• If you are allergic to anything, including medicines, dyes, additives, or foods.

• If you have any medical conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease (including hepatitis), heart disease, congestive heart failure, seizures, or brain disease. These conditions may require that your medicine dose, regimen, or timing be changed.

• If you have asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, sleep apnea, or other breathing problems. This medicine can worsen breathing.

• If you have depression, myasthenia gravis, or porphyria. This medicine may make the symptoms worse.

• If you have glaucoma. People with acute narrow-angle glaucoma should not use this drug.

• If you are taking any medicine that makes you calmer or drowsy, or if you drink alcohol. The combination may produce serious side effects.

• If you have ever had a problem with alcohol or addiction in the past. This drug can be habit forming, and those who have had other addictions are more at risk.

• If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if there is any chance of pregnancy. There may be an increased risk of harm to the fetus if a woman takes this drug during pregnancy.

• If you are breast-feeding. The drug may pass into breast milk and harm the baby.

• About any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines you are taking, including vitamins and herbs.

The drugs nefazodone (Serzone) and fluvoxamine (Luvox) can cause diazepam to build up in the body, raising the risk of serious side effects. If you need one of these medicines while you are taking diazepam, your doctor may be able to lower your dose so that this doesn't happen.

Cimetidine, isoniazid, quinidine, fluvoxamine and tranylcypromine may cause diazepam to build up in the body, raising your risk of side effects.

Rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, St. John's wort, troglitazone, and rifabutin may cause the body to get rid of diazepam more quickly, which can reduce its effectiveness.

This medicine will add to the effects of other medicines that make you sleepy or less alert, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers (sedatives), sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, barbiturates, anti-seizure medicines, opioid pain medicines, anesthetics, and some anti-nausea medicines. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Using these kinds of substances while taking diazepam can result in losing consciousness (passing out) and possibly death.

Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether other medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements can cause problems with this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs as they may have serious interactions with diazepam: oral contraceptives, isoniazid, ketoconazole, cimetidine, digoxin, levodopa, or a tricyclic antidepressant drug.

In addition, it comes in a liquid concentrate form that is measured with a special dropper and mixed with water, juice, or other liquid.

A gel form of diazepam is given in the rectum, which requires special instructions for the caregiver who gives it. If you must give the rectal gel, be sure you get the full instructions on how to do it, including how to observe the patient afterward.

The dose and how often it is given depends on the reason it is being given and your size. Take this drug exactly as your doctor tells you to. If you do not understand the instructions, your doctor or nurse can explain them to you. Store the medicine in a tightly closed container away from heat and moisture and away from children and pets.

Diazepam may cause you to feel drowsy or dizzy. This is more likely if you are taking other drugs that depress the nervous system such as opioids, anti-anxiety drugs, muscle relaxers, or some anti-nausea medicines. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know the effect the drug will have on you. Usually, drowsiness and dizziness go away after a few days of taking diazepam. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you feel too drowsy or have dizziness that does not go away.

This is a controlled substance, and may be habit-forming. Take diazepam only as directed by your doctor. Diazepam may cause psychological dependence (addiction) and physical dependence (body goes into withdrawal if drug is suddenly stopped). Some signs of dependence are a strong desire to keep taking the medicine, wanting to take larger doses, and withdrawal effects (see below) after the medicine is stopped. Talk with your doctor if you think this has happened to you.

If you have been taking this drug for more than a few weeks, you may experience withdrawal symptoms for several days if you stop it suddenly. Most often this appears as irritability, nervousness, trouble sleeping, stomach cramps or upset stomach, trembling or shaking, and even seizures in those who have taken high doses for a long time. The drug dose should be gradually lowered until it is stopped. Talk with your doctor or nurse about how to do this.

Tell anyone who is planning surgery on you, including dentists, that you are taking this medicine.

If you notice any strange or unusual thoughts or behavior while on this medicine, discuss it with your doctor. Rarely, people get confused, agitated, or start seeing or hearing things that are not there.

Call your doctor if you have seizures, confusion, shuffling walk, restlessness or tremor, fever, irregular heart rate, yellow skin or eyes.

Older people are more likely to be sleepy, dizzy, or fall while taking diazepam. Have a responsible adult with you for a few days after you start this medicine and any time you change doses.

Rarely, allergic reactions happen with this medicine. Call your doctor if you notice severe rash, swelling in the mouth, face, or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.

If you think that you or someone else may have taken an overdose of this medicine, get emergency help right away. Taking too much diazepam, or taking it with alcohol or any other medicine that slows the nervous system can cause confusion, severe drowsiness or weakness, trouble walking or talking.

• drowsiness (when first starting the drug)
• tiredness (when first starting the drug)
• confusion (when first starting the drug)
• headache (when first starting the drug)

• feeling "hung over" the next day
• decreased coordination
• decreased mental alertness
• decreased blood pressure
• decreased heart rate
• poor concentration

• vivid dreams
• slurred speech
• bizarre behavior*
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal discomfort, upset stomach
• slowed breathing
• rash
• hives
• pain at place of injection
• withdrawal symptoms if drug is stopped suddenly, such as anxiety, irritation, nausea, trouble sleeping*
• allergic reaction*

*See Precautions section for more detailed information