a tranquilizer (trade name Valium) used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles; acts by enhancing the inhibitory actions of the neurotransmitter GABA; can also be used as an anticonvulsant drug in cases of nerve agent poisoning
"The doctor administered diazepam, a tranquilizer that enhances GABA activity, to relieve the patient's severe anxiety and relax their tense muscles."
A tranquilizing muscle relaxant drug (trademark Valium) used chiefly to relieve anxiety.
"The doctor prescribed diazepam to help calm his severe anxiety and ease the tension in his back muscles."
In plain English: Diazepam is a prescription medicine that calms you down and helps with anxiety by slowing your brain activity.
"The doctor prescribed diazepam to help my son sleep through his nightmares."
Usage: Diazepam is a prescription medication primarily prescribed to treat severe anxiety and muscle spasms, not as an over-the-counter remedy for mild stress or insomnia. It requires careful medical supervision due to its potential for dependence and interactions with other central nervous system depressants like alcohol.
The name diazepam is a chemical construction combining the benzodiazepine class prefix with the suffix -amide to describe its molecular structure. It was coined by scientists in 1963 to identify this specific drug within the broader family of sedative medications.