Long-term use of diazepam

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Abstract
Plasma concentrations of diazepam and its major active metabolite nordiazepam were measured in 108 neurosurgical patients taking diazepam in doses of 5-40 mg/day for periods from 1 mo. to 16 yr. Diazepam was used for relief of pain or muscle spasm, or anxiety and sleeplessness associated with these 2 symptoms, and was considered to be beneficial by 83% of the patients, although use of other drugs confounded this evaluation. Concentrations of total diazepam-nordiazepam ranged from 0-2584 ng/ml, with nordiazepam being the predominant metabolite. Low concentrations (< 250 ng/ml) were found in 35 of the 108 patients, with 19 having concentrations < 100 ng/ml. High concentrations (> 900 ng/ml) were found in 20 patients and did not occur more frequently than in other studies of long-term diazepam ingestion. Even with long-term use, diazepam seemed to retain its efficacy and did not lead to any clear-cut abuse.

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