Diazepam

Diazepam (brand names: Valium, Dialar, Diazemuls, Diazepam Desitin, Diazepam RecTubes, Stesolid and Tensium) is a benzodiazepine. It acts to reduce anxiety (as an anxiolytic medication).^[13]

Diazepam

Clinical data
Pronunciation	/daɪˈæzɪpæm/ dy-AZ-ip-am
Trade names	Valium, Vazepam, Valtoco, others[1]
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682047
License data	US DailyMed: Diazepam
Pregnancy category	AU: C[2]
Dependence liability	High[3]
Addiction liability	Moderate[4][5]
Routes of administration	oral, intramuscular, intravenous, rectal, nasal,[6] buccal film
Drug class	Benzodiazepine
ATC code	N05BA01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) [2] BR: Class B1 (Psychoactive drugs) CA: Schedule IV DE: Prescription only (Anlage III for higher doses) NZ: Class C UK: POM (Prescription only) [7][8] US: Schedule IV [9][10] UN: Psychotropic Schedule IV In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	76% (64–97%) oral, 81% (62–98%) rectal[11]
Metabolism	Liver – CYP2B6 (minor route) to desmethyldiazepam, CYP2C19 (major route) to inactive metabolites, CYP3A4 (major route) to temazepam
Metabolites	Nordiazepam Temazepam[12]
Elimination half-life	(50 h); 20–100 h (32–200 h for main active metabolite desmethyldiazepam)[9][7][8]
Excretion	Kidney
Identifiers
CAS Number	439-14-5 Y
PubChem CID	3016
IUPHAR/BPS	3364
DrugBank	DB00829 N
ChemSpider	2908 Y
UNII	Q3JTX2Q7TU
KEGG	D00293 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:49575 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL12 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.006.476
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

It is made mostly to treat anxiety,^[14] certain forms of epilepsy,^[14] muscle spasms (seizures^[14]), fits,^[14] and sleeping problems^{[verification needed]}. It can also be taken to help people relax before an operation or other medical or dental treatments. This is known as a pre-med.^[14] Compared to similar medications, its half-life is on the longer end.

It works by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). Like with other benzodiazepines, there is a risk of addiction if it is used for long periods of time. For this reason the drug used for 2-4 weeks maximum to avoid dependence.^[14]

Diazepam was patented in 1959 by Hoffmann-La Roche.^[15][16][17] It has been one of the most prescribed medications in the world since 1963^[15] many times. In 1985, the patent ended. There are now 500 or more brands available on the market.^[15] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[18]

Prescribing

It has been the most prescribed medicine in the United States many times. It was the best-selling medication between 1968 and 1982 in America.^[15] There, it sold more than 2 billion tablets in 1978 alone.^[15] In 2022, it was the 169th most popular medication in the United States, with more than 3 million prescriptions.^[19][20]

Use

It is sometimes used recreationally to cause a calming effect. Diazepam has caused huge problems in Scotland in the past.^[21]

Related pages

• Hydrocodone
• Benzodiazepine