| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diazepam |
|
|---|---|
| Agents targetted | Nerve agents. |
| Generally effective against | Used in treatment of G- and V-type nerve agent exposure |
| Available forms | Pills, capsules, oral liquids, intravenous liquids. |
| Indications and usage | Clinical use is for the short term treatment of anxiety and neuroses. In a chemical weapons sense, diazepam is used as part of the treatment for exposure to nerve agents. It is used to control muscle spasms and convulsions and to relieve feelings of anxiety experienced during recovery from exposure. In this sense, diazepam is known as CANA (Convulsant Antidote for Nerve Agents.) US and NATO doctrine for treatment of nerve agent exposure uses a combination of atropine, diazepam, and an oxime to treat nerve agent exposure. |
| Contraindications | Any known hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines. Not recommended for patients with myasthenia gravis. Can exacerbate grand mal seizures in epileptics. Caution must also be taken with a history of glaucoma, seizures, lung, liver, or heart disease. |
| Drug interactions |
|
| Adverse
reactions and side effects
NOTE: all such reactions are rare. |
Typical reaction is drowsiness, tiredness or dizziness and these are relatively common. In the aftermath of a nerve agent attack, they may be masked by the effects of exposure and other treatments. Dry mouth, diarrhea, upset stomach and change of appetite are also seen. Restlessness or excitement, constipation, urinary problems, blurred vision and changes in sex drive and performance should be reported to the supervising physician. Serious motor problems. such as shuffling gait, seizures, tremors; fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, rashes, irregular heartbeat and yellowing of the skin are serious side effects and require immediate attention. |
| Mode of action | The mechanism of action of valium has not been fully clarified. It appears to act on the nerves that use gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as the neurotransmitter. |
| Structure |  |
| Chemical names | 7-Chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one |
| CAS Registry number | 439-14-5 |
| (known and reported, not all may be current.) |
|
| Trade Name | Country |
Acordin |
Austria |
| Adepsique | |
| Aenzyme | |
| Alboral | Mexico |
| Aliseum | Italy |
| Alupram | UK |
| Amiprol | Argentina |
| An-Ding | China |
| Aneurol | |
| Anlin | |
| Ansilive | |
| Ansiolin | Italy |
| Ansium | Spain |
| Antenex | Australia, New Zealand |
| Anxicalm | Philippines |
| Anxionil | Philippines |
| Apaurin | Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia |
| Apo-Diazepam | Canada |
| Armoril | Argentina |
| Arzapam | Mexico |
| Aspaserine | Spain |
| Assival | Israel |
| Atarviton | |
| Atensine | |
| Atilen | |
| Avex | Italy |
| Azedipamin | Japan |
| Azepam | |
| Trade names B-E | |
| Trade names F-R | |
| Trade names S-Z | |
|