Diazepam (
Valium®) is a prescription medication licensed to treat several different conditions. It is commonly used for the treatment of
anxiety,
seizures, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal. There are currently three different forms of diazepam: oral liquid, tablets, and injections.
When used orally, diazepam is usually taken three or four times a day, or sometimes more or less often, depending on the condition being treated.
Oral forms of diazepam are available in the following strengths:
- 2 mg tablets
- 5 mg tablets
- 10 mg tablets.
This medicine works in the brain by enhancing the effects of
gamma-aminobutyric acid (
GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why diazepam and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
(Click Diazepam for more information about the specific uses of this medication, to find out when and to take it, and to learn about side effects associated with its use.)
