SIDE EFFECTS: Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, unsteadiness, or pain/burning/redness at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, strange thoughts), muscle weakness, pain/swelling/signs of infection at the injection site, vision changes (e.g., blurred/double vision).
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, easy bleeding/bruising, chest pain, loss of consciousness, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), slurred speech, severe stomach/abdominal pain, unusual tiredness, dark urine, difficulty walking, yellowing eyes/skin.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide medical advice, but in the US you may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you may call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
PRECAUTIONS: Before using diazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines (e.g., chlordiazepoxide); or if you have any other allergies.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: breathing trouble during sleep (sleep apnea), severe breathing problems (except in patients who are breathing with help from a machine), certain blood disorder (porphyria), certain eye problem (glaucoma), a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis).
Before using this medication, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: breathing problems (e.g., asthma), brain problems that could affect breathing (e.g., decreased consciousness, head injury), depression, history of drug/alcohol abuse, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (e.g., depression), certain type of seizure (petit mal).
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. For at least 3 hours after receiving this drug, you should not get out of bed without help. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until the effects of the medication wear off (at least 24 hours). Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Get up slowly to avoid dizziness and lightheadedness when rising from a sitting or lying position. Alcoholic beverages will increase these effects.
Caution is advised when using this drug in children because it may affect children differently, causing restlessness or mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations) instead of calm.
A preservative (benzyl alcohol) that may be found in this product or in the liquid used to mix this product can infrequently cause serious problems (sometimes death) if more than 100 milligrams daily is given to an infant during the first months of life. The risk is greater with low-birth-weight infants. Symptoms include sudden gasping, low blood pressure, or a very slow heartbeat. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn, tell the doctor immediately. If possible, a preservative-free product should be used when treating newborns.
Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially confusion and dizziness. This medication may also affect the elderly differently, causing restlessness or mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations) instead of calm.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Consult your doctor before using this medication.
This drug may pass into breast milk and have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.