Beaumont Seeks 'Vaginal Valium' Research Study Participants

Can taking medications vaginally offer quicker, more effective relief than oral medications? To find out, researchers at Beaumont Women’s Urology Center are seeking healthy women to participate in a study.

Investigators will study the absorption of the drug diazepam, brand name Valium, in tablet, cream or suppository forms. Diazepam is commonly used to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures. “Vaginal Valium” is currently prescribed off-label (not an approved Food and Drug Administration indication for this medication) to treat women with pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition that occurs when pelvic muscles are either weak or  too tight. If the muscles are tight, this can result in pelvic pain.  

“This study will give us a better understanding of the absorption rate of diazepam when used in various applications," said Beaumont Women’s Urology Center urologist Dr. Jason Gilleran, principal investigator in the study. "It is believed when using this medication vaginally, it is absorbed quicker, and there are less side effects as compared with the oral form."

To be eligible for the study, participants must be premenopausal women ages 18 to 55 with no history of pelvic pain conditions.

Participants will provide urine and blood samples before taking a single dose of the medication, followed by three blood samples and a minimally-invasive vaginal exam. Those participating in the study will need to spend approximately nine hours on the campus of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak for monitoring. Volunteers will be compensated for their time.
 
An optional second phase of the comparison study involving one dose of the oral medication without a vaginal examination will also be offered. An additional stipend will be given to participants in this study.

Medications, exams and monitoring will be provided at no cost to qualified participants in the study. For more information and enrollment, contact Women’s Urology Center study coordinator Michelle Romano, RN, at 248-898-1259 or michelle.romano@beaumont.edu.

About Beaumont Women’s Urology Center

Beaumont offers a specialized Women’s Urology Center to address urologic, sexual function and pelvic pain conditions in women. Services of the center include: clinical evaluation, testing and treatment; minimally invasive procedures; specialized physical therapy; psychological support and clinical massage, guided imagery and other Integrative Medicine treatments. Beaumont, Royal Oak is ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” 2012-13 list for urology.