| diazepam rectal |
| Pronunciation: dye AZ e pam |
| Brand: Diastat AcuDial, Diastat Pediatric |
| What is the most important information I should know about diazepam rectal? |
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Do not use this medication if you are allergic to diazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax). |
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This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use diazepam rectal if you are pregnant. |
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Before using diazepam rectal, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol. |
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Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by diazepam rectal. |
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Diazepam may be habit-forming and this medication should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Diazepam rectal should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. |
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Diazepam rectal is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Diazepam rectal affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause seizure. |
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Diazepam rectal is used to treat occasionally increased seizures in people with epilepsy who also routinely take other anti-convulsants. Diazepam rectal is not for long-term daily use to prevent seizures. |
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Diazepam rectal may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide. |
| What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using diazepam rectal? |
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Do not use this medication if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, or if you are allergic to diazepam (Valium) or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax). |
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Before using diazepam rectal, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: |
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asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems; |
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kidney or liver disease; |
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a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or |
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a history of drug or alcohol addiction. |
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If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use diazepam rectal. |
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FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not use diazepam rectal without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication. |
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Diazepam may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
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The sedative effects of diazepam rectal may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are using diazepam rectal. |
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Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 months old. |
| How should I use diazepam rectal? |
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Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on the prescription label. |
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This medication is usually given by a caregiver to the person who is having a seizure. If you are the caregiver, make sure you know and understand all instructions for giving diazepam rectal. |
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This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. |
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Diazepam rectal is used in combination with other seizure medications. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. |
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Diazepam rectal is not for long-term daily use to prevent seizures. Using diazepam rectal daily over long periods can actually make your seizures more frequent or more severe. You may also have withdrawal symptoms (such as tremors, stomach pain, muscle cramps, vomiting, and increased sweating) when you stop using diazepam rectal. |
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Do not use this medication for longer than 5 days in a row without a doctor's advice. |
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Diazepam may be habit-forming and this medication should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Diazepam rectal should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. |
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Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms. |
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Store diazepam rectal at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. |
| What happens if I miss a dose? |
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Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. |
| What happens if I overdose? |
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Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. |
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Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, fainting, or coma. |
| What should I avoid while using diazepam rectal? |
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Do not drink alcohol while using diazepam rectal. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. |
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Diazepam rectal can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. |
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Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, or muscle relaxers). They can increase some of the side effects of diazepam rectal. |
| What are the possible side effects of diazepam rectal? |
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Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
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Call your doctor at once if the person receiving this medication has any of these serious side effects: |
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worsening seizures, or seizures that seem different from the patient's other seizures; |
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pale or discolored skin; |
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confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; |
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unusual risk-using behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger; |
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depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself; |
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hyperactivity, agitation, hostility; |
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feeling light-headed, fainting; or |
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pain or burning with urination. |
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Less serious side effects may include: |
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sleep problems (insomnia); |
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muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination; |
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nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea; |
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This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. |
| What other drugs will affect diazepam rectal? |
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Before using diazepam rectal, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: |
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a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); |
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an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); |
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medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril); |
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narcotic medications such as butorphanol (Stadol), codeine, hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), naloxone (Narcan), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or |
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antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Asendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil). |
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This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with diazepam rectal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. |
| Where can I get more information? |
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Your pharmacist can provide more information about diazepam rectal. |
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2011 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.04. Revision Date: 12/15/2010.
