Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (128 page)

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

diazepam (Rx)

(dye-az′-e-pam)

Diazemuls
, Diastat, Valium

Func. class.:
Antianxiety, anticonvulsant, skeletal muscle relaxant, central acting

Chem. class.:
Benzodiazepine, long-acting

 

Controlled Substance Schedule IV

Do not confuse:
diazepam
/Ditropan/LORazepam

ACTION:

Potentiates the actions of GABA, especially in the limbic system, reticular formation; enhances presympathetic inhibition, inhibits spinal polysynaptic afferent paths

USES:

Anxiety, acute alcohol withdrawal, adjunct for seizure disorders; preoperatively as a relaxant for skeletal muscle relaxation; rectally for acute repetitive seizures

Unlabeled uses:
Agitation, benzodiazepine withdrawal, chloroquine overdose, insomnia, seizure prophylaxis

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Pregnancy (D), hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines, closed-angle glaucoma, coma, myasthenia gravis, ethanol intoxication, hepatic disease, sleep apnea

Precautions:
Breastfeeding, children <6 mo, geriatric patients, debilitation, renal disease, asthma, bipolar disorder, COPD, CNS depression, labor, Parkinson’s disease, neutropenia, psychosis, seizures, substance abuse, smoking

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Anxiety/seizure disorders


Adult: PO
2-10 mg bid-qid;
IM/IV
2-5 mg q3-4hr

• Geriatric: PO
1-2 mg daily-bid, increase slowly as needed

• Child >6 mo: PO
1-2.5 mg tid/qid;
IM/IV
0.04-0.3 mg/kg/dose q2-4hr, max 0.6 mg/kg in an 8-hr period

Precardioversion


Adult: IV
5-15 mg 5-10 min precardioversion

Preendoscopy


Adult: IV
2.5-20 mg;
IM
5-10 mg 1/2 hr preendoscopy

Muscle relaxation


Adult: PO
2-10 mg tid-qid or
EXT REL
15-30 mg/day;
IV/IM
5-10 mg, repeat in 2-4 hr

• Geriatric: PO
2-5 mg bid-qid;
IV/IM
2-5 mg, may repeat in 2-4 hr

Tetanic muscle spasms

• Child >5 yr: IM/IV
5-10 mg q3-4hr prn

• Infant >30 days: IM/IV
1-2 mg q3-4hr prn

Status epilepticus


Adult: IV/IM
5-10 mg, 2 mg/min, may repeat q10-15min, max 30 mg; may repeat in 2-4 hr if seizures reappear

• Child >5 yr: IM
1 mg q2-5min;
IV
1 mg slowly

• Child 1 mo-5 yr: IV
0.2-0.5 mg slowly;
IM
0.2-0.5 mg slowly q2-5min up to 5 mg, may repeat in 2-4 hr prn

Seizures other than status epilepticus


Adult: RECT
0.2 mg/kg, may repeat in 4-12 hr

• Child 6-11 yr: RECT
0.3 mg/kg, may repeat in 4-12 hr

• Child 2-5 yr: RECT
0.5 mg/kg, may repeat in 4-12 hr

Alcohol withdrawal


Adult: IV
10 mg initially then 5-10 mg q3-4hr prn

Benzodiazepine withdrawal (unlabeled)


Adult: PO
Taper 0.5-2 mg over 4-16 wk

Febrile seizure prophylaxis (unlabeled)

• Child 6 mo-5 yr: PO
0.33 mg/kg q8hr until afebrile for ≥24 hr

Available forms:
Tabs 2, 5, 10 mg; inj 5 mg/ml; oral sol 5 mg/5 ml, rectal 2.5 (pediatric), 10, 20 mg, twin packs; ext rel cap 15 mg

Administer:

• 
With food or milk for GI symptoms; crushed if patient is unable to swallow medication whole

• 
Reduced opioid dose by 1/3 if given concomitantly with diazepam

• 
Concentrate:
use calibrated dropper only; mix with water, juice, pudding, applesauce; to be consumed immediately

Rectal route

• 
Do not use more than 5×/mo or for an episode q5days (Diastat)

Direct IV route

• 
Into large vein; give IV 5 mg or less/1 min or total dose over 3 min or more (children, infants); continuous inf is not recommended; inject as close to vein insertion as possible;
do not dilute or mix with other products

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Dizziness, drowsiness
, confusion, headache, anxiety, tremors, stimulation, fatigue, depression, insomnia, hallucinations, ataxia, fatigue

CV:
Orthostatic hypotension
,
ECG changes, tachycardia,
hypotension

EENT:
Blurred vision
, tinnitus, mydriasis, nystagmus

GI:
Constipation, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea

HEMA:
Neutropenia

INTEG:
Rash, dermatitis, itching

RESP:
Respiratory depression

PHARMACOKINETICS

Metabolized by liver via CYP2C19, CYP3A4; excreted by kidneys; crosses placenta; excreted in breast milk; crosses the blood-brain barrier; half-life 20-50 hr; more reliable by mouth; 99% protein binding

PO:
Rapidly absorbed, onset 1/2 hr, duration 2-3 hr

IM:
Onset 15-30 min, duration 1-1½ hr, absorption slow and erratic

RECT:
Peak 1.5 hr

IV:
Onset immediate, duration 15 min-1 hr

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
diazepam effect—amiodarone, protease inhibitors, diltiazem, cimetidine, clarithromycin, dalfopristin, quinupristin, delavirdine, disulfiram, efavirenz, erythromycin, fluconazole, fluvoxaMINE, imatinib, itraconazole, ketoconazole, IV miconazole, nefazodone, niCARdipine, ranolazine, troleandomycin, verapamil, voriconazole, zafirlukast, zileauton, valproic acid

Increase:
toxicity—barbiturates, SSRIs, cimetidine, CNS depressants, valproic acid, CYP3A4 inhibitors

Increase:
CNS depression—CNS depressants, alcohol

Decrease:
diazepam metabolism—oral contraceptives, valproic acid, disulfiram, isoniazid, propranolol

Decrease:
diazepam effect—CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin, barbiturates, carBAMazepine, ethotoin, phenytoin, fosphenytoin), smoking

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
AST/ALT, serum bilirubin

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
B/P (lying, standing), pulse; respiratory rate; if systolic B/P drops 20 mm Hg, hold product, notify prescriber; respirations q5-15min if given IV

• 
Blood studies: CBC during long-term therapy; blood dyscrasias (rare); hepatic studies: AST, ALT, bilirubin, creatinine, LDH, alk phos

• 
Degree of anxiety;
what precipitates anxiety and whether product controls symptoms

• 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms,
including hallucinations (visual, auditory), delirium, irritability, agitation, fine to coarse tremors


 
Seizure control and type, duration, intensity of seizures

• 
For muscle spasms; pain relief


 
IV site for thrombosis or phlebitis, which may occur rapidly

• 
Mental status: mood, sensorium, affect, sleeping pattern, drowsiness, dizziness, suicidal tendencies

• 
Physical dependency, withdrawal symptoms:
headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, weakness after long-term use

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased anxiety, restlessness, insomnia

Teach patient/family:

• 
That product may be taken with food

• 
That product not to be used for everyday stress or for >4 mo unless directed by prescriber; to take no more than prescribed amount; that product may be habit forming

• 
To avoid OTC preparations unless approved by prescriber

• 
To avoid driving, activities that require alertness; drowsiness may occur

• 
To avoid alcohol, other psychotropic medications unless directed by prescriber; that smoking may decrease diazepam effect by increasing diazepam metabolism


 
Not to discontinue medication abruptly after long-term use; to gradually taper

• 
To rise slowly or fainting may occur, especially in geriatric patients

• 
That drowsiness may worsen at beginning of treatment


 
To notify prescriber if pregnancy is planned or suspected (D), avoid breastfeeding

TREATMENT OF OVERDOSE:

Lavage, VS, supportive care, flumazenil

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

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