What Is Diazepam Rectal Gel Used For? (Cont.)

How Does Diazepam Rectal Gel Work?

Diazepam rectal gel is part of a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several effects on the body, including:
 
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Causing sleepiness
  • Relaxing the muscles
  • Stopping seizures
  • Impairing short-term memory.
     
All medicines in this category can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific benzodiazepine that is taken. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why diazepam rectal gel and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
 

Is Diazepam Rectal Gel Used in Children?

Diazepam rectal gel is approved for treating seizures in children as young as two years old. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
 

Is Diazepam Rectal Gel Used for Off-Label Reasons?

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend diazepam rectal gel for something other than the condition listed in this article. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label diazepam rectal gel uses.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;