Diazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine first patented in 1959 by Hoffmann-La Roche and launched in 1963. It is widely regarded as the prototypical benzodiazepine against which others in its class are measured. Prescribed for anxiety disorders, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms, and insomnia, it became one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the world, ranking as the best-selling medication in the United States from 1968 to 1982.
Diazepam molecular structure diagram from the DrugsPRO substance library.
Also known as: Valium, Zetran, Diastat, Apaurin, Mother's little helper, Valtoco, Libervant, Relanium, Diazemuls, NRL-1, Dzp
Classification
Chemical: Benzodiazepine
Chemical: Medicine
Psychoactive: Depressant
Tag: Anticonvulsant
Tag: Anxiolytic
Tag: Common
Tag: GABAergic
Tag: Habit-Forming
Tag: Muscle Relaxant
Tag: Sedative
Effects
Muscle Relaxation
Sedation
Respiratory Depression
Seizure Suppression
Blackout Potential
Motor Skill Impairment
Anxiety Suppression
Thought Deceleration
Euphoria
Amnesia
Information Processing Suppression
Compulsive Redosing
Disinhibition
Appetite Fluctuation
Dulled Perception
Open Eye Visuals
Double Vision
Blurred Vision
Routes of Administration
Oral
Dosage
Heavy: 25-30+ mg
Light: 2.5 – 5 mg
Common: 5 – 15 mg
Strong: 15 – 25 mg
Threshold: 2-2.5 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.33-1 h
Peak: 1-1.5 h
After Effects: 12-36 h
Offset: 6-12 h
Total Duration: 8-24 h
Intravenous
Dosage
Heavy: 20+ mg
Light: 2-5 mg
Common: 5-10 mg
Strong: 10-20 mg
Threshold: 1-2 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.016-0.05 h
Peak: 0.1-0.5 h
Offset: 2-6 h
After Effects: 6-24 h
Total Duration: 1-6 h
Harm Reduction
Check interactions before mixing substances, pay attention to dose spacing and hydration, and treat all dosage guidance as approximate rather than guaranteed safe.
Sources
Substance data is aggregated from the following public harm-reduction and reference sources.
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Diazepam: Diazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine first patented in 1959 by Hoffmann-La Roche and launched in 1963. It is widely regarded as the prototypical benzodiazepine against which others in its class are measured. Prescribed for anxiety disorders, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms,
