Kel asked
I was recently prescribed Valium 10mg for severe anxiety. My other medications include: Lamictal 200mg 2x a day Fluoxetine 5 mg 1x Adderall 20mg 2x.Are the prescriptions listed above safe to take with Valium? I’m worried because I’ve heard you can’t take it with anti seizure drugs.
Answer
There are a few considerations to take into account when adding Valium (diazepam) to your list of medications.
Seizure Disorder
Valium is commonly used for the acute treatment of seizure disorders. One of the most common forms used is a Valium rectal gel that is used when a breakthrough seizure occurs. Having said that, long term use of Valium is not recommended if you have epilepsy. Long term use of Valium is associated with an increased risk of seizures occurring, which may necessitate higher doses of current anti-convulsant drugs
In addition, if you are on Valium for an extended period of time, and need to discontinue, the risk of worsening seizures increases.
There isn't a documented interaction between the Valium and Lamictal, but the issue is the drug-disease interaction with Valium. If you are using Lamictal for a different indication such as migraine prophlyaxis, the combination is OK to use.
Valium & Adderall
These drugs have conflicting indications. The combination of Valium & Adderall may decrease the effectiveness of one or the other.
Valium & Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is an inhibitor of an enzyme that metabolizes Valium. Thus, when this combination is used together, the concentrations of Valium may be increased.
