mg orally in divided doses at 6 to 12 hourly intervals, 2 – 4 times a day.

Acute Withdrawal of Alcohol: First-day dose of 10mg 3 – 4 times orally, followed by a tapered down dose of 5 mg 3 – 4 times per day.

Muscle Spasm: This may be given as an adjunct therapy for relief.

2 – 10 mg orally in divided doses at 6 to 8 hourly intervals, 3 – 4 times a day.

Seizure: 2 to 10 mg orally in divided doses at 6 to 12 hourly intervals, 2 – 4 times a day as a supplement to anticonvulsants.

Epilepsy: Given as an IV injection.

Sedation:  Given as an IV or IM injection.

Child Dose

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S can be given to children aged 6 months and above. The safety record for infants less than 6 months is not currently available.

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is generally started on the lowest dose showing clinical benefits which can be gradually increased as tolerance develops

1 to 2.5 mg in divided doses at 6 to 8 hourly intervals, 3 – 4 times a day.

Elderly Dose

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S must be used with caution in patients aged 60 and above. Dose adjustment may be required in case of impaired renal or liver function. Your physician will set the dose most appropriate for your health status. 

Elderly patients should start with a low dose of 2 mg to 2.5 mg in divided doses at 6 to 8 hourly intervals, 3 – 4 times a day

This can be gradually increased as tolerance develops

Pregnancy use and lactation

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is FDA pregnancy risk category D (harmful to the fetus), therefore if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor. Also Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is secreted into human milk, if you are breastfeeding, please consult your doctor before taking it.

Contraindications

Please inform your doctor if you have a history of any before using Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S:

• Allergic reaction to Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S or similar drugs
• Chronic lung disease/ breathing difficulties 
• Myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disorder of muscles)
• Sleep apnoea (sleeping disorder in which breathing stops)
• Pregnancy 
• Lactose intolerance (some formulations contain lactose, read the contents carefully)
• Patients with a prolonged history of alcohol or substance abuse 
• Narrow-angle glaucoma
• Personality disorder
• Maniac depression 

Precautions‌

Please‌ ‌tell‌ ‌your‌ ‌doctor‌ ‌about‌ ‌any‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌following‌ ‌conditions‌ before starting or during the treatment with ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S:‌ ‌

• Make sure to rule out any allergies to  ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S or similar drugs
• Compromised lungs, kidney, or liver function can negatively affect your body, or it may also elevate liver enzymes, in case of a liver disease discuss it with your doctor. 
• Elderly patients (65 years and above) should exercise caution, dose adjustment may be done by the doctor
• Alcohol consumption potentiates the side effects, it must be avoided with ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S must not be used for longer periods
• Amnesia associated with  ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S can occur, close monitoring of the patient’s behavior is advised 
• While prescribing ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S, patients with narrow-angle glaucoma must be carefully considered because of certain side effects
• ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S has sedative effects which may induce drowsiness, avoid driving/riding a bike or operating any heavy machinery, or sharp tools till you feel better
• Any condition compromising your breathing should be reported to your doctor before starting this drug
• While on treatment with ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S patients must be monitored closely for any unusual behavioral changes
• Dependence and addiction are very common to develop with these medicines, abrupt withdrawal is strongly not advised
• Tolerance is also common with ‌Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S where one may not feel clinical benefits same as before. Do not add on to your dose without consulting a doctor first
• Closely observe the patient’s behavior for there can be an increased risk of suicide

Interaction with other medications

Certain medications could interact with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S and may increase or decrease its absorption, in which case, your doctor might alter your dosage. A few of these interacting drugs are given below:

• Antifungals “azoles”
• Alcohol 
• Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole
• Calcium channel blockers
• Cimetidine 
• Anti-convulsants like crbamezapine, gabapentin
• Antipsychotics like chlorpromazine, clozapine, etc.
• Rifampin 
• TCAs
• Theophylline
• Scopolamine 
• Isoniazid 
• Fluvoxamine
• Cisapride 
• Oral contraceptives 
• Anti-virals like ritonavir, atazanavir, etc. 
• Disulfiram 
• Alpha and Beta-blockers 
• Nabilone
• Corticosteroids 

Adverse effects

Like most medicines, Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S has some side effects which include:

Common Side effects

• Nausea 
• Headache 
• Drowsiness 
• Dizziness
• Sedation 
• Depressed breathing

Rare side effects

• Anaphylactic reaction 
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue 
• fever/ chills
• Restlessness/ agitation 
• Mental confusion
• Abnormal or absence of motor coordination
• Arrhythmias 
• Swelling of ankles
• Cardiac arrest
• Palpitations 
• Hallucinations
• Hypotension 
• Retrograde amnesia
• Behavior changes 

LIST OF HOW TO DEAL WITH ADVERSE EFFECTS

• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) or diarrhea –Avoid eating rich or spicy food. It might help to take medication after food. If you’re sick, try drinking small, frequent sips of water.
• Fatigue- Patients experiencing this adverse effect are advised to take deep breaths, intake tea or coffee, get a good night’s rest, and not overburden themselves for a few days.
• Feeling drowsy –If the medication makes you feel drowsy or sleepy, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better, and do not rise too fast or immediately from a sitting or lying down position to a standing posture. Do not drive or use tools or machinery in case of any of these effects.
• Headaches- In which case make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid the use of alcohol. Take a prescribed painkiller. Consult your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe
• Feeling dizzy (lightheaded) or weak –If the medication makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better, and do not rise too fast or immediately from a sitting or lying down position to a standing posture. Do not drive or use tools or machinery in case of any of these effects.
• Muscular Aches and Pains- A hot or cold compress can be placed at the area of discomfort to bring relief; an over-the-counter pain reliever such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be ingested to bring ease as well. Avoid high-intensity exercise while suffering from muscular pain.
• Flatulence- This can be eased by consuming smaller, more frequent meals that don’t trigger your flatulence. Getting a minimum of 30 minutes of daily exercise has shown great results in combating flatulence. 
• Heartburn – can be dealt with by chewing on mint-flavored gum that’ll help neutralize the acid in the body. Standing up straighter, adding ginger to the daily diet, elevating the patient’s upper body, and having licorice supplements has shown to provide relief.
• Skin Rash- can be eased by applying soothing and healing lotions or creams such as calamine lotion/cream. Apply a cold compress to the rash to help reduce itchiness and redness caused by the rash. An antihistamine (prescribed by a doctor) is also recommended as an effective way to combat any skin rash.
• Change in taste- this tends to go away as soon as the patient stops taking the medicine but while treatment; saltwater with baking soda (half a teaspoon of salt and baking soda in water) rinses and chewing on sugar-free gum can help dissipate the change in taste.
• Blurred vision- This side effect tends to go away on its own in a few days; patients are advised to not operate heavy machinery or drive any motorized vehicles in the meantime. If blurred vision persists, please contact your doctor.
• Dehydration- Patients are recommended to always care around a water bottle with them wherever they go and periodically keep sipping to prevent thirst and extremely dry mouth. Ice pops in hot weather and energy drinks (verified by the doctor) help combat dehydration.
• Flu-like symptoms- To manage symptoms, patients are advised to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest and sleep. Take an antihistamine, a nasal decongestant, or a lozenge to feel better when needed.
• Redness Of the Skin- This can be combated by applying a cold pack to the affected area.
• Fever- Patients are asked to ingest over the counter painkillers (such as Paracetamol), partake in plenty of fluids, and rest for a couple of days till the symptoms pass

Key facts

• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is prescribed to adults for the treatment of severe anxiety /panic attacks
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S belongs to a group of centrally acting medicines, called benzodiazepines
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is not prescribed to pregnant or lactating women or children/adolescents below 18 years
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is prescribed to be taken orally usually twice or thrice daily
• Alcohol intake is not recommended while undergoing treatment with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S has some potential of causing dependence, it should not be stopped abruptly to avoid withdrawal symptoms
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S may cause common side effects such as stomach problems, drowsiness, dizziness, amnesia
• Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is not recommended for people with a history of drug/alcohol abuse

FAQs

#1. WHAT EXACTLY DOES Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S DO?

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is chemically composed of Diazepam, available as oral tablets which impose its inhibiting effect on the brain by acting through GABA A receptors, inhibiting neural transmission in the brain, and slowing it down.

#2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S TO START WORKING?

It has a fast onset of action and normally starts working within 60 minutes of ingestion

#3. HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO TAKE Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S FOR?

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is not prescribed for long durations due to potential side effects. Generally, it is prescribed for 1-2 weeks only which may vary (not exceeding 2-4 weeks) as advised by the doctor.

#4. CAN I STOP TAKING Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Do not just stop taking the medicine, make sure to complete your treatment course even if you feel better. Stopping it suddenly may cause withdrawal problems like difficulty sleeping, nausea, vomiting, irritability, sweating, etc. 

#5. IS Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S HIGHLY ADDICTIVE?

Yes, it is addictive and may cause dependence, both physical and psychological, hence stopping the medicine abruptly can cause undesirable withdrawal symptoms.

#6. CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WITH Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Consuming alcohol when taking Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S may cause excessive drowsiness and could increase the risk of liver damage, hence should be avoided. 

#7. WHAT IF I TAKE TOO MUCH OF Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

If you have taken too much of the prescribed Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S you may experience symptoms of overdose, for example, fast pounding, irregular heartbeat, upset stomach, blurred vision, fainting, dizziness, seizures, or life-threatening severe symptoms. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms. 

#8. WHAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S is taken 2-4 times a day so you can take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it’s about time until your next dose, in which case you should skip the missed dose. If it helps to remind you, set an alarm, or use a pill organizer or a mobile application so you do not miss any dose. Make sure to complete your course of treatment even if you feel better and think you do not need to take it anymore.

#9. CAN I TAKE Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING?

Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S has a safety concern for pregnant and lactating females. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor before using Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S. If you are breastfeeding, please consult your doctor before taking Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S. 

 #10. CAN THE USE OF Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S CAUSE DROWSINESS?

It causes drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue (tiredness), and visual disturbances. If you experience any of these symptoms avoid driving or operating heavy machinery or sharp tools.

#11. CAN I DRIVE OR RIDE A BIKE AFTER TAKING Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Usually  Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S  is known to cause drowsiness and dizziness so make sure you know how your body reacts while using ‘product’. Do not drive or use any machinery until you feel normal again

#12. HOW SHOULD Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S BE STORED?

Store it at room temperature, away from excess heat, direct sunlight, and moisture. Make sure it is not consumed by pets, children, and other people. Dispose of the unused medicine.

#13. CAN Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S AFFECT MY SEXUAL ACTIVITY?

Sexual dysfunction may occur with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S in some patients. It may cause an increase or a decrease in libido or cause erection problems in some patients. You must discuss this with your consultant before starting. 

#14. CAN Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S AFFECT MY CONTRACEPTION?

Oral contraceptives are known to interact with Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S, causing a decrease in the removal of Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S from the body. Having said that their concomitant use does not render it useless

#15. ARE THERE ANY FOOD ITEMS I NEED TO AVOID WITH Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Drinks like grapefruit juice and products containing caffeine like colas, coffee, chocolates, etc. must be avoided with this medicine. Alcohol must not be consumed since it also potentiates the side effects of Diazepam 5mg Tablet 28 ‘S