Clinical Pharmacy Case Reports: Recurrence of Intravenous-Diazepam-Induced Phlebitis from Oral Diazepam

Abstract

A patient who developed phlebitis from the intravenous administration of diazepam is described. This episode resolved in two days after treatment with moist heat packs. Three days after complete resolution, the phlebitis recurred approximately eight hours after a single oral dose of diazepam. This recurrence of phlebitis resolved slowly over seven days, with warm soaks and aspirin therapy. Oral diazepam may have exacerbated the initial phlebitis by interfering with a subclinical healing process.