Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Versed as follows:
- Versed can quickly induce dizziness and make one drowsy. When prescribed for longer periods of time, starting the medication at a low dose and gradually increasing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms yet minimizing the side-effects, can help to reduce the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the unpleasant side-effects becomes bothersome, report them to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered.
- Versed use in expectant mothers could harm the unborn baby and result in complications, such as, respiratory depression, breathing difficulties, and low BP numbers in newborn. So, Versed use should be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning to get pregnant. The possibility of one being pregnant should be explored before initiating therapy with versed for a woman in child-bearing age group. Women in the child-bearing age group, taking Versed on a regular basis, must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
- Versed use, especially in individuals with history of mood disorders, such as, 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 Versed 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.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, to avoid toxicity with Versed. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
