Is 10 mg of Valium a lot

Is 10 mg of Valium a lot?

Valium is a drug belonging to a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines, also called Benzos, are a group of medicines that work in the central nervous system (CNS), and they are used for several medical conditions.

Benzos are used for treating:

• Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Anxiety
• Muscles spasms
• Panic disorder
• Seizures

One of the most famous Benzos is diazepam commercially known as Valium.

Valium is used for treating all of the above medical conditions, it works by inducing the activity of specific neurotransmitters in the brain.

So, back to our question, is 10 mg of Valium a lot?

To answer this question, we have to discuss the regularly used doses of Valium first.

The dose of any drug requires knowing the severity of the medical condition, the weight and age of the patient, and the existence of any other chronic medical condition.

However, there are regular doses of each drug determined depending on the average conditions of the patients.

The regular doses for adults:

Anxiety

• Orally: 2 – 10 mg every 6 – 12 hours a day
• IV/IM: 2 – 10 mg every 6 – 12 hours a day

So, in treating anxiety, is 10 mg of Valium a lot?

The answer is No, it is even the average dose used.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms

• Orally: 10 mg every 6 – 8 hours during the first day, then reducing it to 5 mg every 6 – 8 hours a day
• IV/IM: Initiate the treatment with 10 mg, then additional doses of 5 – 10 mg may be added from 6 – 8 hours a day as needed

Is 10 mg of Valium a lot in treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

No, it is not.

Muscles spasms

• Orally: 2 – 10 mg every 6 – 8 hours
• IV/IM: Initiate the treatment with 5 – 10 mg, then additional doses of the same concentration may be given every 3 – 4 hours as needed

For relaxation of muscles spasms, is 10 mg of Valium a lot?

No, it is not a lot at all.

Seizures

• Orally: 2 – 10 mg every 6 – 12 hours as adjunctive therapy with other agents
• IV/IM:2 mg for each Kg, then repeated after 4 – 12 hours a day

Is 10 mg of Valium a lot?

No, it is not a lot, it is an acceptable dose for treating most of the medical conditions treated by it.

Dosage modifications:

For patients suffering from renal problems:

• no dose adjustment is needed for short and moderate periods of treatment.
• For longer periods of treatment: the dose is decreased based on the recommendation of the doctor

For patients suffering from hepatic problems:

• Only 50% of the maintenance dose is used

Overdosing:

Taking too much Valium, or taking it concomitantly with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs causing drowsiness or shallow breathing may be fatal.

Symptoms include severe drowsiness, incoordination, weakness of muscles, slow breathing, or it may even lead to coma and death.

Drug-drug interactions:

Some drugs may cause serious interactions when concomitantly used with Valium.

• abametapir
• apalutamide
• benzhydrocodone/acetaminophen
• calcium/magnesium/potassium/sodium oxybates
• carbamazepine
• cimetidine
• clarithromycin
• darunavir
• erythromycin base
• erythromycin ethylsuccinate
• erythromycin lactobionate
• erythromycin stearate
• fedratinib
• fexinidazole
• hydrocodone
• idelalisib
• ivosidenib
• ketoconazole
• lonafarnib
• metoclopramide intranasal
• mifepristone
• nefazodone
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• selinexor
• sodium oxybate
• St John’s Wort
• sufentanil SL
• tipranavir
• tucatinib
• valerian
• voxelotor

Never take a new drug without consulting with your doctor about the drugs you are already taking.

 

And not just the drugs, some medical conditions may also interact with Valium.

Such as:

• Allergy to diazepam, or other excipients in Valium
• Myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness condition)
• Severe breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (stop of breathing during sleep for a short period)
• Narrow-angle glaucoma (an eye condition that results in increasing the intraocular pressure)
• Uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma (an eye condition causing an increase in the eye pressure gradually which may result in damaging the optic nerve)
• Severe liver disease

Before taking Valium, tell your doctor if you are suffering from the following medical conditions:

• Breathing problems
• Glaucoma
• Kidney or liver impairment
• Seizures (except if you are taking Valium as adjunctive therapy for treating seizures)
• Drug abusing
• Mood disorders such as depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Some food and drinks may also interact with Valium leading to serious side effects.

• Alcohol with Valium increases the depressant effects on the CNS leading to shallow or slow breathing that may lead to death
• Grapefruit

Side effects:

Common side effects

• Drowsiness
• Tiredness
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of balance and coordination

The sedative effects may last for a longer time in elders, falls and accidents are more common, that’s why must be taken and hazardous activities must be avoided, such as driving.

Call your doctor immediately if you suffered from,

• Severe drowsiness or dizziness
• Mood or behavior disturbances
• Worsening of depression or anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts
• Confusion and hallucinations
• Sleeping problems
• Worsening seizures

Check with your doctor the information in this article before starting Valium.

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