Local discomfort and thrombophlebitis following intravenous injection of diazepam. A comparison between a glycoferol-water solution and a lipid emulsion.

Diazepam is frequently used for pre- and peroperative sedation. However, at i.v. injection local pain and thrombophlebitis are not uncommon, probably due to tissue irritancy of the various organic solvents necessary to keep diazepam in aqueous solution. In this study the incidence of local adverse effects following i.v. injection of Diazemuls, a new lipid emulsion formulation, was compared with that of Apozepam, a glycoferol-water solution. We found that the latter preparation caused local pain and thrombophlebitis as often as reported with propyleneglycol-phenylcarbinol-ethanol preparations (Stesolid, Valium) and in a statistically higher incidence that the lipid emulsion form, which therefore seems more suitable for intravenous use.