What is Bensedin?
Bensedin is a prescription medicine contains diazepam, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures. It also helps with alcohol withdrawal symptoms and sedation before medical procedures.
How does Bensedin work?
Your nervous system relies on neurotransmitters to send signals between nerve cells. One of these neurotransmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), plays a key role in calming the brain by slowing down nerve activity.
Bensedin (diazepam) enhances the effects of GABA, making nerve signals less active. As a result, it promotes relaxation, relieves anxiety, and reduces muscle spasms.
Dosage
Bensedin (diazepam) is available in different strengths, including 2 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg tablets. The dosage varies depending on the condition treated.
- Anxiety: Start with 2 mg three times a day. If needed, the dose can increase to 5 mg to 10 mg three times a day.
- Muscle Spasms: 2 mg to 15 mg daily. You can take 1 mg twice a day, and can go up to 5 mg three times a day.
- Alcohol Withdrawal: 10 mg 3 to 4 times during the first 24 hours then reduced to 5 mg as needed.
- Seizures (as adjunct therapy): 2 mg to 10 mg 2 to 4 times a day.
How to take Bensedin
Take Bensedin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablet whole with water, without crushing or chewing it. You can take it with or without food.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take Bensedin at your usual time, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Side effects
Like all medicines, Bensedin may cause side effects, but not everyone experiences them.
Common side effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Confusion
Less common but serious side effects include:
- you see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)
- you think things that are not true (delusions)
- Breathing difficulties
- Memory problems
- Mood changes
Warnings
Do not take Bensedin if:
- You are allergic to diazepam or any of its ingredients.
- You have severe liver disease.
- You have breathing difficulties, including sleep apnea.
- You have a history of drug or alcohol dependence.
- You have a condition that causes muscle weakness, such as myasthenia gravis.
Speak to your doctor before taking Bensedin if:
- You have a history of mental health conditions, including depression or psychosis.
- You have kidney or liver problems.
- You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- You are taking other medications, especially those that cause drowsiness.
- You are elderly, as you may be more sensitive to its effects.