One of the most common and effective sedatives is Valium. As an active component of this drug is diazepam - a substance belonging to the group of benzodiazepines.
One Valium tablet contains 5 or 10 mg of diazepam and ancillary ingredients including lactose monohydrate.
In a pharmacy, the medicine is sold in blisters for 25 tablets packed in a cardboard box.
Contents
- Pharmaceuticals
- Mechanism of action
- Wide application profile
- Safe dosages and dosage regimens
- Overdose and side effects
- Interaction with drugs and alcohol
- Expert opinion
- Taken at specialized forums
- Purchase and storage of
Pharmaceuticals
The drug has a brightpronounced sedative, hypnotic, miorelaksiruyuschim and anticonvulsant action. During the period of application of the medicine, vasodilation, blood pressure decrease and reduction of paroxysms are noted.
The action of the medication is usually manifested on the 2-7th day of its administration. In people suffering from arrhythmia and cardialgia, the positive dynamics usually occurs at the end of the first week of using the remedy.
In the treatment of abstinence, which occurs against a background of chronic alcoholism, the drug helps to get rid of limb tremors, hallucinations, agitation and mental disorders.
Valium is quickly absorbed into the digestive tract. The highest concentration of the substance in the blood is reached approximately 30-90 minutes after oral administration of the drug. 
With intramuscular injection, the absorption is also complete, but not always more rapid than when ingested.
Biotransformation of the active substance to metabolites is carried out in the liver. The half-life in adults begins two days later, in the elderly - about five days later, in children - after 30 hours.
Excretion from the body is mainly made by the kidneys and is 92%( 90% in the form of conjugates and 2% unchanged), the remaining 8% of the substance leaves the body together with feces.
Mechanism of action
Diazepam, which is part of Valium, has a pronounced anxiolytic activity. The drug eliminates the feeling of anxiety and fear, has a muscle relaxant and hypnotic effect.
The main effect of the drug is directed to inhibition of the polysynaptic reflexes of the spinal cord. The medication reduces blood pressure, exerts an expanding effect on the coronary vessels, increases the pain threshold and increases the resistance of the brain tissue to hypoxia.
Effective in the treatment of withdrawal syndrome, as it helps the patient to relieve nervous tension, weaken tremors of the extremities, prevents the development and strengthening of delirium and hallucinations.
Thanks to the ability to raise the pain threshold and reduce emotional stress in stressful situations, diazepam and drugs based on it, is often used in anesthesia practice. He is prescribed to patients before surgery and surgical procedures.
Wide application profile
In medical practice, Valium is prescribed for the treatment of such diseases:
- anxiety disorders and stress;
- sleep disturbance;
- spasm of skeletal muscle;
- dysphoria, myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, peptic ulcer diseases( as part of complex therapy);
- cerebral palsy, tetanus, athetosis and other spastic disorders;
- angina;
- arthrosis, accompanied by a tension of skeletal muscles;
- myositis, arthritis, rheumatism, chronic polyarthritis;
- vertebral syndrome;
- hangover syndrome;
- Drug poisoning;
- relief of epileptic seizures;
- Ménière's disease;
- skin diseases, accompanied by itching.
The drug is used in gynecological practice for psychosomatic disorders during menopause and menstruation, and to alleviate the symptoms of gestosis and labor.
Used to treat motor excitation and paranoid-hallucinatory conditions. Valium is prescribed as an anesthetic for surgical intervention and endoscopic manipulation.
Safe dosages and dosage regimens of
Valium is given orally, intramuscularly or intravenously. The dose of the medicine is calculated by the attending physician depending on the clinical picture of the disease and the patient's condition.
Approximate dosages are as follows:
- As a sedative for , with stress, anxiety and insomnia, the drug should be taken orally 2.5-10 mg, two to four times a day.
- With neurological diseases , neuroses, hysterical conditions and various phobias, the daily dose can be 5-10 mg, two to three times a day.
- As an additional preparation of in the treatment of cardiac disorders and rheumatism of , the drug is prescribed in a dosage of 2-5 mg, two to three times a day.
- In the gynecological practice of for the treatment of gestosis and for psychosomatic disorders during menopause or menstruation, the drug is administered orally 2-5 mg, twice daily. To facilitate labor, with placental abruption or premature delivery, the drug is administered intramuscularly. Dosage depends on the characteristics of the course of pregnancy and is determined only by the attending physician.
- As an anesthetic, , this drug is used orally, intravenously or intramuscularly. The dose and mode of administration are determined by a specialist, depending on the type of surgical manipulation.
Elderly people should start taking medication with a daily norm for adults, gradually increasing the dosage.
Children older than six months of age, Valium is prescribed for oral administration. Babies younger than six months of age, the drug is administered intravenously. The amount of the daily allowance is regulated by the attending physician.
Overdose and side effects
Excess daily dosage is manifested in the form of CNS depression of varying severity - from drowsiness and confusion, to hypotension, respiratory complications and coma.
It is possible to remove symptoms of an overdose by inducing vomiting in the patient and taking the necessary amount of activated carbon. If the patient is unconscious, then he should wash the stomach and inject antidody of benzodiazepine substances - Flumanezil.
Side effects from taking the drug include:
- addictive;
- decreased concentration and decreased reaction;
- violation of short-term memory;
- dizziness;
- headache;
- musculoskeletal disorder, manifested in the form of dysarthria and ataxia;
- lowering blood pressure;
- allergic reactions.
Interaction with drugs and alcohol
The active substance, which is part of the drug, enhances the inhibitory effect of ethyl alcohol on the body. Also, it helps to increase the effect of analgesics, neuroleptic drugs, antidepressants and antihistamines.
Some psychostimulants and analeptic agents reduce the activity of Valium.
Erythromycin helps slow the disintegration of diazepam in the liver, and rifampicin significantly reduces the concentration of the substance in the blood plasma.
Expert opinion
Reviews of doctors who use Valium in their practice.
I often use Valium in my practice to treat patients with alcohol dependence. I was personally convinced that the drug is highly effective, allows you to quickly remove symptoms of withdrawal and ease the patient's condition.
Dorokhov AO, narcologist-doctor
This medication has proved itself well in the treatment of psychosomatic and post-traumatic disorders. I usually prescribe to my patients the course of the drug to achieve a sedative effect, relieve anxiety and improve the quality of a night's sleep.
Nikitenko BE, doctor-psychotherapist
Taken at specialized forums
The opinion of ordinary people is ambiguous.
I got into an accident, where I received minor injuries to my limbs and head. After this incident, I began to suffer from insomnia and there was a constant sense of fear.
The doctor prescribed a Valium tablet three times a day. The first effect occurred an hour after taking the medicine. I began to feel much calmer, and three days later for the first time in a long time I slept well. In general, I was satisfied with the drug, but the main thing is not to abuse it, but it can be addictive.
Tatyana Osipova
I faced this medication when my wife was treating alcoholism. During intoxication, he had hallucinations and mental disorders. This drug was part of therapy for alcohol dependence.
According to the attending physician, I learned that it was this medication that helped my husband cope with mental disorders and restore normal consciousness.
Turina Evgenia
Purchase and storage of
This medication should be stored in a dark and cool place, protected from children. The medicine should not be used after four years from the date of manufacture. 
Valium is a potent drug that can exert narcotic effect, therefore in Russia it can be bought only on prescription prescribed by the attending physician.
The price of packing overseas Valium Rosh 230 pounds sterling for 1000 tablets 10 mg, the domestic preparation can be found and for 1000 rubles.
The most accessible analogues of Valium are Diazepam, Relanium, Sibazon and other benzodiazepines.
