Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking diazepam as follows:
- Diazepam can take some time, about 2 – 3 weeks, to fairly adjust to your body, before any relief with your complaints and easing of side-effects is experienced. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
- Diazepam use in expectant mothers could harm the unborn baby and result in pregnancy complications, such as, low birth weight baby, small head circumference, and preterm delivery. So, diazepam use should be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning to get pregnant. Women in the child-bearing age group, taking diazepam on a regular basis, must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
- Diazepam use, especially in individuals with history of anxiety and bipolar disorder, can sometimes result in exacerbation of depressive symptoms, hallucinations, changes in behavior, irritability, compromised sexual drive, and provoke thoughts of suicide. Individuals taking diazepam can also present compromised memory and forgetfulness. Report any deterioration of symptoms of mood disorder immediately to your physician, so that, a change in plan of care could be considered.
- Your physician could change the dose of diazepam, based on the response you show. Notify your doctor of any unresolving anxiety, muscle spasms, worsening muscle pain and discomfort, episodes of seizures, insomnia, or continuing unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised. Maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
