Serious Diazepam Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, Diazepam Side Effects may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking diazepam:
More common
- Shakiness and unsteady walk
- unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
Incidence not known
- Agitation
- black, tarry stools
- blistering, flaking, or peeling of the skin
- blurred vision
- changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
- chills
- confusion
- cough
- dark urine
- decrease in the frequency of urination
- decrease in urine volume
- difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
- discouragement
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
- fast heartbeat
- fast or irregular breathing
- feeling sad or empty
- feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
- feeling that others can hear your thoughts
- feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
- fever
- headache
- hyperexcitability
- increased muscle spasms or tone
- irritability
- itching or rash
- lack of memory of what takes place after a certain event
- loss of appetite
- loss of bladder control
- loss of interest or pleasure
- lower back or side pain
- nausea
- nightmares
- outbursts of anger
- painful or difficult urination
- pale skin
- restlessness
- seizures
- slurred speech
- sore throat
- stomach pain
- sweating
- trouble concentrating
- trouble sleeping
- trouble speaking
- ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
- unpleasant breath odor
- unusual behavior
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual feeling of excitement
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting of blood
- yellow eyes or skin
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking diazepam:
Symptoms of overdose
- Agitation
- change in consciousness
- changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
- confusion
- difficult or trouble breathing
- excitement
- irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
- irritability
- lack of coordination
- loss of consciousness
- loss of strength or energy
- muscle pain or weakness
- pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- restlessness
- shakiness and unsteady walk
- sleepiness
- unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
- unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
Other side effects of Diazepam
Some side effects of diazepam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
- Constipation
- decreased interest in sexual intercourse
- diarrhea
- difficulty with swallowing
- double vision
- dry mouth
- feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
- inability to have or keep an erection
- increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
- increased interest in sexual intercourse
- increased watering of the mouth
- indigestion
- loss of sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
- passing of gas
- seeing double
- sensation of spinning
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to diazepam: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous suspension, nasal spray, oral capsule extended release, oral concentrate, oral solution, oral tablet, rectal kit.
General
ORAL: The most commonly reported side effects included ataxia, drowsiness, fatigue, and muscle weakness.
PARENTERAL: The most commonly reported side effects included fatigue, drowsiness, ataxia, injection-site venous thrombosis, and injection-site phlebitis.
RECTAL: The most commonly reported side effects included somnolence, headache, and diarrhea.[Ref]
Nervous system
Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, ataxia, and reduced alertness occurred at the start of treatment, but usually disappeared with continued use.
Anterograde amnesia is a dose-related side effect that may occur at therapeutic doses.
Tremor, disrupted sensory perception, and epileptic attacks occurred in patients with withdrawal symptoms.
Drowsiness, sedation, unsteadiness, and ataxia are dose-related and may persist into the following day, even with single doses.
Prolonged use of treatment in elderly patients may result in dementia.[Ref]
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Ataxia, disrupted sensory perception, drowsiness, epileptic attacks, impaired motor ability, tremor
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Amnesia/anterograde amnesia, balance disorders, concentration difficulties, dizziness, dysarthria, headache, slurred speech, vertigo
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Decreased alertness, memory loss, syncope, unconsciousness
Frequency not reported: Abnormal taste, amnestic effects, hangover effect, hypersensitivity to physical/visual/auditory stimuli, oversedation, perceptual disturbances
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Ataxia, disrupted sensory perception, dizziness, drowsiness, epileptic attacks, impaired motor ability, tremor
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Amnesia/anterograde amnesia, balance disorders, concentration difficulties, headache, increased seizure incidence/severity, lightheadedness, minor electroencephalogram (EEG) changes, slurred speech, vertigo
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Convulsions, decreased alertness, dysarthria, extrapyramidal effects, memory loss, syncope, unconsciousness
Frequency not reported: Abnormal taste, amnestic effects, hangover effect, hypersensitivity to physical/visual/auditory stimuli, oversedation
RECTAL:
Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (up to 23%)
Common (1% to 10%): Ataxia, anterograde amnesia, convulsion, disrupted sensory perception, dizziness, drowsiness, dysarthria, epileptic attacks, hangover effect, headache, impaired motor ability, incoordination, reduced alertness, sedation, slurred speech, speech disorder, tremor, vertigo
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Balance disorders, concentration difficulties
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Dystonic effects, lightheadedness, memory loss, syncope, unconsciousness
Frequency not reported: Grand mal convulsion, hyperkinesia, lethargy, minor changes in EEG patterns, nystagmus
