Benzodiazepines Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Benzodiazepines Capsule (generic name Diazepam) is a benzodiazepine used for short-term relief of severe anxiety, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It works by slowing down activity in the brain and nervous system. Because it can be habit-forming, it is a controlled substance available only with a prescription.

What is Benzodiazepines Capsule

Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription medicines that slow down activity in the brain and nervous system. Diazepam is a common benzodiazepine used for short-term relief of severe anxiety, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These medicines are controlled substances because they can be habit-forming and are only available with a prescription.

Benzodiazepines Capsule uses

• Short-term relief of severe anxiety, including conditions with tension, excitement, agitation, fear or aggressiveness
• Symptomatic relief of acute agitation, tremor and impending delirium tremens during alcohol withdrawal
• Relief of skeletal muscle spasm from conditions like muscle or joint inflammation, injury, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, athetosis or stiff man syndrome
• Treatment of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder
• Treatment of insomnia (short-term)
• Treatment or prevention of seizures
• Sedation before medical or surgical procedures

Benefits of Benzodiazepines Capsule

• Provides fast relief of severe anxiety and panic symptoms
• Helps calm muscle spasms and spasticity
• Has a long history of use and is well understood by doctors
• Has a specific antidote (flumazenil) available if overdose occurs
• Useful for several conditions at once, such as anxiety and pre-surgery sedation

How Benzodiazepines Capsule works

This medicine works by boosting the activity of a natural brain chemical called GABA, which calms down overactive nerve signals. This produces calming, sleep-inducing, muscle-relaxing and anti-seizure effects, but can also cause temporary memory problems.

Benzodiazepines Capsule dosage

Take the tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will start you on a low dose and gradually increase it until the desired effect is achieved. The tablet can be divided into equal halves to help with dosing. Do not change your dose yourself; talk to your doctor if the medicine feels too weak or too strong. Treatment is meant to be short-term; your doctor will slowly lower your dose rather than stopping suddenly, to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Avoid alcohol and other drugs that affect the nervous system while taking this medicine. Avoid driving, operating machinery or doing hazardous activities, especially during the first few days of treatment.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (2 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg)

Side effects of Benzodiazepines Capsule

Common

• Feeling drowsy or tired, especially at the start of treatment
• Muscle weakness and dizziness
• Changes in skin colour, nausea, headache, blurred vision, tremors
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Urinary incontinence
• Constipation
• Memory loss

Serious

• Unusual behavioural problems such as aggression, rage, sudden anxiety or excitation, restlessness, agitation, irritability
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Severe sleep disturbances or nightmares
• Inappropriate behaviour
• Allergic reactions: red skin, hives, itching, swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, wheezing, skin rashes or blisters
• Depression, including thoughts of death or suicide
• Falls and fractures, with increased risk in the elderly and those taking other sedatives
• Changes in blood counts and liver function
• Seizures during withdrawal

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine should not be used during pregnancy unless your doctor says it's absolutely necessary, since it may affect the developing baby and can cause withdrawal or breathing problems in a newborn.
• This medicine passes into breast milk, so breastfeeding is not recommended while taking it.
• If you have kidney problems, your doctor may start you on a very low dose and monitor you closely if treatment continues for a long time.
• This medicine should not be used if you have severe liver problems. If you have mild to moderate liver problems, your doctor will use extra caution, starting with a very low dose and monitoring your liver function.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can cause severe sedation, slowed breathing, coma, or even death.
• This medicine can affect your alertness and coordination, so avoid driving, operating machinery, or doing other hazardous activities, especially in the first few days of treatment or if you drink alcohol.
• Taking this medicine together with opioid pain medicines can cause severe sleepiness, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death.
• This medicine can cause physical and psychological dependence (addiction). Stopping suddenly or switching to another benzodiazepine can cause withdrawal symptoms.
• Never stop this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor first, as this can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.
• Falls and broken bones have been reported in people taking this type of medicine, especially the elderly and those also taking other sedatives, including alcohol.
• This medicine may cause memory loss, even at normal doses.

Storage

• Keep in tight, light resistant containers
• Store at room temperature (15°C to 30°C)
• Keep this medicine out of the reach and sight of children

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as red skin, hives, itching, swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, skin rashes, blisters, or sores in the mouth or eyes.
• Talk to your doctor right away if you develop unusual or disturbing thoughts or behavior, such as aggression, rage, sudden anxiety, excitation, restlessness, agitation, irritability, hallucinations, delusions, severe sleep problems, nightmares, or inappropriate behavior.
• Contact your doctor if you notice signs of depression, such as trouble sleeping, weight changes, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, withdrawing from friends or family, or thoughts of death or suicide.
• If you suspect an overdose, contact a healthcare provider, hospital emergency department, or your regional poison control center right away, even if there are no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Chlordiazepoxide
• Oxazepam
• Clorazepate
• Lorazepam