diazepam
IPA/daɪˈæzəpæm/
IPA/daɪˈæzəpæm/
diazepam — noun
1. a medicine that helps people feel calmer and is also given to ease muscle spasms
1.nounC1
Definition
a medicine that helps people feel calmer and is also given to ease muscle spasms or control seizures.
Example
The emergency doctor gave Mira diazepam to stop the seizure.
give diazepam to stop a seizure
Bao took diazepam before the scan because closed spaces panic him.
take diazepam before a stressful procedure
After the back spasm started, Gabriel needed diazepam to relax the muscle.
The nurse checked Anna's chart before giving her more diazepam.
Common collocations
- take diazepam
- a dose of diazepam
- prescribe diazepam
- diazepam tablets
Synonyms
- Valium
a brand name for diazepam in many markets
- tranquilizer
a broader class term; not every tranquilizer is diazepam
Grammar Patterns
take diazepam for [condition]
a dose of diazepam
Usage Note
In medical writing, diazepam is the generic drug name; brand names such as Valium refer to the same medicine in some places.
Common Mistakes
The doctor prescribed Valium, so it cannot be diazepam.
The doctor prescribed diazepam; Valium is one brand name for it.
'diazepam' is the generic drug name, while 'Valium' is a brand name.