AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question QUESTION: Hi, with a nursing background I should know this answer but have been out of nursing for years. I take 5 mg.Valium occasionaly for muscle spasms and for anxiety attacks. I also take but Inderal LA 60 for mild hypertension. Would taking both lower my heart rate or B/P too much? My usual dose of the Valium is 1/2 to one a day but when anxiety is at it's highest have taken up to three or four. I only take the Valium every few months not on a regular basis. I have a big fear of most medications but feel safe with the Valium the way I take it.
ANSWER: Hi,Pam!
Valium can cause a lowering of your blood pressure. Do you know what your baseline blood pressure is? Maybe you can take your blood pressure about 1/2 hr after taking a Valium to see how low it is. If you experience dizziness,etc, you may want to stay with a lower dose.
You did not mention your age. Valium is not recommended for use in individuals over the age of 65. It is a long-acting benzodiazepine which can accumulate in the body,especially in older individuals. This accumulation can cause an increase in risk of falls,leading to hip fractures. Because of this accumulation,it can also,with regular use, cause decreased cognition,which may be mistaken for signs of dementia. Valium is very infrequently used in nursing facilities for these reasons. Other anti-anxiety meds on the market are shorter-acting,such as Ativan(lorazepam),Xanax(alprazolam)or Buspar (buspirone). These meds are safer to use in older individuals. Hope this helps, Mary
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QUESTION: Hi Mary,
Sorry for not enough info before. I am 56 years old and my B/P flucuates between 115/72 to 129/89. On the 5mg Valium, I only take it on occasion. By that I mean every few months and then usually only for one to two days. I take between 1/2 to 2 tabs in a 24 hour period so why I don't worry about accumulation. Because I hate taking drugs of any kind I don't take much of anything but feel safe with the Valium as it is a very old and reliable drug and I never had side effects from it as I have from other things. I first took Valium as a teenager major anxiety and it helped greatly. The next time I took it was in my forty's for muscle spasms and anxiety. I tried xanax and it was slightly less effective but worked ok. My doctor asked me not to take it once I started Inderal less than two years ago, he said it would slow my heart rate too much. What is your take on that?
Answer Hi,Pam,
It's good that you are being cautious; I think you are fine with the Valium, taking it the way you are.I would just watch out for dizziness when you are on it,and like the label says "Do not operate heavy machinery,etc" LOL.
Have a Great Fourth of July! Mary
