Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking diazepam as follows:
- Continue taking diazepam, as recommended, even if you obtain relief from the presenting symptoms and your mood feels better. Discontinuing the medication abruptly, without your physician’s recommendation, can result in disruption of chemical balance in the brain, resulting in worsening of mood disorder and severe withdrawal symptoms. Discontinuing the medication should be gradual and only as recommended by your physician. Individuals, on sudden withdrawal of diazepam, can present with complaints such as, exacerbation of anxiety episodes, precipitation of seizures, muscle spasms and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms of insomnia, impulsiveness, agitation, hallucinations, mania, and suicidal thoughts. Report any development of and/or deterioration of symptoms of mood disorder following diazepam withdrawal, immediately to your physician, so that, a change in plan of care could be considered.
- Caregivers should be aware and keep a close watch on the symptoms of overdose with diazepam. Individuals can present with severe confusion, dizziness, very low blood pressure numbers, severe difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and coma. In the event of an overdose, seek emergency medical service to prevent fatal outcome.
- Diazepam use, especially on empty stomach, can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea and vomiting. Taking dose of diazepam with a glass of water, after having some food or a snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
