Glaucoma and Valium

[BellsRNBSN]

Can anyone tell me WHY you should not take Valium if you have glaucoma?

I know it's contraindicated, but I can't find the reason WHY in my Davis Drug Guide or even on Google.

Your help is much appreciated!

[CoffeemateCNA]

Some benzodiazepines have pupil-dilating effects. Dilated pupils = increased intraocular pressure

[cjar107013]

edit: coffematecna beat me while i was typing my reply.

i don't know the answer to your question, but i was curious and found this on diazepam (valium) contraindications / precautions

"diazepam is contraindicated in patients with closed-angle glaucoma. the mechanistic rational for this contraindication has been questioned, as benzodiazepines do not have antimuscarinic activity and do not raise intraocular pressure. benzodiazepines may be used in patients with open-angle glaucoma who are receiving appropriate therapy."

this site, valium disease interactions - drugs.com, says,

"the manufacturers consider the use of benzodiazepines to be contraindicated in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma or untreated open-angle glaucoma. these agents do not possess anticholinergic activity but have very rarely been associated with increased intraocular pressure."

i'd look into increased intraocular pressure.

[little miss redpatch]

Good question! I learned something new.

[Robincm86]

May be because it doesn't treat it or evidently, it could raise the pressure in your eyes. Open Angle Glaucoma

[MunoRN, RN]

Some benzodiazepines have pupil-dilating effects. Dilated pupils = increased intraocular pressure

So why is marijuana beneficial for glaucoma? Marijuana dilates the pupils, yet I thought it helped with glaucoma by decreasing intraocular pressure?

[cjar107013]

So why is marijuana beneficial for glaucoma? Marijuana dilates the pupils, yet I thought it helped with glaucoma by decreasing intraocular pressure?

The study I found: http://www.agingeye.net/glaucoma/glaucomadrugtreatment.php (scroll to the bottom and read the pdf in the Marijuana and Glaucoma section) basically says the mechanism of action for marijuana decreasing IOP is unknown. So, to toss out random numbers, maybe marijuana dilates pupils for an increase in IOP of 5mmHg but the unknown mechanism of action comes in with a decrease of 15mmHg.

Other sites I read also say that marijuana only lowers IOP for 3-4 hours. So, you'd have to smoke constantly to gain an effect. Another site also said that the decrease in IOP might not even be enough to stop damage to the optic nerve.