Tetrazepam is a benzodiazepine medication of long-term duration with a usual tetrazepam dose of 50 milligrams (mg) every six to eight hours, an onset-to-peak effect time of one to three hours when ingested orally, and a half-life of three to 26 hours. Benzodiazepines are a family of medications used primarily as anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) agents, muscle relaxants and anti-seizure medications, among many other functions. Tetrazepam is not available for prescription in the US and Canada, but it is used in several European countries primarily for muscle spasms or panic and anxiety disorders, such as agoraphobia. The medication is effective without the degree of sedation often experienced with other benzodiazepines. Factors that affect a sufficient tetrazepam dose are common to most benzodiazepines and include the size and age of the patient, other medications included in the patient's drug regimen and other diseases or disorders from which the patient may suffer.
One of the first factors that affect the sufficiency of a tetrazepam dose is the age and size of the patient. Tetrazepam is not recommended for use in children and use in older adults and seniors is advised with caution. Older adult patients experience side effects of the medication at a higher rate and with greater severity than do middle-aged adults. In some situations, prescribing a lower tetrazepam dose can minimize this known difficulty; however, this modification is limited in practice. Tetrazepam is manufactured solely in 50 mg dose tablets and an elderly patient on a lower dose must have the vision and motor coordination sufficient to utilize a pill cutter.
Other medications or substances the patient may ingest are also a significant factor affecting a tetrazepam dose. Other medications with sedative properties — including ingestion of alcoholic drinks — can strongly add to the effect of a patient's usual dosage. Gait and balance issues can also become intensified and result in enough of an impairment to produce greater side effects and risk of injury. Blood pressure medications that can cause postural hypotension — or dizziness upon arising — can combine with tetrazepam for increased dizziness and potential for falls.
A patient's optimum tetrazepam dose is also affected by the degree of his muscle injury and his individual pain threshold. A higher dosage or a more frequent dose administration may be necessary for patients with more severe injuries or lower pain thresholds. Patients who have multiple allergic sensitivities may require a lower tetrazepam dose due to its known tendency to cause allergic dermatitis, even in healthcare workers who administer the medication.