Valium is a brand name for the medication diazepam, which belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. Diazepam has various medical uses, and it is primarily prescribed for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), muscle relaxant, and sedative properties. It works by affecting certain neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has inhibitory effects on the central nervous system.