Diazepam is a controlled substance in Kenya under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. It requires a prescription from a registered prescriber.
What it treats
Which conditions is Diazepam used for?
Overview
What is Diazepam?
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine medicine with several clinical uses: short-term management of severe anxiety, emergency treatment of seizures, management of alcohol withdrawal, and relief of muscle spasm. It is listed across multiple categories in Kenya's Essential Medicines List 2023 and is available from dispensary level.
It is effective for its intended purposes, but its use for anxiety and insomnia should be kept as brief as possible, ideally no longer than two to four weeks.
Diazepam is not a treatment for the underlying causes of anxiety or sleep problems. Psychological approaches and addressing life stressors are the foundation of long-term anxiety management.
How it works
What does it do in the brain?
Formulations in Kenya
How is it available?
Availability across Africa
Where is it available in Africa and what is it called?
| Country | Common Brand Name(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | Diazepam (generic), Valium | On the Uganda EML from health centre level; widely used for seizures, anxiety, and procedural sedation. |
| Tanzania | Diazepam (generic) | On the Tanzania EML from dispensary level; widely available and commonly prescribed. |
| Ethiopia | Diazepam (generic) | On the Ethiopian EML; widely used for epilepsy and acute management across the health system. |
| Rwanda | Diazepam (generic) | Available through the RBC pharmacy network from district hospital level. |
| South Africa | Valium, Diazepam (generic) | Widely available; dispensed in public sector for epilepsy and procedural use. |
| Nigeria | Valium, Diazepam (generic) | Widely available across all government hospitals and private pharmacies. |
| Ghana | Diazepam (generic) | On the Ghana EML; available at all hospitals and health centres. |
| Zambia | Diazepam (generic) | On the Zambia EML; available at district hospitals and above. |
Side effects
What might you feel while taking it?
These are the most commonly reported effects. Not everyone experiences them, and many settle within the first few weeks.
- Drowsiness and sedation
- Dizziness and impaired balance, increases the risk of falls, particularly in elderly people
- Memory impairment
- Muscle weakness
- Slowed reaction time. Do not drive or operate machinery while taking it
- Tolerance. The medicine becomes less effective with regular use over time
- Dependence, with use lasting longer than a few weeks, stopping becomes difficult
- Breathing difficulty, particularly if combined with alcohol, opioid pain medicines, or other sedating substances
- In some people, particularly elderly or young children, diazepam can cause paradoxical agitation
Who should not take it
Important warnings before starting
- Significant breathing problems or sleep apnoea
- Severe liver disease
- Myasthenia gravis
- You should not take diazepam if you have been drinking alcohol
Special care needed
Situations that need extra attention
- Do not take diazepam with alcohol. The combination is dangerous
- Do not drive or operate machinery while taking it
- Elderly people are particularly sensitive and have a high risk of falls and confusion
- Use only for the shortest possible time. Your doctor will review regularly
- If you have a history of alcohol or substance use problems, discuss this with your doctor
Diazepam can affect the baby, particularly near delivery. Speak to your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking it.
Passes into breast milk. Not recommended during breastfeeding.
Other medicines
Medicines and substances that can interact with it
- Alcohol: A dangerous combination. Both suppress the nervous system and breathing, and the combined effect is much stronger than either alone.
- Opioid pain medicines: A potentially life-threatening combination that significantly increases the risk of breathing failure.
- Other sedating medicines: Any medicine that causes drowsiness will have a significantly amplified effect when combined with diazepam.
Tests and follow-up
What your doctor will monitor
- Your doctor should review the need for diazepam at one and two weeks. Treatment beyond four weeks requires a documented plan for reduction and stopping.
- Signs of dependence should be reported honestly
- If you are elderly, your doctor will assess fall risk
Stopping this medicine
What happens if you stop taking it?
In Kenya
What you should know about this medicine in Kenya
Diazepam is one of the most widely prescribed medicines in Kenya, accessible from dispensary level. It is genuinely valuable for acute seizure management, alcohol withdrawal, and procedural use in emergency settings.
Inappropriate long-term prescribing for chronic anxiety and insomnia is a recognised problem in Kenya and globally. The answer to ongoing anxiety is not long-term diazepam. It is addressing what is driving the anxiety.
People who have been on diazepam long-term and want to stop should seek support from their healthcare provider, stopping without guidance is not safe.
Sources
References
- Ministry of Health, Kenya. (2023). Kenya Essential Medicines List 2023. Nairobi: Ministry of Health.
- Ministry of Health, Kenya. (2023). Kenya National Medicines Formulary, 1st Edition. Nairobi: Ministry of Health.
- World Health Organization. (2023). Model List of Essential Medicines, 23rd Edition. Geneva: WHO.
- Government of Kenya. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (Cap 245).