This action decreases your feelings of nervousness and agitation and produces a sense of calm and relaxation. In this way, Valium also helps lessen the intensity of panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms. Valium is a fast-acting medication that quickly helps lower anxiety and other symptoms of panic disorder.
How does diazepam work? Diazepam works by increasing the effect of several naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that make you feel calm, relaxed and sleepy. Overall, it slows the brain and slows the movement of information from the brain to the nerves.
If you are 18 or over, the doctor can prescribe diazepam for you as a licensed medicine for anxiety or insomnia (sleep problems), to help if you are giving up alcohol, or to relax you before an operation like dental surgery.
It is usually only recommended for a short period of time of up to 4 weeks. If you're prescribed diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be reduced gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Diazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It works by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in your brain. Depending on your health condition, this can make you feel drowsy, relieve anxiety, stop seizures or relax tense muscles.
Benzodiazepines are a group of depressant drugs. There are many drugs in this group and some, such as diazepam (Valium), are prescribed as medicines in the UK. They're generally prescribed for anxiety or occasionally sleeping problems.
Diazepam is used to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. It is also used to relieve muscle spasms and to provide sedation before medical procedures. This medication works by calming the brain and nerves. Diazepam belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines.
Valium, diazepam, is a long-acting benzodiazepine, that is often used, against recommendation, to treat anxiety disorders such as panic disorder.
Do not drink alcohol or use street drugs during your treatment. Drinking alcohol or using street drugs during your treatment with diazepam also increases the risk that you will experience these serious, life-threatening side effects.
The central difference between lorazepam and diazepam is lorazepam leaves a person's system more quickly, reducing the chance of toxicity or side effects.
For anxiety: Adults—2 to 10 milligrams (mg) 2 to 4 times a day. Older adults—At first, 2 to 2.5 mg 1 or 2 times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have paradoxical agitation and in aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally.
For example, a single 15-mg dose of diazepam has been reported to decrease the recognition of facial expressions of anger and, in some studies, fear (Blair and Curran 1999; Zangara et al. 2002). In addition, diazepam has been reported to attenuate fear potentiation of the startle response (Bitsios et al.
Abstract. In double-blind sequential study, diazepam was compared with the proven antidepressant moclobemide, in patients with atypical depression. Both agents significantly improved depression ratings over eight weeks of treatment.
How Long Does Valium Last? Unlike other benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, Valium is a long-lasting medication. The effects of Valium can range from four hours to beyond 12 hours. Certain groups of people may experience longer-lasting effects from Valium compared to others.
Diazepam may be taken every day at regular times or on an as-needed (“PRN”) basis. Typically, your health care provider will limit the number of doses you should take in one day. Your health care provider will determine the dose and method of taking the medication that is right for you based upon your response.
Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative that may sometimes be used as a short-term treatment during a particularly severe period of anxiety. This is because they help ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking the medication. If you're prescribed a benzodiazepine, it'll usually be diazepam.
SSRIs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of panic disorder include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft). Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications are another class of antidepressants.
Long-term use of diazepam can lead to chemical dependency and, eventually, to severe addiction. Understanding the health complications of Valium addiction may encourage nonmedical users of this drug to reach out for help.
The effects of Valium last around 4-6 hours; however it has a very long half life (20-70 hours - time taken to clear 50% of the drug from the body) which means that it may take up to six weeks to be totally excreted by the body.
It is concluded that patients receiving a 2.5 mg dose of lorazepam should not drive or operate machinery for 24 h after the administration. After diazepam (10 mg) or medazepam (15 mg) patients should refrain from driving or participating inskilled performances for only 5 to 7 hours.
For many Valium users, though, the anxiety actually gets worse on the drug, necessitating progressively higher doses, and expediting the timetable to addiction. For others, Valium is itself the cause of mental illness. Benzodiazepines can alter brain chemistry, leading to a host of mental health problems.
Diazepam and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants. Therefore, the effects of mixing diazepam and alcohol can not only be be unpleasant but, in some cases, life-threatening.
Diazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It's used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures or fits. It's also used in hospital to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating or difficulty sleeping.