Description

What are Sedil 5 mg Diazepam Tablets?

Sedil 5 mg Diazepam Tablets contain diazepam BP 5 mg. Sedil is manufactured by Square Pharmaceuticals PLC, and diazepam belongs to a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines.

Diazepam acts on the central nervous system and can produce calming, muscle-relaxing, anticonvulsant and sedative effects. It is a prescription-only medicine and must only be used following an appropriate clinical assessment and on the instructions of a qualified prescriber.

Sedil 5 mg should not be used for routine everyday stress or without medical supervision. The appropriate treatment, dosage and duration depend on the patient’s condition, medical history, age, other medicines and individual risk factors.

What may diazepam be prescribed for?

A qualified healthcare professional may prescribe diazepam for specific conditions, including:

• Short-term management of severe anxiety
• Relief of painful skeletal-muscle spasms
• Management of certain seizures or convulsions
• Sedation before particular medical or dental procedures
• Other clinically assessed conditions where diazepam is appropriate

Diazepam is normally prescribed for the shortest suitable period because prolonged or inappropriate use can lead to tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

How do Sedil 5 mg tablets work?

Diazepam enhances the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid, commonly known as GABA. GABA is a chemical messenger that reduces excessive activity within the brain and nervous system.

This action can produce calming and sedative effects while helping relax muscles and control particular types of convulsions. The response to diazepam varies between patients, so treatment must be individually assessed and monitored.

How should Sedil 5 mg be taken?

Take Sedil 5 mg exactly as instructed by your prescriber and follow the information supplied with the medicine. Do not take more tablets, take them more frequently or continue treatment longer than prescribed.

Do not change your dose or stop diazepam suddenly without medical advice. Abrupt discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms, particularly after regular or prolonged use. A prescriber may recommend reducing the dose gradually when treatment is stopped.

If you miss a dose, follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet or ask your pharmacist. Do not take a double dose to compensate for a forgotten tablet.

Who should seek medical advice before taking diazepam?

Tell your prescriber or pharmacist about your medical history and every medicine, supplement or herbal product you use. Diazepam may not be suitable for some people, including those with:

• Breathing difficulties or sleep apnoea
• Significant liver or kidney problems
• Myasthenia gravis
• Certain mental-health conditions
• A history of alcohol, medicine or substance dependence
• An allergy to diazepam or another benzodiazepine
• Pregnancy, planned pregnancy or breastfeeding

This is not a complete suitability checklist. A qualified healthcare professional must assess whether diazepam is appropriate for you.

Important interactions and warnings

Do not drink alcohol while taking diazepam. Alcohol can intensify its sedative effects and increase the risk of dangerous breathing problems.

Combining diazepam with opioids or other sedating medicines can cause severe drowsiness, respiratory depression, coma or death. Tell your prescriber if you use opioid painkillers, sleeping medicines, sedating antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics or any other medicine that causes drowsiness.

Diazepam can reduce alertness, coordination and reaction time. Do not drive, cycle, operate machinery or perform hazardous activities if the medicine makes you sleepy, dizzy, confused or unable to concentrate. Follow the advice of your prescriber and current UK driving rules.

Possible side effects

Like every medicine, diazepam may cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them. Possible effects include:

• Drowsiness or reduced alertness
• Tiredness
• Dizziness or unsteadiness
• Poor coordination
• Confusion or memory difficulties
• Muscle weakness
• Low blood pressure

Contact a healthcare professional if side effects concern you or do not improve. Seek urgent medical help for difficulty breathing, severe confusion, loss of consciousness, swelling of the face or throat, or other signs of a serious allergic reaction.

The patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine contains a more complete list of possible side effects and warnings.

Dependence and withdrawal

Diazepam can cause physical and psychological dependence, even when it is prescribed. The risk can increase with higher doses, longer treatment or a history of alcohol or substance dependence.

Stopping suddenly may cause anxiety, difficulty sleeping, agitation, headaches, muscle pain and other withdrawal symptoms. In severe cases, more serious reactions can occur. Do not stop regular diazepam treatment without speaking to the prescriber responsible for your care.

Storage information

Keep Sedil 5 mg tablets in their original packaging and follow the storage directions shown on the pack or patient leaflet. Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use tablets after their expiry date. Ask a pharmacist how to dispose of expired or unwanted medicine safely. Do not share prescription medicine with another person.