Diazepam overdose

Diazepam is a prescription medicine used to treat anxiety disorders. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Diazepam overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine. This can be by accident or on purpose.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with has an overdose, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Diazepam can be harmful in large amounts.

Where Found

Medicines with these names contain diazepam:

• Diazepam intensol
• Diastat
• Dizac
• Valium

Other medicines may also contain diazepam.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of a diazepam overdose is falling into a deep sleep or "coma" while still being able to breathe well enough. Other symptoms may include:

• Bluish-colored lips and fingernails

  Bluish-colored lips and fingernails

  A bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.

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• Blurred vision, double vision

  Blurred vision

  There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...

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  Double vision

  There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...

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• Breathing is slow, labored, or stopped

  Labored

  Most people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...

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• Confusion
• Depression

  Depression

  Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...

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• Dizziness

  Dizziness

  Dizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...

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• Drowsiness, lack of alertness

  Drowsiness

  Drowsiness refers to feeling more sleepy than normal during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep in when they do not want to or at times w...

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• Excitability
• Hiccups
• Rapid side-to-side movement of the eyes
• Rash

  Rash

  Rashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.

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• Stomach upset

  Stomach upset

  Nausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up is forcing the contents of the stomach ...

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• Tiredness

  Tiredness

  Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

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• Tremor
• Weakness, uncoordinated movement

  Weakness

  Weakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.

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  Uncoordinated movement

  Uncoordinated movement is due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fr...

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Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (ingredients and strength, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed
• If the medicine was prescribed for the person

Poison Control

Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible.

The health care provider will measure and monitor vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood and urine tests
• Chest x-ray
• CT scan
• ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)

Treatment may include:

• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Medicine to reverse the effect of the overdose and treat other symptoms
• Activated charcoal
• Laxatives
• Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected to a breathing machine (ventilator)

Outlook (Prognosis)

Recovery from a diazepam overdose is very likely. Complications such as pneumonia, muscle damage from lying on a hard surface for a long period of time, or brain damage from lack of oxygen may result in permanent disability.

People who inject large amounts of this drug through a vein (intravenously or IV) have a worse outcome than those who swallow too many pills.