Composition
Valium contains as active substance 7-Chloro-1,3 dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2-One.

Properties / Effects
The active ingredient of Valium Roche is a member of the group of benzodiazepine tranquilizers, which exert anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effects. This is now known to be the result of facilitating the action of Y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Indications
All clinical states characterized or complicated by mental tension, anxiety, excitation, agitation, hypochondriac elements, neurosis, dysphoria, psychoneurosis, obsessive-compulsive neurosis, restless depression, phobia, schizo-affective reactions.
Physical symptoms of emotional origin: autonomic dystonia, psychosomatic disturbances and conversion hysteria (cardiovascular complaints, duodenal ulcer, migraine, tension headache, intestinal spasm), and menopausal syndrome. Sleep disturbances, muscle spasm of central and peripheral origin.

Tolerance
Valium is well tolerated. Severe side effects occasioned by therapeutic doses have never been observed.
Occasional more marked sedation occurring initially is often therapeutically desirable; it regresses, as a rule, spontaneously within a few days. Should this not be the case, it may be overcome by reduction of the dosage. As for all psychopharmaceuticals, dosage of Valium must be adapted to the widely varying limits of tolerance encountered in patients with organic cerebral changes (especially arteriosclerosis) or cardiorespiratory insufficiency.

Dosage
The dosage should be carefully individualized. Usual adult dosage for oral administration: depending on severity of symptoms, 5-20 mg daily, the single oral dose should not normally exceed 10 mg. They should be taken at a time that meets the needs of the patient in question; usually the evening is the most suitable time.
Treatment with Valium Roche should not be stopped abruptly, however; the dosage should be gradually tapered off.
Dosage for elderly patients: treatment should begin with half the usual adult dosage and be increased gradually as needed and tolerated.
Children’s dosage: 0.1 – 0.3 mg per kg body weight daily. In liver or kidney disorders, special attention must be paid to individual dosing.

Contraindications
Valium Roche is contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines. Care should be taken in patients with myasthenia gravis, and in the presence of known cardiorespiratory insufficiency. In severe chronic hypercapnia, Valium Roche is contraindicated. In pregnant women and nursing mothers, the use of Valium Roche should be avoided whenever possible.

Undersirable effects
The most commonly reported undesirable effects are fatigue, drowsiness and muscle weakness; they are usually dose-related. Effects encountered infrequently are confusion, constipation, depression, diplopia, dysarthria, headache, hypotension, incontinence, increase or decrease in libido, nausea, dry mouth or hypersalivation, skin rash, slurred speech, tremor, urinary retention, vertigo and blurred vision; very rarely: elevated transaminases and alkaline phosphatase as well as cases of jaundice have been observed. Paradoxical reactions such as acute excitation, anxiety, sleep disturbances and hallucination have been reported; should these occur, use of the drug should be discontinued. The physical dependence potential of benzodiazepines is very low in persons taking recommended doses. After long-term treatment, however, abrupt discontinuation of the drug can give rise to withdrawal symptoms. Gradual reduction of the dose is therefore recommended.

Drug Interactions
If Valium is combined with centrally acting drugs such as neuroleptics, tranquilizers, antidepressants, hypnotics, analgesics and anesthetics, it should be borne in mind that their effect may be intensified. This reinforcement can sometimes be made use of therapeutically.
As with other psychoactive substances, patients should avoid taking alcohol while under the influence of the treatment since the individual response cannot be foreseen.

Warning
Like all medicaments of this type, Valium may modify the patient’s reactions (driving ability behaviour in traffic, etc.) to a varying extend depending on dosage, administration and individual susceptibility.

Packs
Valium 5 : White/Blue Capsules 20’s
Valium 2 : Blue /Black Capsules 20’s
Valium Syrup : 2 mg/5ml 60 ml