Valium (Diazepam)
Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions or spasms in one or more of your muscles. They often occur after exercise or at night, lasting a few seconds to several minutes. It is a very common muscle problem. Muscle cramps can be caused by nerves that malfunction. Sometimes this malfunction is due to a health problem, such as a spinal cord injury or a pinched nerve in the neck or back. Other causes are straining or overusing a muscle dehydration. A lack of minerals in your diet or the depletion of minerals in your body. Not enough blood getting to your muscles cramps can be very painful.
Valium (diazepam) effectively relieves anxiety and muscle spasms. Valium has less severe withdrawal symptoms compared to other similar drugs. It works very quickly.
Where to buy Valium?
Diazepam oral tablet is available as both a generic and brand-name drug. Brand name: Valium. It is addition to treating muscle spasms. Diazepam relieves symptoms of anxiety and alcohol withdrawal and is used in seizure disorders such as epilepsy. Diazepam is usually limited to one to two weeks of use. This limitation is due to its habit-forming potential and because it alters sleep cycles, leading to sleep difficulties once the drug is stopped. Patients should also realize that diazepam is a depressant and can worsen depression associated with chronic pain. Diazepam is not advised for those who are pregnant, have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, sleep apnea (oral tablet only), serious breathing troubles, or some forms of glaucoma. It is sold as a tablet, liquid, injection, and a rectal gel.
Valium prescriptions may only be refilled up to five times within a six month period after the date on which the prescription was written. After five refills or after six months, whichever occurs first, a new prescription is required. Your doctor will review your health history to determine whether diazepam is a safe, effective option for you. Only after that procedures you can buy valium. Valium should only be taken with a health care provider's supervision and according to the directions on your prescription. Tolerance to diazepam can develop within a few weeks of therapy, which means that your doctor may need to adjust the dose in order to maintain its effects. Because the brain quickly becomes tolerant to the effects of Valium, this drug is not recommended for patients who have had problems with addiction in the past. However, Valium may be given in a medically supervised setting to prevent the seizures, tremors and agitation associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Valium is the brand name for an anti-anxiety medication which contains diazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Because people can abuse diazepam to get high, Valium is only available by prescription and can be used in tablet, gel and injectable form.
What is Valium prescribed for?
Valium is a very versatile drug. Doctors may prescribe Valium to treat the symptoms of anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures, and even alcohol withdrawal. So, Valium works how? The main ingredient in Valium, diazepam, is part of a class of medications called a benzodiazepine that causes sedation and relaxes the muscles. Valium is also knowns as a tranquilizer, sedative, or central nervous system depressant.
Valium prescription dosage
How long Valium lasts does not vary (about 4-6 hours). But the dosage of Valium depends on the symptoms your doctor is hoping to treat. For example, someone suffering from anxiety may take between 2-10 mg of Valium several times a day. For alcohol withdrawal, 3-4 doses of 10 mg over the first 24 hours is the starting dose, but after that Valium prescription dosage will be reduced to 5 mg as needed. For muscle spasms and convulsive disorders, doctors recommend 2-10 mg of Valium between 2 and 4 times a day. In elderly people, the dose will be much lower, usually no more than 2.5 mg until the ability to tolerate Valium has been established.
If you've been taking Valium for nonmedical reasons, you are at risk of chemical dependence and addiction. Valium use must be monitored carefully to keep the user from developing a compulsive need for the drug.
What Valium is used for
Valium is used for anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the normal stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with medicines.
Valium is used to relax muscles.
Valium can also be used to treat trembling, confusional states or anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal. It is also used to treat panic attacks.
Valium belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. They are thought to work by their action on brain chemicals.
Benzodiazepines are not recommended as the only treatment of severe mental illnesses and should not be used alone to treat depression.
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Valium for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Valium has been prescribed for you.
In general, benzodiazepines such as Valium should be taken for short periods only (around 2 to 4 weeks). Continuous long term use is not recommended unless advised by your doctor.
The use of benzodiazepines may lead to dependence on the medicine. This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Valium
Do not take Valium if:
- you have had an allergic reaction to Valium, any other benzodiazepine medicine or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
- you have severe and chronic lung disease
- you have severe liver disease
- you have temporary stops in breathing during sleep
- you suffer from severe muscle weakness
- you have drug or alcohol addiction
- the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
- the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should be taking Valium, talk to your doctor.
Do not give Valium to children less than six months old.
Before you start to take it:
Your doctor must know about all the following before you start to take Valium.
- if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
It is not known whether Valium is harmful to an unborn baby when taken by a pregnant woman. If there is a need to take Valium when you are pregnant your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits to you and the unborn baby. - if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Valium may pass into the breast milk and cause drowsiness and/or feeding difficulties in the baby. Valium is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. - if you have any other health problems including:
- liver, kidney or lung disease
- high or low blood pressure
- glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
- depression, schizophrenia or other mental illness
- epilepsy (fits)
- history of alcohol or drug abuse - if you drink alcohol
Alcohol may increase the effects of Valium. - if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines including any that you have bought without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Valium. These medicines include:
- other sleeping tablets, sedatives or tranquillisers
- medicines for depression
- medicines to control fits
- medicines for allergies or colds such as antihistamines
- pain relievers
- muscle relaxants
- cimetidine and omeprazole - a medicine used to treat ulcers
- disulfiram - a medicine used in alcohol abuse
- cisapride - a medicine used to treat gastric reflux
- ketoconazole - a medicine used to treat fungal infections.
These medicines may be affected by Valium or may affect how well Valium works. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines. They also have a more complete list of medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Valium.
If you are taking any other medications, check with your doctor before you start to take Valium.
How to take Valium
Take Valium exactly as your doctor has prescribed. Your doctor will tell you how many Valium tablets to take each day.
The dose varies from person to person depending on age and the condition being treated. The usual adult dose is between 5 and 40 mg daily. Children, elderly and very ill patients may need to take less.
Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
When to take Valium:
Valium can be taken up to three times a day. Your doctor will tell you how much you need to take. The tablets can be taken with or without food.
How long to take Valium:
Valium should be taken for short periods only (for example, 2-4 weeks). Continuous long term use is not recommended unless advised by your doctor. The use of benzodiazepines may lead to dependence on the medicine.
Continue taking Valium until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you forget to take Valium:
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
Do not take a double a dose to make up for one you have missed. If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Overdose
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Valium, immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you have taken too much Valium, you may feel drowsy, tired, confused, dizzy, have difficulty breathing, feel weak or become unconscious.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking Valium
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Valium.
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Valium.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.
Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Valium affects you. Valium may cause drowsiness or dizziness in some people and therefore may affect alertness. Make sure you know how you react to Valium before your drive a car or operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy, dizzy or not alert.
Do not take Valium for a longer time than your doctor has prescribed. Valium should be taken for short periods only (for example 2 to 4 weeks) unless advised by your doctor.
Do not stop taking Valium or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor. Stopping this medicine suddenly may cause some unwanted effects. Your doctor will explain how you should slowly reduce your dose of Valium before you can stop taking it completely.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not suddenly stop taking Valium if you suffer from epilepsy. Stopping this medicine suddenly may make your epilepsy worse.
Do not give Valium to anyone else even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use Valium to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Be careful if you are elderly, unwell, drinking alcohol or taking other medicines. Some people may experience side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, dizziness and unsteadiness which may increase the risk of a fall.
Your doctor may suggest that you avoid alcohol or reduce the amount of alcohol you drink while you are taking Valium.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Valium. Valium helps most people with anxiety but it may have unwanted side effects in a few. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. Some side effects may require medical treatment.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- drowsiness, tiredness
- dizziness, unsteadiness
- loss of memory, inattentiveness, confusion, lack of concentration
- headache, hangover feeling in the morning
- slurred speech
- unpleasant dreams
Tell your doctor immediately or go to casualty at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- sudden anxiety or excitation
- restlessness, agitation, irritability, anger, abnormal behaviour
- hallucinations or delusions
- severe sleep disturbances
- difficulties in breathing or choking or coughing
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Where can I buy Diazepam without prescription?
Muscle relaxants can be helpful in alleviating acute back pain, but patients should be aware of certain potential problems. For example, diazepam is classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as Schedule IV controlled substances based on their potential for abuse and addiction. In some US states the use of Valium requires prescription. Though in some countries Valium can be availed without prescription. They don't classify Diazepam as a controlled substance. In some countries, this substance is commonly used to treat pain and can be bought without a prescription. It is available on prescription only as tablets for oral use, but the online pharmacy, will sell Valium without prescription. You may be able to order Diazepam from them online and save the local pharmacy markup. The cost of Valium will vary depending on your dosage. The brand version of Valium can cost upwards of $100. However, the generic version of diazepam is usually less than $10. Unless theres some reason why you cant take the generic formula, its probably going to be much more affordable to buy generic Valium.