Diazepam
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Diazepam during a consultation by Dr Noor. Diazepam for pets in Perth.”
(dye-az-e-pam)
Description: Diazepam for pets
Diazepam is a medicine in the benzodiazepine group. It is used to help control seizures and can also be used as a calming medicine for anxiety.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Valium®
- Diastat®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary:
- None.
- Human:
- Tablets in 2 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg
- Liquid taken by mouth in 1 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL
- Injectable liquid at 5 mg/mL
- Rectal gel in 2.5 mg/0.5 mL (5.0 mg/mL), 10 mg/2 mL (5.0 mg/mL), and 20 mg/4 mL (5.0 mg/mL)
This information sheet does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, call your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- When diazepam is used for fear of thunderstorms or other stressful situations (for example, separation anxiety), plan to give it about 1 hour before the stressful event or trigger.
- A veterinarian may prescribe the injectable form to be placed into the rectum at home to help stop a seizure.
- This medicine can be given either with food or without food. If your pet throws up or seems unwell when the dose is given on an empty stomach, try giving the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting keeps happening, contact your veterinarian.
- If you notice the white part of the eyes looks yellow, or the gums look yellow, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Drowsiness is the side effect seen most often. In uncommon cases, diazepam can do the reverse and cause increased activity. Because of this, it is recommended to try a test dose first so you can see how your pet reacts.
- Diazepam can make cats hungrier.
- If your cat stops eating or seems unusually low or withdrawn, contact your veterinarian immediately.
How is this medication useful?
Diazepam is used in many kinds of animals to cause calming or sedation. In dogs and cats, it may be used to help prevent or treat anxiety or fears (such as nervousness or fear), to treat seizures that break through or continue, and to relax muscles.
This medicine is approved for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. In some situations, veterinarians may prescribe medicines that contain this drug for other species or for different medical problems. You can talk with your veterinarian about why this medicine is being chosen.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for your pet. Make sure you and your veterinarian talk about the following so you can decide on the best plan.
- Other medicines can affect diazepam. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about every medicine you give your pet, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your pet has now, or has had before.
- If your pet has been treated before for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your pet is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions your pet has had, including allergy-type reactions, not eating, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should usually see an effect within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the signs you are trying to treat should lessen.
This medicine does not last long. It generally stops working within 24 hours. However, the effect may last longer if your pet’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your pet.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
- That have an allergy to diazepam or to similar medicines (for example, clorazepate or clonazepam).
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- Pets with serious liver problems.
- Pregnant pets, or pets that could become pregnant. Medicines like this have caused problems in human babies when taken during pregnancy, and they may also cause problems in animals.
- Pets that are aggressive. Some veterinary behavior specialists believe medicines like this could make it easier for an aggressive animal to act on aggressive behavior; this is debated.
- Pets with liver or kidney disease, myasthenia gravis (a condition that causes muscle weakness), or narrow angle glaucoma.
- Pets that are not in good overall condition or are poorly nourished, and pets that are very old.
- Working dogs or assistance dogs, because this medicine may lower their alertness.
If your pet has any of the conditions listed above, talk with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Most pets handle diazepam well, but side effects are possible.
Common, but not serious side effects include:
You usually do not need to be highly concerned if you notice these signs, unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Sleepiness or being less active.
- Poor coordination or weakness (for example, stumbling or seeming clumsy).
- More saliva than usual or drooling.
- Increased hunger, especially in cats.
Rare, but usually not serious side effects include:
- Cats may act more affectionate than usual, seem down, become irritable, or show unusual behaviors.
- This type of medicine can reduce how well an animal learns and can slow training.
- Dogs may show the opposite reaction from what is expected (they may become more excited instead of calmer). Tell your veterinarian if you see this.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- Yellow coloring in the whites of the eyes or a yellow tint to the gums (jaundice). In rare cases, medicines in this group have caused liver problems, especially in cats.
- In cats: eating less or not eating, having less energy, or vomiting that continues.
If you notice any of these effects, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If this medicine is used regularly for a long time, the body can become dependent on it. If it is stopped too suddenly, serious withdrawal signs can happen. If you are worried about this, or if you want to stop the medicine, speak with your veterinarian.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Too much diazepam is usually not dangerous, but it can cause strong effects on the brain and nervous system (for example, confusion, heavy sleepiness, coma, or weaker reflexes). In rare situations, other serious problems can happen, especially if other medicines that cause sleepiness are also taken.
If you see or suspect an overdose, contact your veterinarian right away for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
For diazepam to work as intended, give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed. It is also important to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine may be given with food or without food. If your pet vomits or seems sick when the dose is given on an empty stomach, try giving the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues after giving this medicine, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- After the first dose, do not leave your pet alone. Watch for too much sleepiness (such as being very tired or overly sedated) or for aggression (such as threatening behavior) toward people or other animals in the home.
- If this medicine is being used to stop a seizure that breaks through, your veterinarian will prescribe a diazepam liquid that is placed into the rectum during a seizure. For your safety and your pet’s safety, make sure you have been taught the correct way to give it before an emergency happens.
- If you are using this medicine for a predictable trigger or event (for example, thunderstorms or separation anxiety), give the dose about 1 hour before the trigger so the medicine is at its strongest effect when the trigger occurs.
- If you are using a liquid form, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medication time.
- If you want to stop giving this medicine before the prescribed course is finished, contact your veterinarian first. There may be an important reason to keep giving it until it is used up.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. Then wait the usual amount of time between doses that your veterinarian recommended before giving the next one. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in an approved dose-reminder container (such as a pill organizer). Store it at room temperature and keep it out of direct sunlight.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made version (a compounded product) for your pet, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unattractive to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks. Then place it in the regular trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- When diazepam is used for behavior-related problems, it often works best when it is used along with behavior-change training.
- This medicine may be prohibited in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering a competition while your pet is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”