Diazemuls

How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient diazepam, which is a type of medicine called a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are used for their sedative and anxiety-relieving effects. Diazepam works by acting on receptors in the brain called GABA receptors. This causes the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells in the brain and nervous system. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve-calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance, and is involved in inducing sleepiness, reducing anxiety and relaxing muscles. As diazepam increases the activity of GABA in the brain, it increases its calming effect and results in sleepiness, a decrease in anxiety and relaxation of muscles. Diazepam has several uses. Firstly, it can be used to calm severe anxiety and agitation. For example, benzodiazepines such as diazepam are effective at quickly reducing the symptoms of anxiety and agitation that occur in a manic episode of the psychiatric illness, bipolar affective disorder. A benzodiazepine may be given as part of the initial treatment of a manic episode, though they are not licensed specifically for this purpose. Benzodiazepines help calm the individual while the main medicines for this condition (mood stabilisers) begin to take effect. Diazepam is also given for its sedating and anxiety-relieving effects as a pre-med before surgery or medical investigations or procedures, and during acute alcohol withdrawal. The second main use of diazepam is in controlling convulsions, for example epilepsy, or seizures associated with fever in children (febrile convulsions). It is particularly useful for controlling repeated epileptic fits when a patient does not recover conciousness between fits (status epilepticus). Diazepam helps control convulsions because the increased activity of GABA that it causes in the brain helps to calm excessive electrical nerve activity that is responsible for causing seizures. A further use of diazepam is in controlling muscle spasms due to tetanus or poisoning. Diazemuls is an injectable brand of diazepam. It may be given as a slow injection into a vein, or as a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion).

What is it used for?

Short-term treatment of severe anxiety or agitation

Acute alcohol withdrawal (used in combination with other treatment)

Relieving anxiety and causing sedation prior to surgery or medical procedures (pre-med)

Convulsions, eg epilepsy

Repeated fitting with no recovery of conciousness between seizures

Muscle spasms due to tetanus or poisoning

Warning!

This medicine is generally only suitable for short-term use. If it is used for long periods or in high doses, tolerance to and dependence upon the medicine may develop, and withdrawal symptoms may occur if treatment is stopped suddenly. For this reason, treatment with this medicine should usually be stopped gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor, in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as rebound insomnia or anxiety, confusion, sweating, tremor, loss of appetite, irritability or convulsions.

This medicine causes drowsiness, muscle weakness and impairs concentration and alertness. These effects may continue into the following day and are made worse by drinking alcohol. If you are affected you should avoid potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinary. Avoid alcohol.

Use with caution in

Children

Elderly people

Weak or debilitated people

Decreased kidney function

Decreased liver function

Depression

Personality disorders

Disease affecting the airways or lungs (respiratory disease)

Abnormal muscle weakness

Not to be used in

A sudden worsening of any underlying lung disease (acute pulmonary insufficiency)

Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression)

Long-term psychotic illness

Phobias or obsessional states

Breastfeeding

Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be avoided during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor, for example for controlling seizures. This is because it may be harmful to the developing baby. This is particularly important during the third trimester of pregnancy and prior to or during labour.

Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers as it may be harmful to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Drowsiness

Drowsiness and lightheadedness the next day

Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia)

Loss of memory (amnesia)

Confusion

Headache

Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)

Muscle weakness

Skin rashes

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Visual disturbances

Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Dizziness

Unexpected increase in aggression (paradoxical aggression)

Changes in sex drive

Blood disorders

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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