How to Use

For caregivers administering diazepam rectal gel :

• Discuss with the patient's family doctor exactly when and how to use diazepam rectal gel.
• Discuss with the patient's family doctor when you must call for emergency help.
• Read the instructions that you received with the drug before you need to use it.
• Stay with the patient after administering diazepam rectal gel to check his or her condition as instructed by the family doctor.

For diseaseds taking clorazepate extended-release tablets :

• Swallow tablets whole.
• Do not crush, break, or chew before swallowing.

For diseaseds taking alprazolam, diazepam, or lorazepam concentrated oral solution :

• Measure each dose carefully using the dropper provided with the drug.
• It is recommended that each dose be mixed with water, soda or soda-like beverages, or semisolid food such as applesauce or pudding, just before it is taken.
• Take the entire mixture right away. It must not be saved to be using later.

For diseaseds taking lorazepam sublingual tablets :

• Do not chew or swallow the tablet. This drug is meant to be absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Place the tablet under your tongue - sublingual and let it slowly dissolve there. Do not swallow for at least 2 minutes.

Take this drug only as directed by your family doctor . Do not take more of it, do not take it more often and do not take it for a longer time than your family doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may become habit-forming - causing mental or physical dependence.

If you think this drug is not help you after you have taken it for a few weeks, do not increase the dose . Instead, check with your family doctor.

For diseaseds taking this drug on a regular schedule for epilepsy or other seizure disorder :

• In order for this drug to control your seizures, it must be taken every day in regularly spaced doses as ordered by your family doctor . This is necessary to keep a constant amount of the drug in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses.

For diseaseds taking this drug for insomnia :

• Do not take this drug when your schedule does not permit you to get a full night's sleep - 7 to 8 hours . If you must wake up before this, you may continue to feel drowsy and may experience memory problems, because the effects of the drug have not had time to wear off.

For diseaseds taking flurazepam :

• When you begin to take this drug, your sleeping problem will improve somewhat the first night. However, 2 or 3 nights may pass before you receive the full effects of this drug .

Dosage

The number of capsules or tablets, or the amount of solution that you take, or the number of injections you receive, depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking benzodiazepines .

For alprazolam
• For oral dosage form - solution or tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults At first, 0.25 to 0.5 milligram - mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 4 mg a day.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 0.25 mg two or three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For panic disorder:
    • Adults At first, 0.5 mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 10 mg a day.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For bromazepam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 6 to 30 milligrams - mg a day, taken in smaller doses during the day.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, up to 3 mg a day. Your family doctor may change your dose if needed.

For chlordiazepoxide
• For oral dosage form - capsules:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 5 to 25 milligrams - mg three or four times a day.
    • Children 6 years of age and older 5 mg two to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 5 mg two to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For sedation during withdrawal from alcohol:
    • Adults At first, 50 to 100 mg, repeated if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 400 mg a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults At first, 50 to 100 mg, injected into a muscle or vein. Then, if needed, 25 to 50 mg three or four times a day.
    • Teenagers 25 to 50 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults 25 to 50 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
  • For sedation during withdrawal from alcohol:
    • Adults At first, 50 to 100 mg, injected into a muscle or vein. If needed, the dose may be repeated in two to four hours.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For clobazam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults At first, 5 to 15 milligrams - mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 80 mg a day.
    • Children 2 to 16 years of age At first, 5 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 40 mg a day.
    • Children younger than 2 years of age Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor.

For clonazepam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults At first, 0.5 milligram - mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 20 mg a day.
    • Infants and children younger than 10 years of age Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For panic disorder:
    • Adults At first, 0.25 mg two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 4 mg a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For clorazepate
• For oral dosage form - capsules or tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults and teenagers 7.5 to 15 mg two to four times a day. Or your family doctor may want you to start by taking 15 mg at bedtime.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 3.75 to 15 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For sedation during withdrawal from alcohol:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 30 mg. Your family doctor will set up a schedule that will gradually reduce your dose.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, up to 7.5 mg taken three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 90 mg a day.
    • Children 9 to 12 years of age At first, up to 7.5 mg two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 60 mg a day.
    • Children younger than 9 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral dosage form - extended-release tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults and teenagers Your family doctor may change your dosage form to the extended-release tablet if you are already taking 3.75 or 7.5 milligrams - mg of clorazepate three times a day. The extended-release tablet is taken one time each day.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults, teenagers and children 9 to 12 years of age Your family doctor may change your dosage form to the extended-release tablet if you are already taking 3.75 or 7.5 milligrams - mg of clorazepate three times a day. The extended-release tablet is taken one time each day.
    • Children younger than 9 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For diazepam
• For oral dosage form - solution or tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 2 to 10 mg two to four times a day.
    • Children 6 months of age and older Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Children younger than 6 months of age Use is not recommended.
    • Older adults 2 to 2.5 mg one or two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For sedation during withdrawal from alcohol:
    • Adults At first, 10 mg three or four times a day. Your family doctor will set up a schedule that will gradually decrease your dose.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults 2 to 10 mg two to four times a day.
    • Children 6 months of age and older Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Children younger than 6 months of age Use is not recommended.
    • Older adults 2 to 2.5 mg one or two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For relaxing muscles:
    • Adults 2 to 10 mg three or four times a day.
    • Children 6 months of age and older Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Children younger than 6 months of age Use is not recommended.
    • Older adults 2 to 2.5 mg one or two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 2 to 10 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • For older adults 2 to 5 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
  • For sedation during withdrawal from alcohol:
    • Adults At first, 10 mg injected into a muscle or vein. If needed, 5 to 10 mg may be given three or four hours later.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For sedation before surgery or other procedures:
    • Adults 5 to 20 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults 2 to 5 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults At first, 5 to 10 mg, usually injected into a vein every ten to fifteen minutes, stopping if the total dose reaches 30 mg. If needed, this treat may be repeated in two to four hours.
    • Children 5 years of age and older At first, 1 mg, usually injected into a vein every two to five minutes, stopping if the total dose reaches 10 mg. This treat may be repeated in two to four hours.
    • Infants older than 30 days of age and children younger than 5 years of age At first, 0.2 to 0.5 mg, usually injected into a vein every two to five minutes, stopping if the total dose reaches 5 mg. This treat may be repeated in two to four hours.
    • Newborns and infants 30 days of age and younger Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults 2 to 5 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
  • For relaxing muscle spasms:
    • Adults At first, 5 to 10 mg injected into a muscle or vein. The dose may be repeated in three or four hours.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults 2 to 5 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
  • For relaxing muscles in tetanus:
    • Adults At first, 5 to 10 mg injected into a muscle or vein. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 5 years of age and older 5 to 10 mg, injected into a muscle or vein. The dose may be repeated every three to four hours if needed.
    • Infants older than 30 days of age and children younger than 5 years of age 1 to 2 mg, injected into a muscle or vein. The dose may be repeated every three to four hours if needed.
    • Newborns and infants 30 days of age and younger Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For rectal dosage form - gel or solution:
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults and teenagers Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor.

For estazolam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults 1 milligram - mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 2 mg.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For flurazepam
• For oral dosage form - capsules or tablets:
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults 15 or 30 milligrams - mg at bedtime.
    • Children younger than 15 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 15 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.

For halazepam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 20 to 40 milligrams - mg three or four times a day.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults 20 mg one or two times a day.

For lorazepam
• For oral dosage form - concentrate or tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults and teenagers 1 to 3 milligrams - mg two or three times a day.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults 0.5 to 2 mg a day, taken in smaller doses during the day.
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults and teenagers 2 to 4 mg taken at bedtime.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For sublingual tablet dosage form:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 2 to 3 mg a day, in smaller doses placed under the tongue during the day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 6 mg a day.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 0.5 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For sedation before surgery:
    • Adults Dose is based on body weight and will be determined by your family doctor. However, the dose usually is not more than 4 mg, placed under the tongue, one to two hours before surgery.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For sedation before surgery or other procedures:
    • Adults Dose is based on body weight and will be determined by your family doctor. However, the dose usually is not more than 4 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For control of seizures:
    • Adults At first, 4 mg slowly injected into a vein. The dose may be repeated after ten to fifteen minutes if needed.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For nitrazepam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults 5 to 10 milligrams - mg at bedtime.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 2.5 mg taken at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • For control of seizures:
    • Children less than 30 kilograms - 66 pounds of body weight Dose is based on body weight and will be determined by your family doctor.

For oxazepam
• For oral dosage form - capsules or tablets:
  • For anxiety:
    • Adults 10 to 30 milligrams - mg three or four times a day.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 5 mg one or two times a day or 10 mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 15 mg four times a day.
  • For sedation during withdrawal from alcohol:
    • Adults 15 to 30 mg three or four times a day.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For quazepam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults 7.5 to 15 milligrams - mg at bedtime.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For temazepam
• For oral dosage form - capsules:
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults 15 milligrams - mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 7.5 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.

For triazolam
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For trouble in sleeping:
    • Adults 0.125 to 0.25 milligram - mg at bedtime.
    • Children younger than 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 0.125 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed.

Missed dose If you are taking this drug regularly - for example, every day as for epilepsy and you miss a dose, take it right away if you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose of benzodiazepines may be especially dangerous in child.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this drug from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.