APA Dictionary of Psychology

n. a long-acting benzodiazepine that is used for the management of alcohol withdrawal and as an anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and muscle relaxant. It is broken down in the liver to produce a number of metabolites (metabolic products) of varying half-lives, including the active compounds desmethyldiazepam (nordiazepam) and oxazepam. Its complex metabolism and lengthy half-life make diazepam unsuitable for use in older adults and those with liver disease. U.S. trade name (among others): Valium.