Diazepam

Originally approved in 1959, diazepam marketed as Valium ultimately became the first drug to surpass $1 billion in yearly sales. Even though the drug is more than 60 years old, it still ranks as the 112th most frequently prescribed drug in the United States. This benzodiazepine belongs to the same family as Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Serax and Restoril.

Principally prescribed to treat anxiety related disorders, diazepam may be helpful in combating skeletal muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal related delirium tremens and short term insomnia. Diazepam also may ameliorate complications resulting from hallucinogens and certain stimulants - LSD, cocaine and methamphetamine. Diazepam also provides temporary relief of seizures.

Governmental guidelines discourage use of the benzodiazepines in general and specifically diazepam. Diazepam has a long half life and tends to accumulate in the body with regular use. In senior citizens, diazepam may interfere with memory and coordination and result in confusion, slurred speech, difficulty walking and depression.

Non-medical use of diazepam in combination with opioids regularly leads to respiratory depression, coma and death. An intentional or accidental overdosage with diazepam by itself seldom results in death. Common drug related fatalities occur with various mixtures of diazepam, alcohol, opioids, barbiturates, heroin and other central nervous system depressants. This lethal cocktail kills more than 10,000 individuals each year.

[boxcarent.]

This man's knowledge in the subject has no boundaries its just endless.

[collinlove]

Wow. Just 28 straight minutes of incredibly useful information. I wish more physicians went into this much detail when prescribing a patient a drug — especially a controlled substance. This information can save lives. Thank you so much for this video.

[-]

I took valium everyday for 15 years and never took more than I should and it worked great. My doctor stopped it one day, said it was bad for me, and then eventually I started drinking alcohol for anxiety and now alcoholic. Worst thing that ever happened. BTW antidepressants don't work for anxiety. None of them!

[mattyhudson]

You encourage me to become a doctor with all these physiatric medications, I would love to help people that actually need these medicines and not abuse them. Thank you!

[Mark_Ocain]

I know a doctor who disqualified himself from prescribing benzos to prevent drug seekers from bothering him

[BobChristopher]

I have been taking Valium every day for 49 years for ptsd. No one has ever died from an overdose of Valium. Geez!

[annandall]

I had it for 2 months. 5mg for muscle spasm relief. I asked my doctor for a 3rd month. He said no. And now I'm very grateful. I won't ask him again. 2 months is long enough on Diazepam.

[drewb]

Is he reading a teleprompter? If not this man had an incredible takent of relaying high volumes of complicated information

[BennieTarrMusic]

Mother's Little Helper is one of their best songs 🎉.

[thenicklas]

Hello Dr Landau. I enjoy watching your tutorials especially on benzodiazapenes because currently I'm taking klonopin.

[HASHIRAMA]

This man is a genius! Extremely knowledgeable. Thank you doctor

[eddyliptrott]

Absolutely brilliant description thanks dr ken

[kaypm]

Thank you. Your breakdowns are precise and easy to understand.

[albert]

I enjoyed this video very much. Doctor could you please do a video on Methadone. Thanks Doc!

[travis]

I’m under the impression that the half-life of diazepam is functionally more like 120hrs owing to its pharmacological active metabolite. Right? Wrong?

[alexroberts]

Halcyon (triazolam) was the best sleep medication I was ever prescribed. It helped me fall asleep, stay asleep, and I woke up refreshed. This was in the early 90s in fact it was the #1 prescribed drug at the time. Now I can't find a Dr who will prescribe it! Why did this great sleep med disappear? It's a mystery to me and I can't seem to get a straight answer.0

[official_dee]

I am speechless, need him as my personal doc!

[retroonyoutube]

Excellent video Doc, would you please do a video on the Beta Blockers, specifically Propranolol?

[Mark_Ocain]

I will say one thing in defence of low dose valium... if you have a painful muscle spasm that will not ease...2mg of Valium will help relax the spasm enough for you to get some gentle stretches in and release that muscle properly...It's worked wonders for me one time.

[yannickvermaelen]

Nearly impossible 2 come off😢 every time i try i become a strong alcoholic & then the circle is round i come off alchohol & iam on benzos again now i do it easy betzeen 5mg 15 mg a day & 2 to 5 beers its keeping me alive 😢 without my heart stops from panic & extreme fear pff