The Drug Diazepam in Pharmacology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

The Drug Diazepam in Pharmacology - Essay Example Only paramedics are allowed to use in the management of â€Å"psychostimulant-induced behavioral disturbances† in times of emergency (National Drug Strategy). a. A list of conventional over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, complementary alternative medicines (CAMs) and prescription medicines that are known or suspected to undergo clinically relevant interactions with your profile drug in humans. b. List the source(s) of information you have used and indicate the strength of the evidence (e.g. anecdotal report, clinical case, clinical trial, etc) for each of the interactions that you have identified. Fluconazole is an antifungal that belongs to a group of drugs known as azoles that increases the effects of Diazepam by increasing the levels of Diazepam available in the plasma at any given time. A study conducted by Saari established that Fluconazole increased the level of Diazepam two and a half times thereby increasing the sedative effects of Diazepam. However, the peak plasma concentrations and the pharmacodynamics of Diazepam were not affected (941-999). Voriconazole may inhibit Diazepams metabolism, increasing the risk of adverse effects. In essence, Voriconazole acts the same way as Fluconazole by increasing the levels of Diazepam that are available in the plasma at any given time (Saari 941-999). Therefore, a Diazepam dose should be decreased. Diazepam may possibly increase or decrease phenytoin concentration. The phenytoin concentration should be monitored in case of toxicity and the phenytoin dose should be adjusted as necessary (Australian Medicine Handbook 2011). Enhanced sedation or respiratory and cardiovascular depression may occur if diazepam or other benzodiazepines are combined with drugs that have CNS-depressant properties such as alcohol, antidepressants, sedative antihistamines, antipsychotics, general anesthetics, other hypnotics or sedatives and opioid analgesics.