Diazepam family

Diazepam family

Diazepam is a medication used to treat anxiety. It belongs to a family called benzodiazepines. The same family that includes:

• Alprazolam (Xanax).
• Clonazepam (Klonopin).
• Lorazepam (Ativan).
• Flurazepam (Dalmane).

Drugs of the diazepam family are used for:

In adults:

1. Short-term relief (2-4 weeks only) of generalized and social anxiety disorder.
2. Relief of muscle spasms and cerebral palsy (a condition that causes movement problems and rigidity or stiffness).
3. Epilepsy (in addition to other medicines).
4. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
5. Relaxing nervous dental patients.

Addiction to diazepam family:

These medicines should be used for a short time and shouldn’t be used for more than four weeks.

Members of the diazepam family can cause addiction (dependency), especially when taken with high doses for prolonged periods of time.

After discontinuation of the drug, some withdrawal symptoms appear such as:

 

In more severe cases of withdrawal, seizures can occur. Therefore, after extended use, diazepam should be slowly tapered under a doctor’s supervision.

Some side effects of drugs of diazepam family:

 

• Ataxia (loss of balance).
• Muscle spasm.
• Double vision.
• Speech problem.
• Respiratory depression.
• Neutropenia (decrease in the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream leading to a decrease in the body’s ability to fight infection).
• Behavioral changes (as the increase of risk-taking).
• Memory problem.

Dosage of diazepam family:

Diazepam family members may be taken with or without food.

Diazepam family members are disposed of by the liver and excreted mainly by the kidney. Dosages are lowered in patients with abnormal liver or kidney function.

The usual dose for anxiety or seizures is 2 mg to 10 mg given two to four times daily.

Taking drugs of diazepam family by patients with certain health issues:

• Patients with liver disease: dosage adjustment is a must for patients with liver diseases because the drug is eliminated by the liver.

You shouldn’t take diazepam if you have severe liver disease.

 

• Patients with myasthenia gravis (extreme muscle weakness):

Don’t take one of the drugs of the diazepam family if you have myasthenia gravis as this will cause the case to be worse.

 

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding:

Taking a diazepam family drug during pregnancy will increase the risk of fatal adverse effects to the fetus.

The baby will be born with serious deformations, muscle weakness, breathing, and eating problems.

Diazepam family drugs pass into breast milk and cause hazardous effects in the newborn and many withdrawal symptoms.

 

• Seniors:

Seniors are subjected to a higher risk of side effects such as ataxia (loss of muscle coordination while moving).

These drugs may also cause sedative effects in seniors.

Your doctor will monitor the dose to the lowest possible dosage to control the symptoms.

 

Don’t take a drug from the diazepam family if you:

 

1. Allergic to this group of drugs or any other ingredient in the drug.
2. Have breathing problems (slow and or shallow breathing).
3. Suffer from depression or hyperactivity.
4. Have a phobia (a fear of a particular object or situation) or any mental illness.
5. Suffer from sleep apnea (a sleep disorder that causes an abnormal pause in breathing during sleep).
6. Have a history of alcoholism and drug abuse.
7. Have severe liver or kidney failure.
8. Have arteriosclerosis (poor blood supply to the brain).
9. Have suicidal thoughts.

• Have epilepsy or a history of seizures (convulsions).

 

Drug interactions:

Drugs of the diazepam family may interact with the following medicines:

1. Sodium oxybate.
2. Antidepressants (as fluoxetine).
3. Antipsychotics (as clozapine).
4. Antihistamines (to relieve allergies).
5. General anesthetics.
6. Hypnotics (drugs used to induce sleep).
7. Antibiotics (as erythromycin).
8. Muscle relaxants.
9. Strong pain killers (opioids).

• Barbiturates such as phenobarbital (to treat epilepsy).
• Nitrates (for heart diseases).
• Diuretics (to lower high blood pressure).
• Antacids (to reduce stomach acid) as esomeprazole.
• Disulfiram (to treat alcohol addiction).
• Theophylline (to treat asthma and other breathing problems).
• Antivirals such as atazanavir, ritonavir.
• Antifungal medicines such as itraconazole, ketoconazole.
• Oral contraceptives.
• Corticosteroids (medicines used to treat body inflammation).
• Levodopa (to treat Parkinson’s disease).

Driving and using machines:

These medicines highly affect your ability to drive as they may make you sleepy or dizzy, forgetful, and have poor coordination.

Driving while using these drugs could put you or others at high risk.

You shouldn’t operate machinery or take part in such activities as long as you are using a drug from this family.

 

For many years, the benzodiazepines family has proven to be the best choice for treating anxiety disorder.

To achieve the best results, always consult your doctor if you suffered from severe side effects to monitor your dosage.

Always make sure that you buy a drug from the diazepam family from a trusted and licensed online pharmacy. pharmastores

Diazepam tablets 10 mg

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