Diazepam improves mental manifestations, including anxiety, tension, conflict, irritation, and depression. Diazepam has little effect on the level of consciousness and cerebral function. It also causes sedation and muscle relaxation and improves autonomic imbalance.
Indications: 1. Anxiety, tension and depression associated with neurosis, hypertension, peptic ulcer, and pulmonary tuberculosis. 2. Anxiety and tension associated with depression and autonomic imbalance. 3. Back pain, stiff shoulders, and cervical spondylosis.
Dosage: ?@?A2-4 mg (1-2 tablets) 2-4 times daily. The maximum allowable daily dose for ambulatory patients is 12 mg (6 tablets).
Precautions: 1. An individual must not take alcohol or be engaged in potentially hazardous activities during use of diazepam. Diazepam must not be administered to patients with cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease.
2. Diazepam may cause drowsiness, dizziness, light-headedness, and headache.
3. Chronic high-dose administration of diazepam may induce dependence. Since concomitant use of Tagamet (cimetidine), an anti-ulcer agent, may enhance the effect of diazepam, care should be taken in such cases.
Storage: In a light-resistant, tightly-closed container.
Major tranquilizers
Chlorpromazine
?@Wintermin (Chlorpromazine tablets 12.5 mg)
?AContomin (Chlorpromazine tablets 12.5 mg)
Chlorpromazine calms agitated behavior and controls severe hallucinations/delusions.
Indications: 1. Anxiety and tension associated with schizophrenia, mania, and neurosis. 2. Chlorpromazine is also effective for the treatment of nausea, vomiting, and hiccups.
Dosage: ?@?A25-100 mg (2-8 tablets) daily divided into several doses. For the treatment of psychiatric disorders, a daily dose of 50-450 mg (4-36 tablets) should be administered in divided doses according to the directions of the psychiatrist in charge.
Precaution: 1. Since chlorpromazine may induce drowsiness, an individual being treated with the drug must not be engaged in potentially hazardous activities.
2. During treatment with chlorpromazine, alcohol intake should be avoided and antihypertensive agents must be administered with care since concomitant use of alcohol or antihypertensives may enhance the effect of chlorpromazine.
3. The most frequent adverse reactions to chlorpromazine are drowsiness, hypotension, and constipation. Less frequent adverse reactions include lethargy, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and nightmares. Chronic high-dose administration of chlorpromazine may induce liver damage, muscular rigidity, a mask-like face, and motor disturbance.
Storage: Protected from light at room temperature.
Antipyretics/analgesics/anti-inflammatory agents
Salicylates
?@Aspirin (Aspirin tablets 500 mg)
?ABufferin (Aspirin-containing tablets 330 mg)
Salicylates have analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Product ?A disintegrats in the intestines and therefore has little potential for causing gastric damage.
Indications: Control of fever in febrile illnesses, including the common cold, influenza, and pneumonia. Relief of headache, pharyngalgia, toothache, pain associated with bruise, sprain and burns, muscular pain, neuralgia, joint pain, and back pain. Salicylates are also effective for the relief of gout.
Dosage: ?@500 mg (1 tablet) 2-3 times daily after meals (or 500 mg [1 tablet] p.r.n.). ?A660 mg (2 tablets) twice daily after meals (or 660 mg [2 tablets] p.r.n.).
Precautions: 1. Salicylates must not be used concomitantly with probenecid, anantipodagric.
2. If skin rash develops (a rare event), the salicylate should be withdrawn immediately and replaced by another drug in the same therapeutic category.
3. To prevent salicylate-related gastrointestinal injury, these drugs should be taken immediately after meals or combined with a gastrointestinal drug.
