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View more items in " Sleeping Pills" category... Important information about Valium
You should not use Valium 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 Valium if you are pregnant.
Before taking Valium, 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 Valium. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.
Never take more of this medication than your doctor has prescribed. An overdose of Valium can be fatal.
Valium may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Thus medicine 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.
VALIUM SIDE EFFECTS:
Drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, blurred vision, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify 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: mental/mood changes (e.g., memory problems, agitation, and hallucinations), slurred speech, clumsiness, trouble walking, decreased/increased interest in sex, tremor, trouble urinating, sleep disturbances. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea, vomiting, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, persistent sore throat or fever. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely; seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), 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.
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 you;
Hyperactivity, anxiety, agitation, hostility;
Double vision, hallucination;
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 Valium side effects may include:
Drowsiness, tired feeling;
Dizziness,
Blurred vision;
Insomnia, nightmares;
Muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;
Indistinct speech;
Nausea, vomiting, constipation.
PRECAUTIONS:
Before taking Diazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, lorazepam); 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: glaucoma (narrow-angle), a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis), breathing trouble during sleep (sleep apnea).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, lung/breathing problems, drug or alcohol abuse, glaucoma (open-angle).This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Some liquid products may contain alcohol. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely. 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. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the potential for harm to an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Consult your doctor for more details. This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Your doctor may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: fluvoxamine, sodium oxybate. If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor before starting Diazepam. Before using this medication, tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: certain anti-depressants (e.g., fluoxetine, nefazodone), meprazole, and phenytoin. Tell your doctor if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep (e.g., sedatives), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), and psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, or tricyclics such as amitriptyline), and tranquilizers. Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. This product can affect the results of certain lab tests. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug. Smoking can decrease the effectiveness of this drug (through liver enzyme induction). Tell your doctor if you smoke or if you have recently stopped smoking because your dose may need to be adjusted. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
OVERDOSE:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe drowsiness, slowed/reduced reflexes, slowed breathing, fainting, loss of consciousness.
MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. If you are taking this medication for seizures, take it if remembered within 1 hour of the missed dose, but skip it if more than 1 hour has passed.
STORAGE:
Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Valium?
Valium may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Valium 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. You should not use Valium if you are allergic to Diazepam, or if you have:
Myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness disorder);
Severe liver disease;
Narrow-angle glaucoma;
A severe breathing problem; or
Sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Valium. Before taking Diazepam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have glaucoma.
Asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;
Kidney or liver disease;
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
A history of mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
History of drug or alcohol addiction.
How should I take Valium?
Take Valium exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Valium should be used for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 months without your doctor's advice. Do not stop using Valium suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may have increased seizures or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Valium. Withdrawal symptoms include tremor, sweating, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps, stomach pain, vomiting, and unusual thoughts or behavior. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood and liver function may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Benzodiazepines are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Don’t take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of Valium can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, limp or weak muscles, fainting, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.
What should I avoid while taking Valium?
Do not drink alcohol while taking Valium. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Valium can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about Valium.
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