Introduction

Name

• Diazepam.

Class of drug

• Benzodiazepine.

Description

Chemical name

• 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one.

Molecular formula

• C16H13ClN2O.

Physical properties

• Tablets.
• Solution.

Uses

Indications

• Pre-medicant.
• Potent, fast-acting anticonvulsant and therefore the preferred initial therapy in status epilepticus Status epilepticus.
• Anxiolytic.
• Muscle relaxant, eg Scottie cramp Muscular hypertonicity , urethral muscle spasm Dyssynergia , tetanus Tetanus.
• Appetite stimulant (cat).
• Spraying (cat).
• Anesthesia (small mammal/bird).
• May be used with ketamine to offset the muscle hypertonicity associated with dissociative anesthesia.
• Used in combination with acepromazine and/or opioids for pre-anesthetic medication in the critically ill patient.

Administration

Pharmacokinetics

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

• These drugs Cimetidine Erythromycin Omeprazole inhibit the metabolism of diazepam and may cause increased plasma concentrations.

• Duration of action of diazepam may be prolonged.
• Hypotension may be enhanced if diazepam is used in conjunction with propranolol.

• Sedative effect may be enhanced.

• The effects of digoxin Digoxin may be increased.

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Platt S R, Randell S C, Scott K C et al (2000) Comparison of plasma benzodiazepine concentrations following intranasal and intravenous administration of diazepam in dogs. Am J Vet Res 61 (6), 651-654 PubMed.
• Wagner S O, Sams R A & Podell M (1998) Chronic phenobarbital therapy reduces plasma benzodiazepine concentrations after intravenous and rectal administration of diazepam in the dog. J Vet Pharmacol Therp 21 (5), 335-341 PubMed.
• Podell M (1995) The use of diazepam per rectum at home for the acute management of cluster seizures in dogs. JVIM 9 (2), 68-74 PubMed.
• Dyer K R & Shell L G (1993) Anticonvulsant therapy: a practical guide to medical management of epilepsy in pets. Vet Med 88 (7), 647-653 VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant Bryn (1999) 3rd edn. Cheltenham: BSAVA.
• Lumb and Jones' Veterinary Anaesthesia. 3rd edn (1996). Williams & Wilkins.