Patient/caregiver was educated on the side effects of using diazepam as follows:
Central nervous system side-effects
- Diazepam use can result in episodes of confusion, hallucinations, dizziness, and light-headedness.
- Individuals taking diazepam can also present compromised memory and forgetfulness. Individuals taking diazepam can develop anterograde amnesia, which is a compromised ability to form new memories after the intake of medication.
- Diazepam use, especially in individuals with history of anxiety and bipolar disorder, can result in exacerbation of depressive symptoms, changes in behavior, irritability, compromised sexual drive, and provoke thoughts of suicide.
- Discontinuing or significant reduction of diazepam dose intake abruptly, after prolonged use, can result in exacerbation of anxiety, relapse and rebound of the panic episodes, precipitation of seizure episodes, muscle spasms, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms of insomnia and behavior changes. Discontinuing the medication should be gradual, using tapering doses, and only as recommended by your physician.
Musculoskeletal side-effects
- Diazepam use can result in slurred speech, motor incoordination, with consequent increased fall risk and accidents. Confusion and dizziness with diazepam use, can add to the motor incoordination, thus enhancing the fall risk significantly.
