Roche Advertisement for Valium
in The Journal of American Medical Association
1969
Rx Valium® (diazepam) t.i.d. and h.s.
B.A. (night school)... CPA (a year ago)... a lifestyle that connotes constant striving, frequent reverses, ultimate achievement and, all too often, the gastrointestinal manifestations of psychic tension. For this kind of patient - with no demonstrable pathology - consider the many advantages of Valium (diazepam).
One. The pronounced calming action of Valium helps relieve psychic tension promptly, attenuating its somatic signs and symptoms.
Two. Valium is distinctly useful when somatic and depressive symptomatology (secondary to psychic tension) coexist.
Three. Valium is usually well tolerated. In proper maintenance dosage, it seldom dulls the senses or interferes with functioning.
Four. When psychic tension precludes sleep, an h.s. dose added to the t.i.d. schedule helps assure a restful night's sleep.
Before prescribing, please consult product information, a summary of which follows:
Indications: Tension and anxiety states; somatic complaints which are concomitants of emotional factors; psychoneurotic states manifested by tension, anxiety, apprehension, fatigue, depressive symptoms or agitation; acute agitation, tremor, delirium tremors and hallucinations due to acute alcohol withdrawal; adjunctively in skeletal muscle spasm due to reflex spasm to local pathology, spasticity caused by upper motor neuron disorders, athelosis, stiff-man syndrome, convulsive disorders (not for solo therapy).
Contraindicated: Known hypersensitivity to the drug. Children under 6 months of age. Acute narrow angle glaucoma.
Warnings: Not of value in psychotic patients. Caution against hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness. When used adjunctively in convulsive disorders, possibility of increase in frequency and/or severity of grand mal seizures may require increased dosage of anticonvulsant medication; abrupt withdrawal may be associated with temporary increase in frequency and/or severity of seizures. Withdrawal symptoms have occurred following abrupt discontinuance. Keep addiction-prone individuals under careful surveillance because of their predisposition to habituation and dependence. In pregnancy, lactation or women of child-bearing age, weigh potential benefit against potential hazard.
Precautions: If combined with other psychotropics or anticonvulsants, consider carefully pharmacology of agents employed. Usual precautions indicated in patients severely depressed, or with latent depression or with suicidal tendencies. Observe usual precautions in impaired renal or hepatic function. Limit dosage to smallest effective amount in elderly and debilitated to preclude ataxia or over-sedation.
Side Effects: Drowsiness, confusion, diplopia, hypotension, changes in libido, nausea, fatigue, depression, dysarthria, jaundice, skin rash, ataxia, constipation, headache, incontinence, changes in salivation, slurred speech, tremor, vertigo, urinary retention, blurred vision, paradoxical reactions such as acute hyperexcited states, anxiety, hallucinations, increased muscle spasticity, insomnia, rage, sleep disturbances, stimulation, have been reported; should these occur, discontinue drug. Isolated reports of neutropenia, jaundice; periodic blood counts and liver function tests advisable during long-term therapy.
Valium® (diazepam)
2-mg. 5-mg. 10-mg. tablets
Benzodiazepines and your patients: a management programme, Roche Products Ltd, ca. 1990.
