Valium to Manage Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms

Valium to Manage Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print Valium to Manage Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 BSIP/UIG / Getty Images More in Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Symptoms Diagnosis In This Article Table of Contents Expand Contraindications Side Effects Interactions Dependence and Withdrawal Pregnancy and Breastfeeding View All Back To Top Valium is a drug used for managing anxiety disorders and short-term treatment of anxiety symptoms. The drug, which is also sold under the generic name diazepam, works by actually slowing down activity in your brain. In bipolar disorder, Valium and other anti-anxiety medications in the same family can quickly help halt certain manic symptoms, such as agitation. This can give mood stabilizers enough time to kick in. Your physician may prescribe Valium just for a short periodâ€"generally just a few weeks or lessâ€"to treat manic symptoms in bipolar disorder. Valium also can be used to treat skeletal muscle spasms from conditions like inflammation or trauma, along with spasticity, a condition where your muscles contract unwillingly. Spasticity can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy and stiff-person syndrome. In another use, Valium may be used as an add-on medication to help people who have seizure disorders. Finally, the drug may be prescribed to treat the symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal, where it may help control tremors, agitation and even the DTs (known in scientific terms as delirium tremens). Valium, which is extremely addictive, was one of the first drugs that are popularly known as tranquilizers. It was approved in 1963. Who Should Not Take Valium Valium should not be given to children under the age of six months. Also, patients with sleep apnea, serious difficulty breathing, severe liver disease, or myasthenia gravis (a condition that causes weakness in your muscles) should use significant caution when taking this drug.?? If you have glaucoma, its possible that you should not take diazepam. Make sure you know whether you have open-angle glaucoma (where Valium use is okay) or acute narrow-angle glaucoma (where Valium should not be used). Contact your ophthalmologist if you are not sure which type of glaucoma you have. Side Effects The most common side effects of Valium include:?? drowsinessfatiguemuscle weaknessunsteady gait You shouldnt use alcohol or take anything else that makes you sleepy while taking Valium. In addition, if youre taking Valium to help treat a seizure disorder, you shouldnt stop taking it suddenly, because doing so may increase your seizures. Possible Drug Interactions Because Valium slows the activity of your central nervous system, your doctor should be careful when prescribing other drugs that can affect your central nervous system. These include:?? phenothiazine antipsychotics (including Compazine and Thorazine)antipsychotics (including Zyprexa, Haldol, and Risperdal)anti-anxiety medications (such as Xanax)sedatives and hypnotics (including Ambien and Lunesta)anticonvulsantsnarcotic painkillers (such as Percodan)anestheticssedative antihistamines (such as Benadryl)illegal narcoticsbarbituratesMAO inhibitors (an older form of antidepressants that includes Nardil and Marplan), andnewer antidepressants. There also are several drugs that can lead to increased effects or even toxicity when taken with Valium. These include:?? Tagamet (cimetidine), prescribed for ulcers and excess stomach acidPrilosec (omeprazole), another drug for excess stomach acidoral ketoconazole, which treats fungal infectionsLuvox (fluvoxamine), used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, andProzac (fluoxetine), used for depression You should always make certain both your physician and your pharmacist know what other drugs youre taking if youre starting a Valium prescription  since it interacts with so many drugs. Dependence and Withdrawal Valium is a member of the benzodiazepine family. These drugs can be addictive, even if youre only taking the prescribed dose. You run a higher risk of becoming addicted if you take the drug long-term, or if you abuse the drug. Symptoms of withdrawal from Valium can be mild to severe. These can include: insomniaheadachemuscle painsweatingrestlessnessirritabilityabdominal and muscle crampstremor A temporary return of anxiety symptoms that are worse than before treatment was started also can occur. If you stop taking the drug suddenly, your withdrawal symptoms may be more severe. Your doctor can help you by designing a plan to taper down your dose gradually when discontinuing Valium. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding on Valium Valium increases the risk of birth defects if you take it during pregnancy, and there a risk that your baby will go through withdrawal if you take the medication during your third trimester.?? Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. You also shouldnt use Valium if youre breastfeeding, since the drug will pass through to your baby in your breast milk. How Long Does Valium Stay in Your Body?