Valium is part of a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. These medicines have several effects on the body, including:
- Reducing anxiety
- Causing sleepiness
- Relaxing muscles
- Stopping seizures
- Impairing short-term memory.
All medicines in this category can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific benzodiazepine that is being taken. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of
gamma-aminobutyric acid (
GABA), a brain chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why Valium and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
Valium has not been adequately studied in children less than six months old. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using Valium in children.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Valium for something other than the conditions listed in this article. This is known as using the medication "
off-label." Currently, off-label Valium uses can include treating the following conditions:
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Benzodiazepine withdrawal (due to stopping a benzodiazepine medication too quickly).
Sometimes, Valium is used as a sedative before certain medical or surgical procedures.
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