From the FDA Drug Label
Diazepam is a useful adjunct for the relief of skeletal muscle spasm due to reflex spasm to local pathology (such as inflammation of the muscles or joints, or secondary to trauma), spasticity caused by upper motor neuron disorders (such as cerebral palsy and paraplegia), athetosis, and stiff-man syndrome
Diazepam may be effective as an adjunct treatment for local nerve compression pain that is associated with muscle spasm. However, it is not explicitly indicated for the treatment of local nerve compression pain itself.
- The primary treatment for local nerve compression pain should be directed at the underlying cause of the compression.
- Alternative treatments, such as physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or surgery, may be preferable for treating local nerve compression pain. 1
From the Research
Effectiveness of Diazepam for Local Nerve Compression Pain
- The effectiveness of diazepam for treating local nerve compression pain is not directly addressed in the provided studies, but some studies suggest that diazepam may be useful in treating neuropathic pain 2.
- A study published in 2016 found that a single intraperitoneal injection of diazepam significantly depressed established mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in rats with neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation 2.
- The study suggests that diazepam may inhibit neuropathic pain via the translocator protein (TSPO), which promotes neurosteroid formation, subsequently reducing the activation of astrocytes and production of cytokines 2.
Alternative Treatments for Local Nerve Compression Pain
- A 1996 study discusses various pharmacologic approaches to managing pain due to nerve damage, including sympathetic nerve blocks, oral nifedipine, low-dose tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and systemic local anesthetics 3.
- The study suggests that early treatment of acute herpes neuralgia with famciclovir may be effective in reducing postherpetic neuralgia, and that topical therapy with capsaicin may be useful for neuropathic pain with a major cutaneous component 3.
- The role of opioids in chronic nerve pain is unclear, and most patients do not respond to these drugs 3.
Use of Diazepam for Other Conditions
- Diazepam is effective in treating anxiety and epilepsy, and has been shown to be an efficacious anticonvulsant in nerve agent poisoning 4, 5, 6.
- A meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized controlled trials carried out in Japan found that diazepam is significantly more effective than a placebo in improving neurotic anxiety states 6.