Get Informed: Valium
Active Ingredient(s)
Diazepam
What does it do?
This product is used primarily in the treatment of anxiety. It is a benzodiazepine that works on the brain to promote muscle relaxation and sedation.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 8:45 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Valium
- Diazepam
- Relapax
- Vival
- Pealkit
- Diatex
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- D
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 15 Nov 1963
- Est US Patients*
- 1,316,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Valium or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Valium
There have been no alerts regarding Valium during the past year.
Valium Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Valium interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Valium used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 7,700 patients that use Valium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | 52% | 
|
| Muscle Spasms | 29% |
|
| Insomnia | 13% |
|
| Panic Disorder | 11% |
|
| Depression | 8% |
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 7% |
|
| Other | 23% |
|
How well does Valium work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 7,700 users taking Valium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 89%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Valium outweigh the bad things.
- 12%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Valium.
Common Side Effects of Valium
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 7,700 users taking Valium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
28% of patients experience side-effects on Valium
4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Valium
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Fatigue
-
Headache
-
Sleep Problems
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Dizziness, Hot Flushes, Mood/Behavior Changes, Nausea, Ringing Ears
Global Patient Feedback for Valium (Diazepam) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I am confused.....is relapax the same as valium?
67 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-30 21:44:56
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Relapax is a marketed name for the active ingredient diazepam. Valium's active ingredient is also diazepam. Valium and its generic are available in the US. Relapax is available in Brazil.
Posted: 2009-08-02 20:16:05
Answer/Reply:
No. Relpax is a medication used primarily for migraines. Valium is used to treat a myriad of things, from anxiety to muscle spasms
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-16 17:09:24
Answer/Reply:
hi. no valuim and diazepam are the same, relapax is in the same family of drugs
42 year old female
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-18 13:07:49
Answer/Reply:
no valium is not the same as relapax??but lexapro is for anxiety cannot find "relapax"?
58 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-21 16:57:15
Answer/Reply:
no
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-23 12:05:51
Question/Comment:
I have been subjected to extreme and prolonged stress due to work pressures beyond my control and mainly due to the current global economy. I eventually developed multiple acute & chronic spasms in my neck, shoulders, upper arms & back to the extent that nerves in my C5 & C6 vertebrae came under tension as a result of the spasms. After taking half a 5mg Diazepam (Pax) and 10 mg Citalopram Hydrobromide (Talomil), & half a 10mg Amitriptyline (Trepilene) at night, the spasms subsided, releasing the nerve tension & relieving me of the constant cramps & pain in my back, upper arms, neck & shoulders. I have been able to complete loads of work effectively & quickly since. Whereas I previously lay awake most of the night or woke up in a sweat in a state of extreme panic with my heart racing almost every night, I am sleeping soundly and wake up refreshed. I do not note any side effects and am very pleased with the outcome.
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-12 15:14:25
Question/Comment:
I am 30 year old i trake diazepam for anxiety but I also have a condition that I freeze and fall my doctor thinks that I am having drop seizures so he said that diazepam would help me does anyone else take this medication for seizures and does it work I have been on it for only three monthsI take 2mg one tab 3 times a day.I am still falling and I do see a nerologist for my condition but she gave me carbidopa/levo its been a year and not better.My doctors don't agree on my condition or what it is but I am willing to try anything that will help me.
31 year old Male
Posted: 2009-05-26 17:09:17
Answer/Reply:
I too suffer from seizures. I have epilepsy so I experience both grand mal and petite mal seizures. Mine seem to be brought on mostly due to lack of sleep and being overstressed. I took Depakote for years and never had any problems with it. Unfortunately due to a change in my insurance, they changed me to Divalproex Sodium ER. I take 400 mg's a day. So far so good. So maybe you can talk to your doctor and see what he/she has to say. Well aloha and good luck. Many blessings
40 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-31 16:58:21
Question/Comment:
I am a 60 year old male. I've been taking valium ffor about as long as I have been taking citalopram hydrobromide. My doctor gave it to me in combination withe citalopram. It helps with the stress, but I am still concerned about the dependency. If they can put a man into outerspace, work on the space stattion-walking in space why can't they come out with a medication for this without it becoming a dependency.
61 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-23 15:44:27
Answer/Reply:
Becoming a dependency is kind of generality here. This is not true for every one. I only use it when an attack occurs. I've mentioned before that I never use it as a preventative (just for the sake of taking it) nor do I use it as a sleep aid when no panic is involved. I don't use it daily either. I use 10mg 3 times a month at most. If the attack is extra tough, I break one tablet in half and take another 5mg and that seems to do it on the occasion that something like that does occur. Along with some meditation excercises and a little behavior modification, my use of Valium has dropped considerably since I first had it prescribed. I will agree though, if the panick attack is really bad, then by all means take one!
50 year old Male
Posted: 2009-05-15 17:09:21
Answer/Reply:
Not sure your specifics for taking the valium, or what the other medication you mentioned actually is. If the valium is for muscle spasm, and not for anxiety, you may want to do some research on ...botox! another form, myoblock. Botox is not only used cosmetically, but has been used in the medical field for a long time, with stroke victims that have tight spastic muscles, and also for cerebral palsy. talk with your MD! good luck great websit for info, Mercola.com
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-17 12:26:44
Answer/Reply:
all of these drugs have different effects on people so please for the the sake of everone on this web site dont act like you know everything
25 year old Male
Posted: 2009-07-26 17:49:56
Question/Comment:
I have been diagnosed with severe panic disorder that happens abruptly. I use 10mg of Valium for an attack in progress only. Not as a preventative. It works great for sudden, lingering, attacks and seems to work rather quickly. Also would like to let cigarette smokers know that nicotine will negate the effect of valium. Try not to smoke if you anticipate the need to use it and don't smoke while its trying to work.
50 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-15 19:49:56
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
44
Patient Comments about
Valium