Human cardiorespiratory and analgesic effects of intravenous diazepam and local anesthesia.

The only clinically detectable cardiovascular changes after intravenous diazepam administration are a moderate fall in systolic blood pressure and a rise in pulse rate. But it will produce significant cardiovascular changes, principally the lowering of total peripheral resistance and stroke volume. The drug has a long history of safety but is not totally innocuous. It is suggested that if diazepam is used in combination with methohexital, consideration should be given to the additive effects on total peripheral resistance.