Lexapro is a trade name used by Forest Pharmaceuticals for escitalopram, an SSRI antidepressant. It is used for treating major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Lexapro has been demonstrated as effective in relieving depression in adults and adolescents aged between 12 and 17. Like many other SSRIs it has been used off-label for the treatment of premature ejaculation in males. Other off-label uses include the treatment of fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, migraines and Tourette syndrome.

Like all SSRIs, Lexapro acts by blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic gap, thus making more serotonin available to activate serotonin receptors. Lexapro has high selectivity of serotonin reuptake inhibition.

What does Lexapro look like?

Lexapro is sold as a round white tablet in strengths of 5, 10 and 20 mg. The tablets are imprinted with FL 5, FL 10 and FL 20 respectively.

Lexapro dosing and administration

The standard starting dose of Lexapro for depression or generalized anxiety disorder is 10 mg once a day. If this is not effective your doctor may increase the dosage incrementally until the desired effect is achieved. Typically, Lexapro treatment will continue for a period of several months or more. Patients with liver disorders should not take more than 10 mg per day.

Common adverse effects from Lexapro

Lexapro may have all the side effects usually associated with SSRIs. These include insomnia, constricted pupils, dry mouth, sleepiness, vertigo, sweating, constipation, fatigue and dyspepsia. There may be a number of sexual side effects including decreased libido and delayed ejaculation or failure to ejaculate. These are usually reversible after cessation of Lexapro treatment. There is an increased incidence of suicidal ideation. The use of Lexapro for depression is known to result in weight gain.

Lexapro warnings and precautions

Before taking Lexapro you should tell your doctor if you have bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder, recent heart problems, diabetes, epilepsy or any liver disease.

Interactions with Lexapro

St John’s wort may potentiate Lexapro as much as 50%. Like all SSRIs, Lexapro may interact with a wide range of drugs and you should tell you doctor about any other medications you are using. The use of alcohol should be avoided while you are taking Lexapro.

Lexapro and migraine

Lexapro may be used of-label for the prevention of migraines. It has been observed to be of particular use in patients who have more than two migraines per week and who also suffer from depression or anxiety.

Lexapro withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms may occur in patients who cease taking Lexapro abruptly. These symptoms may include irritability, vertigo, anxiety, confusion, headache, insomnia and fatigue. When ceasing treatment the dosage should be tapered down over a number of weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

What if I take an accidental overdose of Lexapro?

If you suspect that you or another person may have taken an overdose of Lexapro you should seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, tachycardia, coma or seizures. There is no specific antidote for Lexapro so treatment for overdose will be symptomatic and may include assistance with breathing and hydration through an infusion.

Meridia is a trade name for sibutramine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor used to suppress appetite in cases of obesity. It was originally launched by Knoll Pharmaceuticals before being marketed by Abbott Laboratories. Meridia is chemically related to amphetamine although it has a different mechanism of action. The drug has been controversial since its introduction and was withdrawn in the United States and other major markets in 2010 after being associated with increased risk of cardiovascular incidents and strokes.

Meridia acts in the central nervous system by increasing the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. This promotes a sense of satiety and sends a signal to stop eating.

What does Meridia look like?

Meridia was sold in a blue and white capsule with a strength of 10 mg and the imprint “Meridia 10” and a yellow and white capsule with a strength of 15 mg and the imprint “Meridia 15”.

Meridia dosing and administration

The recommended initial dosage of Meridia for appetite control in the loss or maintenance of weight is 10 mg once daily. This may be increased to 15 mg if insufficient weight has been lost after taking Meridia and eating a reduced diet for four weeks. If side effects become a problem with Meridia, your doctor may reduce your dosage to 5 mg once daily. Meridian may be taken with or without food. It should be combined with a low-calorie diet and is not intended to be used without a restriction of food intake.

Common adverse effects from Meridia

In clinical trials before the release of Meridia, the most common side effects were found to be headaches, anorexia, constipation, insomnia, stuffy or runny nose and sore throat. Less common side effects included back pain, fever, chills and muscle ache, weakness, abdominal pain, flushing, migraine, increased appetite, nausea, dyspepsia, joint pain, dizziness, nervousness, sinus infections, coughing, sweating, taste disturbances, painful menstrual periods and urinary tract infections. More serious side effects which occur less frequently include hypertension, tachycardia, palpitations, seizures, serotonin syndrome, unusual bleeding, gallstones, depression and anxiety.

Meridia warnings and precautions

You should tell your doctor before taking Meridia if you have hypertension, heart problems, a history of stroke, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, epilepsy, any bleeding disorder, gallstones, depression, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, a history of substance abuse including alcohol or any allergies. You should inform your doctor if you are or may become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Serotonin syndrome is more likely to occur if meridian is taken with other medications which affect the serotonin system. These include SSRI antidepressants, some migraine medications and other drugs.

Interactions with Meridia

Meridia may interact with some antibiotics and antifungals, some pain medications such as tramadol and fentanyl, allergy medications, ergot-derived medications for migraine, lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other weight loss medications, SSRI or SNRI drugs including fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertaline (Zoloft), St John’s wort, tricyclic antidepressants, triptans and tryptophan. A number of over-the-counter cough and cold medications may cause dangerous interactions with Meridia.

What is Soma?

Soma is MedPointe Pharmaceuticals’ brand name for carisoprodol which is a systemic muscle relaxant used to treat muscle spasms due to injury or other causes. Soma is effective for treating muscle spasms caused by overuse or similar problems. It should not be used for more than two or three weeks, which should be sufficient time for damaged muscles to heal. Longer use is discouraged because of the abuse potential of Soma. Soma is also of use in the treatment of fibromyalgia pain.

To date the mechanism of Soma in relieving muscle spasms is poorly understood. It is apparent that it works within the central nervous system and not directly on the muscles. It is metabolized in the liver to meprobamate, a barbiturate with anxiolytic and sedative properties which appears to be responsible for the abuse potential of the drug.

What does Soma look like?

Soma is sold as round white pills in a strength of 250 or 350 mg, imprinted respectively with “Soma 250” and “37 Wallace 2001 Soma”. It is also available as Soma Compound, a formulation of 325 mg of Soma and 200 mg of aspirin in an orange and white speckled tablet imprinted with “Soma C Wallace 2103” and as Soma compound with Codeine, in a yellow oval tablet containing 325 mg of Soma, 200 mg of aspiring and 16 mg of codeine, imprinted with “Soma CC Wallace 2403”. There are also a number of other generic presentations of Soma on the market.

Soma dosing and administration

The standard starting dose of Soma is either 250 mg or 350 mg three times a day and at bedtime for a maximum of two or three weeks. It may be taken with or without food. Because Soma may cause drowsiness, your doctor may recommend that you take it only at night.

Common adverse effects from Soma

Common side effects of Soma include drowsiness, dizziness and headaches. More serious side effects which should be reported to your doctor include seizures, fainting, tachycardia, depression, cravings for Soma and allergic reactions. Other less serious and less common effects which may occur are postural hypotension, flushing, vertigo, coordination problems, tremor, agitation, irritability, fainting, insomnia, nausea, vomiting and throat pain.

Some warnings and precautions

You should inform your doctor if you have any history of substance abuse, including alcohol, or any history of seizures, liver or kidney disease, porphyria or any kind of allergies.

Interactions with Soma

Soma has the potential for dangerous interaction with alcohol, armodafinil, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, carbamazepine, some antibiotics or antifungals, certain antidepressants, some proton pump inhibitors, delavirdine, gemfibrozil, modafinil, narcotics and opiates, phenytoin, ticlopidine and sleep medications.

What if I take an accidental overdose of Soma?

Symptoms of Soma overdose may include headaches, muscle coordination problems, rigidity, blurred vision, dilated pupils, muscle spasms, delirium, hallucinations, hypotension, depressed respiration, coma and death. If you suspect that you or another person may have taken an overdose of Soma you should seek urgent medical attention. Vomiting should not be induced in the case of a Soma overdose. A doctor may use a stomach pump, otherwise treatment consists of supporting breathing and other supportive treatment.

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant used for weight reduction in obese patients in combination with reduced calorie diet. It is an amphetamine and phenethylamine whose mode of action is to manipulate neurotransmitters in the brain to control appetite. It is generally used in the short term while behavior modification occurs in the obese individual aimed at re-educating the natural appetite.

Phentermine acts in the hypothalamus, stimulating the adrenal glands to release norepinephrine. This puts the body in an alert state in which hunger is suppressed. The drug has the secondary effect of causing the release of epinephrine which cause adipose tissue to release stored fat.

What does Phentermine look like?

Phentermine is available in a wide range of proprietary and generic pills and capsules in strengths of either 30 or 37.5 mg.

Phentermine dosing and administration

The standard dosage of phentermine for weight loss is one daily dose of 15, 30 or 37.5 mg taken in the morning. If necessary for appetite control, your doctor may suggest taking half this dose twice a day, but this dosage schedule increases the likelihood of insomnia. Because the body develops tolerance to phentermine, it is not likely to be effective for more than a few weeks. It is also desirable to limit usage to a few weeks because of the potential for addiction.

Common adverse effects from Phentermine

Side effects observed in clinical studies of phentermine include insomnia, hyperactivity, restlessness, dizziness, euphoria, dysphoria, dry mouth, unpleasant taste sensations, diarrhea, constipation, changes in libido and erectile dysfunction. There are a number of more serious side effects which occur less frequently but which should be reported to your doctor without delay. The most important of these is primary pulmonary hypertension whose symptoms include edema, chest pain, fainting or dizziness, dyspnea and cyanosis. Other possible serious side effects are unusually extrovert or aggressive behavior and other unusual behavior, hallucinations, agitation, hypertension, tachycardia, palpitations, cravings for phentermine and allergic reactions.

Phentermine warnings and precautions

Phentermine was formerly sold in a combined formulation with fenfluramine known as “phen/fen” until this was shown to cause dangerous side effects, particularly heart valve problems and primary pulmonary hypertension. Although it subsequently appeared that these problems were largely caused by fenfluramine, it has not been conclusively demonstrated that phentermine was not involved. Because of this it is important to immediately report any warning sings of primary pulmonary hypertension including dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, swollen ankles or cyanosis. Phentermine is chemically similar to amphetamines and taking it for a long period may lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms on ceasing treatment. Drinking alcohol should be avoided while taking phentermine.

Interactions with Phentermine

Phentermine may interact with a number of drugs including alcohol, insulin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, other weight loss drugs, sodium bicarbonate, tromethamine and tricyclic antidepressants including amitriptyline clomipramine imipramine, and protriptyline. You should inform your doctor if you have any history of glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, heart problems of any kind, agitation, abuse of substances including alcohol or any kind of allergy.

Ismo is a brand name for isosorbide mononitrate, a vasodilator used mainly for the preventative treatment of angina pectoris, to reduce the frequency and severity of angina episodes and reduce the need to use nitrate medications in sublingual pill or spray form. Ismo does not reduce chest pain which has already begun.

Ismo is a nitrate vasodilator which works by dilating blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure, and reduces the workload of the heart, relieving chest pain.

What form is Ismo available in?

Ismo is sold in tablets of 10 or 20 mg. It is also available in extended release tablets of 30, 60 and 120 mg.

Ismo dosing and administration

The recommended dosage of Ismo is 20 mg twice daily. The first dose should be taken on rising in the morning and the second seven hours later. This schedule avoids developing tolerance to the drug. It is important to take Imso at the same time each day and the most benefit will be gained from taking it regularly. If extended release tablets are used, the dosage should be between 30 and 240 mg once per day. If Ismo ceases to be effective in preventing your chest pain, discuss a change of dosage with your doctor. The drug becomes effective approximately one hour after ingestion of the first dose and lasting until at least five hours after the second dose.

Common adverse effects from Ismo

The most common side effect of Ismo is headaches and the severity of these is directly proportional to the dose. It should be borne in mind that the headache is a sing that the drug is working. Dizziness and nausea may also occur. Other side effects include tachycardia, vomiting, diarrhea, vertigo and dyspepsia. Side effects tend to diminish with long-term treatment. If headaches are problematic, ask your doctor to recommend an analgesic such as aspirin or acetaminophen. There may be rare occurrences of dysuria, urinary frequency and erectile dysfunction.

Ismo warnings and precautions

Ismo should not be taken with PDE 5 type medications for erectile dysfunction or while using alcohol. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, or if you are breast feeding, you should discuss the use of Ismo with your doctor. Ismo should not be taken before physical activity, including sexual activity.

Interactions with Ismo

Ismo should not be taken with the erectile dysfunction medications sildenafil(Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) because the combined vasodilatory effect of these can lead to dangerously low blood pressure. Ismo may interact with calcium channel blockers to cause orthostatic hypotension. There have been reports of sudden fall in drug pressure when Ismo is combined with propranolol.

What if I take an accidental overdose of Ismo?

Symptoms of Ismo overdose may include bradycardia, vision disturbances, nausea and vomiting, sweating, clammy skin, cyanosis of extremities. If you suspect that you or someone else my have taken an overdose of Ismo you should seek urgent medical assistance.

Ativan is Biovail Pharmaceuticals’ brand name for lorazepam, a strong and moderately long-acting benzodiazepine. It is used in oral form to treat anxiety and in an injectable form to lower nervous tension and treat seizures. Ativan is also used for the short-term treatment of insomnia and for the sedation of hospital patients and aggressive patients. It has a relatively high potential for addiction and recreational abuse. It has achieved some notoriety as a date rape drug.

Ativan is a classic benzodiazepine which acts at benzodiazepine sites on GABA receptors throughout the central nervous system. It is believed to have a high affinity for GABA receptors and this is thought to be the reason for its potent amnesic effect. Like all benzodiazepines, Ativan works by enhancing the effects of GABA, which is a naturally calming neurotransmitter.

What does Ativan look like?

Ativan is available in a number of different white pentagonal pills with strengths from 0.5 to 2 mg. It is also available in oral liquid and injectable liquid forms. Ativan may be taken with or without food.

Ativan dosing and administration

The typical starting dose of Ativan when taken for anxiety is 1 mg two to three times per day. When used to treat insomnia, the recommended initial dose is 2 to 4 mg once per day before bedtime. Elderly patients are more sensitive to Ativan and the recommended initial dose in these patients is 0.5 to 1 mg twice daily.

Common adverse effects from Ativan

Ativan is generally well tolerated and has less frequent side effects than other diazepines. The most common of these are sedation, vertigo, weakness and unsteadiness. Other possible side effects are lethargy, fatigue, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, visual disturbances, aphasia, nausea, constipation, changes in libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty achieving orgasm, hair loss and slight hypotension. More serious side effects which occur infrequently may include depression, suicidal ideation, dyspnea, seizures, anxiety or aggression, insomnia, hallucinations and allergic reactions. If any of these effects occur while you are taking Ativan you should report them to your doctor immediately.

Ativan warnings and precautions

You should tell your doctor before taking Ativan if you suffer from glaucoma, depression, liver or kidney disease or any allergies. You should also inform your doctor if you have any history of drug or alcohol abuse. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Ativan has strong potential for both psychological dependence and physical addiction. The risk of dependence increases the longer the drug is taken and the higher the doses. Because of the dependence factor you should not cease taking Ativan abruptly, but seek the advice of your doctor in gradually tapering off your dosage. Ativan may cause respiratory depression which may become life-threatening if taken in combination with alcohol or narcotics.

Interactions with Ativan

Other drugs which may interact with Ativan include alcohol, anesthetics, all antidepressants, most antipsychotics, barbiturates and narcotics, divalproex sodium, other benzodiazepines, probenecid, seizure medications and sleep medications.

Xanax is Roche’s trade name for the short-acting benzodiazepine drug alprazolam. It is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety associated with depression and panic disorder. It is also used for the specific panic condition of agoraphobia.

Xanax binds to GABA receptors modulating their function and in particular suppressing hypothalamic-pituitary and adrenal function. Like other benzodiazepines, the therapeutic effects of Xanax are derived from a range of anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, hypnotic, anxiolytic and amnesiac properties.

What does Xanax look like?

Xanax is sold in a wide range of different pills of various colors and shapes, ranging in strength from 0.5 to 3 mg. it is also available in extended release pills.

Xanax dosing and administration

The standard starting dose of Xanax for anxiety is 0.25 to 0.5 mg three times daily. Your doctor may increase this dosage incrementally if required to control your symptoms. While higher dosages may be necessary to treat panic disorder, the standard starting dose is 0.5 mg with incremental dosage increases as necessary. The gradual increase of Xanax dosage to an effective level avoids problematic side effects. Elderly patients are more sensitive to Xanax and should be started on a dose of 0.25 mg two or three times daily. Xanax may be taken with or without food.

Common adverse effects from Xanax

The most common side effects of Xanax are drowsiness, which occurs in as many as 76.8% of people, fatigue and tiredness, which occur in up to 48%, and irritability, memory problems and increased appetite which all occur in more than 30% of people. Less common side effects include aphasia, changes in libido, confusion, garrulousness, bizarre dreams, feeling warm, constipation, increase of mucus in the upper respiratory tract, weight fluctuations, anorexia, urinary retention, menstrual problems and dry mouth. More serious side effects which occur rarely include depression, vertigo, fainting, balance problems, suicidal ideation, anxiety or agitation, hostility, hallucinations, jaundice and allergic reactions.

Xanax warnings and precautions

You should inform your doctor before taking Xanax if you have glaucoma, a history of substance abuse including alcohol, depression, liver or kidney disease, respiratory problems or any allergies. You should also inform your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Xanax may cause withdrawal problems if ceased abruptly, so dosage should be tapered gradually when ceasing treatment with this drug.

Interactions with Xanax

Xanax may interact with alcohol, all antidepressants, most antipsychotics, barbiturates and narcotics, some antibiotics and antifungals, cimetidine, delavirdine, nafazodone, oral contraceptives, other benzodiazepines, protease inhibitors, seizure medications, sleep medications and grapefruit juice.

What if I take an accidental overdose of Xanax?

Symptoms of Xanax overdose may include lethargy, confusion, coordination problems, reaction problems, coma, respiratory distress and death. The risk of serious overdose symptoms is increased by taking Xanax in combination with alcohol or other medications which affect the central nervous system. If you suspect that you or someone else may have taken an overdose of Xanax you should seek urgent medical attention. You may be given flumazenil which is an antidote for benzodiazepines.

Klonopin is Roche’s trade name for clonazepam, a nitrobenzodiazepine used as an anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and anxiolytic. It is used to treat panic disorders and seizures is sometimes used in the treatment of epilepsy. It has a half-life of up to 50 hours, making it one of the most long-acting benzodiazepines.

Klonopin inhibits transmission across the synaptic gap in the central nervous system by binding to the benzodiazepine site of GABA receptors. Like all benzodiazepines it has no effect on GABA levels in the brain.

What does Klonopin look like?

Klonopin is sold as round pills with a “K” shaped perforation in strengths of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg. These are respectively orange with the imprint “K Roche 1 K Klonopin”, blue with the imprint “K Roche 1 K Klonopin” and white with the imprint “K Roche 2 K Klonopin”. It is also available as round white wafers in strengths of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg. These are imprinted with 1/8, 1, 1, and 1 respectively

Klonopin dosing and administration

The standard starting dosage for Klonopin when treating seizures in adults is a maximum of 0.5 mg three times daily. Your doctor may increase this dose up to a total of 20 mg total per day split into three smaller doses. For panic disorder the standard initial dos is 0.25 mg twice daily. Klonopin may be taken with or without food. Elderly patients are more sensitive to Klonopin and should begin treatment with this drug on a lower dosage.

Common adverse effects from Klonopin

Klonopin may cause lethargy in as many as 50 per cent of people. Other common side effects are coordination and behavior problems, dizziness and upper respiratory tract infections. Less common are aphasia, decreased libido, confusion, sinus infections, post-nasal drip, painful menstrual cramping and sexual problems which may include changes in libido, inability to ejaculate and erectile dysfunction. These sexual side effects are rare and are reversible on stopping treatment. Serious side effects which may occur infrequently are depression, loss of balance, suicidal ideation, dyspnea, memory problems, anxiety, agitation, aggression, insomnia, hallucinations and allergic reactions. Other possible side effects include weight fluctuations, edema of the feet or ankles, twitching, toothache increased salivation, hemorrhoids, motion sickness back pain and muscle cramps.

Klonopin warnings and precautions

Before taking Klonopin you should inform your doctor if you have glaucoma, a history of any substance abuse including alcohol, depression, respiratory problems, live or kidney disease or any allergies. You should also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant or if you are a nursing mother. Klonopin may cause physical dependence and this risk increases with the length of time the drug is taken. Because of this it may also cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.

Ambien is the trade name of French pharmaceutical concern Sanofi-Aventis for zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic used for short-term intervention in insomnia. It is also of use in certain brain disorders. Ambien is very effective in helping a patient get to sleep but does not act effectively to maintain sleep. Although it has anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant effects, it is not used for this purpose because the dosage required would be at a level where side effects would be problematic.

Ambien works by potentiating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in a similar mode of action to that of benzodiazepines.

What does Ambien look like?

Ambien is sold as a round pink pill with a strength of 6.25 mg and the imprint “A~”, a round blue pill with a strength of 12.5 mg and the imprint “A~”, an elliptical pink pill with a strength of 5 mg and the imprint “AMB 5 5401” and an elliptical white pill with a strength of 10 mg and the imprint “AMB 10 5421”.

Ambien dosing and administration

The standard initial dosage of Ambien is 10 mg taken immediately before sleeping. Older patients and those taking any kind of drug affecting the central nervous system are given a starting dose of 5 mg. Ambien should be taken without food. Because it is fast to take effect, it should not be taken until you are completely ready to sleep. It is intended for short-term use only and should not be used for more than one or two weeks. If you still need sleep medication after this, seek the advice of your doctor.

Common adverse effects from Ambien

The most common side effects of Ambien are daytime lethargy, vertigo, diarrhea, lack of coordination and light-headedness. Less common side effects which may occur are dry mouth, allergic reaction, palpitations, sinusitis, rash and abnormal dreams. In some cases there may be dangerous side effects which you should talk to your doctor about. These may included suicidal ideation, confusion, unusual extroversion or aggression, other strange behavior, depression, hallucinations, agitation, fainting, slurred speech and vision disturbances. In extremely rare cases there may be amnesia, sleepwalking, erectile dysfunction or hypertension.

Ambien warnings and precautions

You should talk to your doctor before taking Ambien if you have any history of sleep apnea, emphysema, liver or kidney disease, depression, any kind of addiction or allergies to any medicines. Alcohol should not be used while taking Ambien as it may increase the risk of certain side effects. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, you should inform your doctor of this. If you have any changes in behavior or notice any disturbing behavior or thought patterns while taking Ambien, you should discuss these with your doctor as soon as possible.

Interactions with Ambien

Ambien may interact with Alcohol, Sertraline, Rifampin, Flumazenil and other drugs which act on the central nervous system. These may included drugs intended to treat depression or anxiety.

Valium works on the brain by potentiating gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) a grain chemical which is a natural sedative with the capability of interfering with nerve signals in the brain which cause anxiety. Because of this action, Valium and similar benzodiazepines have mild tranquilizing action and are also central nervous system depressants.

What does Valium look like?

Valium is sold as a round tablet with a “V” shaped perforation in strengths of 2, 5 and 10 mgs. The 2 mg tablet is white with the imprint “Roche Roche 2 Valium”, the 5 mg tablet is yellow with the imprint “Roche Roche Valium 5” and the 10 mg tablet is blue with the imprint “Roche Roche Valium 10”. Valium is also available in oral liquid and injectable liquid forms.

Valium dosing and administration

The standard initial dosage of valium for anxiety is between 2 and 10 milligrams two to four times daily, depending on the severity of the condition. The same dosage is given for the control of seizures, usually in combination with other seizure drugs. For muscle spasms, the dosage is 2 to 10 mg three or four times daily. Valium is used for alcohol withdrawal at a starting dosage of 10 mg three or four times during the first 24 hours. From the second day, the dosage may be lowered to 5 mg three or four times a day. The treatment is usually short-term and restricted to the acute phase of alcohol withdrawal. Dosage for elderly people should be reduced because of possible hypersensitivity. The standard starting dose for all purposes is between 20 to 2.5 mg daily. This may be increased if necessary until the required effect is obtained. Valium may be given to children aged 6 or over at a dosage of 1 to 2.5 mg three times daily, on the advice of the doctor.

Common adverse effects from Valium

Valium is generally well tolerated and the most common side effects are drowsiness or fatigue. In rare cases there may be depression, hypotension, jaundice, suicidal ideation, dyspnea, anxiety, aggressive behavior, insomnia, hallucinations and erectile dysfunction or loss of libido. If these symptoms occur, immediate medical assistance should be sought.

Interactions with Valium

Valium should be used with caution when combined with alcohol, anesthetics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, barbiturates, sleeping medications, other benzodiazepines, probenecid, other seizure drugs and grapefruit juice.

Valium precautions and warnings

You should inform your doctor before taking Valium if you have glaucoma, a history of substance abuse, including alcohol, depression, liver or kidney disease or any kind of allergy.