Synonyms
diazepam
Side effects
One of the desired effects in some indications, namely sedation, can of course also become an undesirable side effect and manifest itself as drowsiness, heaviness and fatigue. It is therefore very important to point out to the patient that taking Valium® (Valium® side effects) will impair the patient’s ability to react, so active participation in traffic (driving, etc.) is strongly discouraged.
A further side effect of Valium® (Valium® side effects) can – especially in older patients – be the so-called paradoxical effect with restlessness and insomnia. The same phenomenon often occurs when benzodiazepine dependence is withdrawn, here it is called the rebound effect. Anterograde amnesia (i.e. forward running amnesia from a certain point in time) may also occur as a side effect. New events or contents are therefore not adequately stored. However, it usually – if it occurs at all – only covers a short period of time (Valium® side effects).
Contraindications
Valium® (diazepam), like all other benzodiazepines, should not be taken during pregnancy as it may cause fetal developmental problems. Newborn babies who take benzodiazepines often suffer from floppy infant syndrome (also known as floppy child syndrome) with shortness of breath, muscle weakness and low temperature (Valium® side effects).
Interactions
While taking benzodiazepines (Valium®), alcohol consumption should be avoided as a matter of urgency, as otherwise the effect of the medication may be intensified, possibly leading to massive respiratory depression. The same can apply to drugs that also have a dampening effect on the CNS; here too, the effect can be massively intensified and become very dangerous. These include neuroleptics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and anaesthetics. Since Valium® (diazepam) is broken down by certain enzymes in the liver (cytochrome P450 complex, or CYP enzymes for short), and there are many other drugs that interact with these enzymes in the form of inhibition (repression) or activation (induction), it is essential that a medical history (asking about all the drugs that the patient is taking) be taken before prescribing Valium® (diazepam). If necessary, the dose may then have to be adjusted or a prescription dispensed with altogether (Valium® side effects).