Valium
Valium, the brand name for diazepam, is a medication belonging to the benzodiazepine class, primarily used to treat a variety of nervous system disorders. It has calming effects that make it effective for managing anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, and tremors. Developed in the 1950s and released for medical use in 1963, Valium enhances the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, leading to sedative outcomes. It can be administered in various forms, including oral tablets, intravenous solutions, and rectal suppositories.
While Valium gained popularity for treating anxiety and panic disorders, its long-term use poses risks, including dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to alcohol withdrawal. Side effects can be significant, particularly in children and the elderly, ranging from sedation to increased suicidal tendencies. Additionally, combining Valium with other depressants, like opioids or alcohol, raises the risk of overdose. Though its use has declined since the 1980s due to safety concerns, it remains a prescribed medication for specific conditions, with careful management needed to minimize potential adverse effects.
Subject Terms
Valium
ALSO KNOWN AS: Diazepam
DEFINITION: Valium is a benzodiazepine derivative drug used in treating a number of nervous system disorders. The drug has a calming effect on the body and is often used to treat anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, and tremors.
STATUS: Legal by prescription only
CLASSIFICATION: Schedule IV controlled substance
SOURCE: Pharmaceutical preparation in the laboratory
TRANSMISSION ROUTE: Oral as tablets, capsules, or liquid; parenteral as intravenous or intramuscular solution; rectal suppositories; inhalation as an aerosolized vapor
History of Use
Valium, the brand name of diazepam, was invented in the 1950s by Leo Sternbach of the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche and released for medical purposes in 1963. As a benzodiazepine, Valium acts on the central nervous system to enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, producing a sedative effect on the body.
Valium quickly became a popular prescription drug, as physicians prescribed it for anxiety and panic disorders, insomnia, and (as an anticonvulsant) acute seizures. It is also often used in medicating patients with anxiety before surgery and for procedures such as endoscopy.
Valium can be used in the short-term to treat persons exhibiting withdrawal from alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs and for persons living with the results of spinal cord injuries and strokes. It is also sometimes used to treat vertigo and in persons with Ménière’s disease.
A pronounced risk of dependence exists with prolonged (four to six weeks) use of Valium. For this reason, its use has decreased since the 1980s, with many doctors prescribing safer alternatives for patients with conditions requiring benzodiazepine derivatives. Persons coming off long-term treatment with Valium should have their dosage gradually decreased to avoid benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, which can cause acute depression and cognitive deficits. In general, however, because Valium has a longer half-life than other benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, it is considered easier to taper off its use.
Effects and Potential Risks
There are many potential side effects of Valium, and its risk increases with its use in long-term treatment. Side effects include nervousness, irritability, panic disorder, sedation, insomnia, increased suicidal and self-harming tendencies, confusion, amnesia, dizziness, and nausea. Side effects seem to be more pronounced among children and older people. If taken during the third trimester of pregnancy, Valium can lead to potentially serious problems in newborns, including floppy infant syndrome, sedation, and respiratory distress. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 14 percent of all opioid overdose deaths in the United States in 2021 involved benzodiazepines. People should never combine opiates and benzodiazepines without being under the care of a doctor.
Tolerance to and dependence on Valium are common. Withdrawal from Valium mimics that of alcohol withdrawal, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe and including seizures and psychotic episodes. There also is a small risk of overdose, particularly when Valium is combined with depressant medications or with alcohol.
Bibliography
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