Diazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It is only available on prescription.

Diazepam is used to treat:

• anxiety
• insomnia
• muscle spasms
• fits (seizures), such as epilepsy.
• alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating or difficulty sleeping

It is sometimes used to help you relax before a medical operation. This is known as a pre-med.

Types of diazepam: Diazepam comes in tablets or a rectal tube (medicine that's squeezed into your bottom). It can also be given as an injection in hospital.

Brand names include:

Anxicalm
Diazemuls
Stesolid Rectal tubes
Diazepam Rectubes
Diazepam Desitin
It's also known as valium.

Get emergency help: You might need emergency help if you get serious side effects, take too much or have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)....