Valium

Valium

Drug Name -- Valium

Alternate Names – diazepam

Manufacturer – LaRoche Laboratories

Type – Prescription (DEA Schedule IV Controlled Substance)

Pregnancy Issues – Valium is transplacental and may cause serious birth defects. Valium should not be taken during pregnancy. Nursing mothers should not use Valium.

Addiction Potential – Extremely Strong (LaRoshe states that Valium should not be used for more than four months consecutively). Dependency occurs as soon as two weeks.

Maximum Prescription Duration – Four weeks according to professional studies (this is already beyond the threshold of addiction for a segment of the population). LaRoshe claims that the drug diminished in its effectiveness after four months due to tolerance issues (LaRoshe Laboratories).

Cautions – Do not use if you have liver or kidney function issues; do not use if you have had a stroke, have multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), myasthenia gravis, or sleep apnea, or if you are seriously depressed; do not take if you have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema or other respiratory diseases; do not take if you have had suicidal thoughts.

Drug Interactions/Adverse affects – Alcohol has an additive affect; do not take in conjunction with narcotics, sleeping pills, sedatives, or other benzodiazepines; do not take with antacids; do not take with SSRI antidepressants, antihistamines, pain relievers, seizure medications or muscle relaxants; antipsychotic drugs; barbiturates; Tagamet; Nizoral; Lanoxin; Antabuse; Rifamate; Dilantin; Amytal, Butisol, Mebaral, Seconal, Luminal, or Solfoton; Azilect, Eldepryl, Emsam, or Parnate; Abilify, Thorazine, Haldol, Serentil, Compazine, Compro, Pentazine, Phenergan, Phenadoz, or Promethegan; Duragesic, Actiq, Lortab, Vicodin, Dilaudid, Dolophine, Methadose, morphine, OxyContin; MAO inhibitors; Prilosec; oral contraceptives; Darvon; Zantac; or Rifadin.

Class – Benzodiazepine

Purpose – Anxiety disorders; reduction of anxiety symptoms; reduction of alcohol addiction withdrawal symptoms

Side Effects – Valium has been determined to be a carcinogen; may cause or worsen glaucoma; may cause confusion, abdominal cramps, blurred vision, dry mouth, racing heartbeat / palpitations, shaking / slurred speech, urination problems, headache; convulsions, hallucinations, memory loss, trouble breathing or staggering, trembling; allergic reactions (difficulty breathing, closing of your throat, swelling of your lips, face, or tongue or hives); sores in the mouth or throat, yellowing of the skin or eyes; a rash, or hallucinations; unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger; depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself; hyperactivity, anxiety, agitation, hostility.

Withdrawals – vomiting, and unusual thoughts or behavior; seizures, heightened sensory perception, impaired concentration, confusion, dysosmia, clouded sensorium, paresthesias, muscle cramps, muscle twitch, diarrhea, blurred vision, appetite decrease, and weight loss. Other symptoms, such as extreme anxiety and insomnia, were frequently seen during discontinuation.

Sources – LaRoshe Laboratories Fact Sheets; psyweb.com; drugs.com; adrugrecall.com