Diazepam, Serum or Plasma
Also known as: Diastat®, Diastat® AcuDial™, Diazepam Intensol™, Valium®
Use
Diazepam is effective in the management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in appropriately selected patients. Its use prior to endoscopy or cardioversion relieves anxiety and diminishes the patient's recall of the procedure. Preoperative use relieves anxiety and tension and may provide anterograde amnesia. Additional uses include the treatment of skeletal muscle spasms due to inflammation or trauma, spasticity (eg, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, stiff-man syndrome), seizure disorders (eg, status epilepticus, febrile seizures), and alleviation of abstinence symptoms during alcohol withdrawal.
Special Instructions
Diazepam is a muscle relaxant and antianxiety drug. Peak blood levels are achieved within an hour after oral dose. Half-life in adults is 21 to 37 hours. The major metabolite (nordiazepam) has a half-life in adults of 50 to 99 hours. It is the major metabolite also of clorazepate and prazepam. Minor active metabolites of diazepam are temazepam (3-hydroxydiazepam) and oxazepam (3-hydroxy-N-diazepam). Diazepam may exhibit synergism with barbiturates, tricyclic antidepressants, and amine oxidase inhibitors. Toxicity may be additive with other central nervous system depressants, and ethanol enhances the absorption of diazepam itself. Many cases of overdose are seen but few fatalities result from use of this drug alone. A frequent finding is a combination of this drug and ethanol.
Limitations
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Labcorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 49044-1
- 3548-5
- 3537-8
- 16757-7
Result Turnaround Time
2-4 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
1 mL
Minimum Volume
0.4 mL
Container
Red-top tube, lavender-top (EDTA) tube, or green-top (heparin) tube. Do not use a gel-barrier tube.
Collection Instructions
Transfer separated serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube. Oral: peak: one hour after dose; IV: peak: 15 minutes after dose.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate.
Causes for Rejection
Gel-barrier tube