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February 10, 2012

Valium

Prescription Anxiety Medications »

What are anxiety medications and how do they work?

Anxiety is both a normal and useful response to potentially stressful or dangerous situations. It helps by increasing our awareness of what's going on around us and in other ways. For most people, the anxiety is short lived and normally goes away once the situation has passed. But that is not the case for an estimated 40 million adults in the United States who have some type of anxiety disorder and experience ongoing and unwarranted psychological distress. That distress may also manifest itself in physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, or chest pain.

Anxiety medications include multiple types of drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The three most commonly prescribed types of anxiety medication are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications -- also known as anxiolytics -- and beta-blockers. The first two types of anxiety medications work primarily by affecting the ba...

Read the Prescription Anxiety Medications article »

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Valium Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Valium

Generic Name: diazepam (Pronunciation: dye AZ e pam)

What is diazepam (Valium)?

Diazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Diazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

Diazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms. Diazepam is sometimes used with other medications to treat seizures.

Diazepam may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Diazepam 10 mg-BAR

round, blue, imprinted with barr, 555 164

Diazepam 10 mg-IVA

round, blue, imprinted with Z 3927, 10

Diazepam 10 mg-MYL

round, green, imprinted with MYLAN 477

Diazepam 10 mg-WAT

round, blue, imprinted with 10, DAN 5620

Diazepam 2 mg-BAR

round, white, imprinted with barr, 555 163

Diazepam 2 mg-ESI

round, white, imprinted with LL, D 51

Diazepam 2 mg-IVA

round, white, imprinted with Z 3925, 2

Diazepam 2 mg-MYL

round, white, imprinted with MYLAN 271

Diazepam 2 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with 2, DAN 5621

Diazepam 5 mg-BAR

round, yellow, imprinted with barr, 555 363

Diazepam 5 mg-IVA

round, yellow, imprinted with Z 3926, 5

Diazepam 5 mg-MYL

round, orange, imprinted with MYLAN 345

Diazepam 5 mg-SCH

round, yellow, imprinted with DAN 5619, 5

Diazepam 5 mg-WAT

round, yellow, imprinted with 5, DAN 5619

Valium 10 mg

round, blue, imprinted with ROCHE ROCHE, VALIUM 10

Valium 2 mg

round, white, imprinted with 2 VALIUM, ROCHEROCHE

Valium 5 mg

round, yellow, imprinted with ROCHE ROCHE, VALIUM 5

What are the possible side effects of diazepam (Valium)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;
depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
hyperactivity, anxiety, agitation, hostility;
double vision, hallucinations;
weak or shallow breathing;
feeling like you might pass out;
muscle twitching, tremor;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, tired feeling;
dizziness, spinning sensation;
blurred vision;
sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares;
muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;
slurred speech;
nausea, vomiting, constipation;
headache, memory problems;
drooling or dry mouth;
skin rash; or
loss of interest in sex.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about diazepam (Valium)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to diazepam, or if you have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a severe breathing problem, or sleep apnea.

This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use diazepam if you are pregnant.

Before taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, asthma or other breathing problems, kidney or liver disease, seizures, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Do not drink alcohol while taking diazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.

Never take more of this medication than your doctor has prescribed. An overdose of diazepam can be fatal.

Diazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Diazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

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