What is Valium?

History of Use

Valium, the brand name of diazepam, was invented in the 1950s by Leo Sternbach of the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche and was released for medical purposes in 1963. As a benzodiazepine, Valium acts on the central nervous system to enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid, producing a sedative effect on the body.

Valium quickly became a popular prescription drug, as physicians prescribed it for anxiety and panic disorders, insomnia, and (as an anticonvulsant) acute seizures. It is also often used in medicating patients with anxiety prior to surgery and for procedures such as endoscopy.

Valium can be used in the short-term to treat persons exhibiting withdrawal from alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs, and for persons living with the results of spinal cord injuries and strokes. It also is sometimes used in the treatment of vertigo and in persons with Ménière’s disease.

A pronounced risk of dependence exists with prolonged (four to six weeks) use of Valium. For this reason, its use has decreased since the 1980s, with many doctors prescribing safer alternatives for patients with conditions requiring benzodiazepine derivatives. Persons coming off long-term treatment with Valium should have their dosage gradually decreased to avoid benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, which can cause acute depression and cognitive deficits.

Effects and Potential Risks

There are many potential side effects of Valium, and risk increases with its use in long-term treatment. Side effects include nervousness, irritability, panic disorder, sedation or insomnia, increased suicidal and self-harming tendencies, confusion, amnesia, dizziness, and nausea. Side effects seem to be more pronounced among children and the elderly. If taken during the third trimester of pregnancy, Valium can lead to potentially serious problems in newborns, including floppy infant syndrome, sedation, and respiratory distress.

Tolerance to and dependence on Valium are common. Withdrawal from Valium mimics that of alcohol withdrawal, with symptoms ranging from mild or severe and including seizures and psychotic episodes. There also is a risk of overdose, particularly when Valium is combined with depressant medications or with alcohol.

Bibliography

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. “Diazepam.” MedlinePlus. US Natl. Lib. of Medicine, 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 5 Nov. 2015.

Ben-Porath, Denise D., and Stuart P. Taylor. “The Effects of Diazepam (Valium) and Aggressive Disposition on Human Aggression: An Experimental Investigation.” Addictive Behaviors 27 (2002): 167–77. Print.

De Wit, H., J. Pierri, and C. E. Johanson. “Reinforcing and Subjective Effects of Diazepam in Nondrug-Abusing Volunteers.” Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 33 (1989): 205–13. Print.

“Drug Abuse and Addiction: Benzodiazepines.” Cleveland Clinic: Current Clinical Medicine. 2nd ed. Cleveland: Elsevier, 2010. Print.

Martin, Elizabeth. An A to Z of Medicinal Drugs. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.