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Palliative cancer care - pain - Management
What issues should I consider before prescribing diazepam?
- The most frequent adverse effects are drowsiness, sedation, muscle weakness, and ataxia. These effects are caused by depression of the central nervous system, and they generally decrease with continued use of the drug [Micromedex, 2007]. Warn the person to avoid activities (such as driving) in which drowsiness may be detrimental.
- Less frequent adverse effects include vertigo, headache, confusion, depression, amnesia, and paradoxical excitation [Sweetman, 2005].
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