In the United States, companies that manufacture medicines are required to publish certain kinds of information about each product. This document is commonly known as a “package insert” because it is usually included with each package of the medicine.

You can also read these documents (also called "prescribing information") online. The U.S. package insert for Diastat (diazepam) is found at:

• http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=5533

Some of the information may differ in other countries.

The summary of package characteristics can be obtained in any European language from:

• http://www.emea.europa.eu/htms/human/epar/a.htm.

To learn how to read and understand a package insert, see "How to read a package insert."

Reviewed by Robert Fisher, M.D., Ph.D. July 2009