Negative Effects of Valium

Valium® (diazepam) is a prescription drug used for the treatment of anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, seizures, and muscle spasms.

While most people respond well to this medication, there are some potentially negative effects of Valium. The drug is a controlled substance that has the potential to be abused. Since it can cause psychological and physical dependence, it should not be used for long periods of time. In general, Valium is not recommended for people with a history of alcohol or drug abuse.

Valium can also cause a number of side effects. In clinical studies, some of the most common problems that were reported with this medicine included blurred vision, difficulty passing urine, slurred speech, and bladder or bowel control problems.

(Click Valium Side Effects and Valium Warnings and Precautions to learn more about the negative effects of Valium, including other potential side effects that may occur with this medicine.)


Adverse effects

Adverse effects of benzodiazepines such as diazepam include anterograde amnesia and confusion (especially pronounced in higher doses) and sedation. The elderly are more prone to adverse effects of diazepam such as confusion, amnesia, ataxia and hangover effects as well as falls. Long-term use of benzodiazepines such as diazepam is associated with tolerance, benzodiazepine dependence as well as a benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.[4] Like other benzodiazepines, diazepam can impair short-term memory and learning of new information. While benzodiazepine drugs such as diazepam can cause anterograde amnesia, they do not cause retrograde amnesia; information learned before benzodiazepines is not impaired. Tolerance to the cognitive impairing effects of benzodiazepines does not tend to develop with long-term use. The elderly are more sensitive to the cognitive impairing effects of benzodiazepines.[42] Additionally after cessation of benzodiazepines cognitive deficits may persist for at least six months; it is unclear whether these impairments take longer than six months to abate or if they are permanent. Benzodiazepines may also cause or worsen depression.[4] Infusions or repeated intravenous injections of diazepam when managing seizures for example may lead to drug toxicity including respiratory depression, sedation as well as hypotension. Tolerance may also develop to infusions of diazepam if it is given for longer than 24 hours.[4] Adverse effects such as sedation, benzodiazepine dependence and abuse potential limit the use of benzodiazepines.[43]
Diazepam has a range of side-effects that are common to most benzodiazepines. Most common side-effects include:
• Suppression of REM sleep
• Impaired motor function
o Impaired coordination
o Impaired balance
o Dizziness and nausea
• Depression[44]
• Reflex tachycardia[45]
Less commonly paradoxical side-effects can occur and include nervousness, irritability, excitement, worsening of seizures, insomnia, muscle cramps, changes in libido (increased or decreased libido) and in some cases, rage, and violence. These adverse reactions are more likely to occur in children, the elderly, individuals with a history of drug or alcohol abuse and people with a history of aggression.[4][46][47][48] Diazepam may increase, in some people, the propensity toward self-harming behaviours and, in extreme cases, may provoke suicidal tendencies or acts.[49] Very rarely dystonia can occur.[50]
Diazepam may impair the ability to drive vehicles or operate machinery. The impairment is worsened by consumption of alcohol, because both act as central nervous system depressants.[29]
During the course of therapy, tolerance to the sedative effects usually develops, but not to the anxiolytic and myorelaxant effects.[51]
Patients with severe attacks of apnea during sleep may suffer respiratory depression (hypoventilation) leading to respiratory arrest and death.
Diazepam in doses of 5 mg or more causes significant deterioration in alertness performance combined with increased feelings of sleepiness.