Dosing With Valium in the Elderly
Since elderly people may be more sensitive to the
effects of Valium, a lower starting dose is required. For all uses, the recommended starting dose is
Valium 2 to 2.5 mg, taken once or twice a day. Your healthcare provider may slowly increase your dose, if necessary. He or she may also slowly increase your dosage based on how well you tolerate the medicine.
For children six months of age and older, the recommended Valium dose for any use is 1 to 2.5 mg, taken three or four times daily. Your child's healthcare provider may slowly increase the dose if necessary. He or she may also slowly increase the dosage based on how well your child tolerates Valium.
General Dosing Information
Considerations for people taking Valium include the following:
- Valium comes in tablet, oral liquid, and injectable forms. When used orally (by mouth), the medication is usually taken three or four times a day (or sometimes more or less often).
- The medication can be taken with or without food. If Valium bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Valium may cause serious problems if you take it at higher dosages or for a longer time than your healthcare provider recommends (see Valium Addiction).
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