Diazepam (Page 5 of 5)

What is the most important information I should know about diazepam tablets?

• Diazepam tablets are a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death. Get emergency help right away if any of the following happens:
  • Shallow or slowed breathing,
  • Breathing stops (which may lead to the heart stopping),
  • Excessive sleepiness (sedation).

  Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how taking diazepam tablets with opioids affects you.

• Risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction. There is a risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction with benzodiazepines, including diazepam tablets, which can lead to overdose and serious side effects including coma and death.
  • Serious side effects including coma and death have happened in people who have abused or misused benzodiazepines, including diazepam tablets. These serious side effects may also include delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or actions, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these serious side effects.
  • You can develop an addiction even if you take diazepam tablets exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
  • Take diazepam tablets exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed.
  • Do not share your diazepam tablets with other people.
  • Keep diazepam tablets in a safe place and away from children.

• Physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. Diazepam tablets can cause physical dependence and withdrawal reactions.
  • Do not suddenly stop taking diazepam tablets. Stopping diazepam tablets suddenly can cause serious and life-threatening side effects, including, unusual movements, responses, or expressions, seizures, sudden and severe mental or nervous system changes, depression, seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear, an extreme increase in activity or talking, losing touch with reality, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these symptoms.
  • Some people who suddenly stop benzodiazepines have symptoms that can last for several weeks to more than 12 months, including, anxiety, trouble remembering, learning, or concentrating, depression, problems sleeping, feeling like insects are crawling under your skin, weakness, shaking, muscle twitching, burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet, and ringing in your ears.
  • Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction. Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the differences between physical dependence and drug addiction.
  • Do not take more diazepam tablets than prescribed or take diazepam tablets for longer than prescribed.

What are diazepam tablets?

• Diazepam tablets are a prescription medicine used:
  • to treat anxiety disorders
  • for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety
  • to relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal including agitation, shakiness (tremor), sudden and severe mental or nervous system changes (delirium tremens) and seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear (hallucinations)
  • along with other medicines for the relief of muscle spasms
  • along with other medicines to treat seizure disorders
• Diazepam tablets are a federal controlled substance (C-IV) because it contains diazepam that can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep diazepam tablets in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away diazepam tablets may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.
• It is not known if diazepam tablets are safe and effective in children under 6 months of age.
• It is not known if diazepam tablets are safe and effective for use longer than 4 months.

Do not take diazepam tablets if you:

• are allergic to diazepam or any of the ingredients in diazepam tablets. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in diazepam tablets.
• have a disease that can cause muscle weakness called myasthenia gravis
• have severe breathing problems (severe respiratory insufficiency)
• have severe liver problems
• have a sleep problem called sleep apnea syndrome

Before you take diazepam tablets, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
• have lung disease or breathing problems
• have liver or kidney problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Diazepam tablets may harm your unborn baby. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take diazepam tablets while you are pregnant.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Diazepam passes into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take diazepam tablets. Do not breastfeed while taking diazepam tablets.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take , including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking diazepam tablets with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well diazepam tablets or the other medicines work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

How should I take diazepam tablets?

• Take diazepam tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take them. Your healthcare provider will tell you how many diazepam tablets to take and when to take them.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about slowly stopping diazepam tablets to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
• If you take too many diazepam tablets, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

These are not all the possible side effects of diazepam tablets. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Teva at 1-888-838-2872.

• Store diazepam tablets in a tightly closed container at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) and out of the light.
• Keep diazepam tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use diazepam tablets for a condition for which they were not prescribed. Do not give diazepam tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. They may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about diazepam tablets that is written for health professionals.