Parenteral use of diazepam in an emulsion formulation. A clinical study.

A recently described injection formulation for diazepam, consisting of an oil emulsion where the drug is dissolved in the oil phase, has been found to give a lessened degree of side reactions than commercially available preparations. This emulsion formulation was compared to Valium inj. as premedication in patients undergoing operation for hernia or varices under epidural anaesthesia. The effects, measured as the degree of drowsiness according to an arbitrary scale, were found to be equal for the two formulations. Neither was there any difference in blood concentrations in the two application groups, respectively, between the preparations used. The propylene glycol content of Valium inj. is said to cause a delayed release of the drug from the injection site after i.m. application, and this is briefly discussed, as well as the possibility of administering the diazepam emulsion continuously, diluted with Intralipid, without the risk of precipitation.