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Diazepam (Valium)

Clinical Uses

  •  Reduce anxiety prior to surgery

  •  Reduction in amount of inhalational agent required.

  •  Reduce anxiety prior to endoscopy and cardioversion

  •  Drug of choice by IV for termination of status epilepticus

  •  Anxiolytic

  •  Mangement of acute ethanol withdrawal

Contraindications

  •  By injection: shock, coma, acute alcohol intoxication, infants < 30 days old

  • By tablet: children less than 6 months

  •  Acute narrow angle glaucoma

  •  Untreated open angle glaucoma

  • During or within 14 days of MAO inhibitor therapy

  •  Safe use in pregnancy not established

 

Cautious Use (partial listing)

  • Impaired renal or hepatic function

  • Drug abuse

  • Addiction prone patients,

  • Mental depression

  • Elderly

  • In patients with COPD (I.V)

 

Side Effects (Partial listing)

  •  CNS: drowsiness, fatigue, amnesia

  •  CV: hypotension, cardiovascular collapse

  •  Eye: Blurred vision

  •  GI: dry mouth, nausea, constipation

  •  GU: gynecomastia (prolonged use), incontinence, urinary retention

Shannon, M.T., Wilson, B.A., Stang, C. L. In, Govoni and Hayes 8th Edition: Drugs and Nursing Implications Appleton & Lange, 1995, pp 396-397.

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