A Valium Withdrawal and Recovery Guide
Valium is a brand name for the benzodiazepine drug diazepam. Valium works by diminishing hyperactive brain function and decreasing the awareness of pain. Mostly, Valium is prescribed for the following conditions.
• Anxiety disorders
• Withdrawal from alcohol
• Insomnia
• Muscle spasms
• Seizures
The risk of developing a benzodiazepine addiction increases if a person uses the drug for longer than four weeks, takes more than prescribed, or uses it in combination with other drugs like alcohol or narcotics.
How Is Valium Used?
Valium is typically prescribed in pill form, but it is also available as a nasal spray and rectal gel. You should take the medication with the oversight of a physician. Most doctors will prescribe Valium for use one to four times per day. It is generally not safe to take more than 5 mg in 24 hours because of the potential for addiction. Valium is least potent when taken with food, so it is recommended to use it about an hour after eating.
Valium Addiction
Along with other drugs like Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan, Valium is one of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines, so it’s likely that you have heard of the drug. It is a short-acting sedative that can calm, sedate, and relieve muscle tension. The drug can put users to sleep or cause general drowsiness.
When a person takes Valium as directed by their doctor, they have a low risk of developing an addiction. However, the effects of the drug are different for everyone. The amount of time a specific amount of Valium will affect you depends on your health, weight, tolerance for drugs in general, and use of other medications. Valium can be abused or cause a person to become dependent on it.
Taking more Valium than prescribed or for a more extended period can lead to dependence. It is not recommended to take Valium more often than every four hours or longer than four weeks unless directed by your doctor. When you develop a dependence on Valium, the drug has shifted through the brain’s reward center, changing how you feel. The drug triggers a release of dopamine, which creates a sudden rush of pleasure in your brain and makes you want to use it again.
Signs of Valium Addiction
Valium addiction does not cause obvious symptoms, but it does affect your health and how you might behave to get the drug. Common behavioral signs of Valium addiction include:
• An inability to control Valium cravings
• Neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school
• Having a hard time concentrating
• Withdrawing from loved ones
• Avoiding social situations
• Having a constant need for the drug, even after taking it multiple times per day
• Having problems with the law because of drug use
• Attempting to quit using but failing to do so
Effects of Valium Abuse
Your body goes through physical and psychological reactions when you use Valium. Every person reacts differently to the drug, so the effects some people experience can be very different from those of others. Short-term effects of using Valium can include:
• Numbing of the emotions
• Sedation
• Relaxation
• Reduced anxiety
• Falling asleep
Some of the moderate side effects that can emerge after taking Valium include:
• Feeling faint
• Delirium
• Dry mouth
• Delusions of well-being
• Irritated stomach
• Whirling or spinning feeling
• Salivating excessively
• Muscle spasms
• Nausea or feeling the need to vomit
• Abnormal dreams
Prolonged use of Valium, on the other hand, can cause severe side effects. Some of the most severe effects include:
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Rash
• Itching
• Disrupted breathing pattern
• Inability to maintain focus
• Falling down
• Seizures
• Memory loss
• Skin yellowing
• Not being able to empty the bladder
Symptoms of a Valium Overdose
Valium can cause harmful physical and cognitive side effects when taken in large amounts. When misused for a long time, the drug can lead to serious medical complications and could even result in death. The side effects of overdosing on Valium are extreme, and they can cause permanent damage to the body. Some common symptoms of a Valium overdose include:
• Fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Severe hypotonia or floppy quality of the muscles
• Respiratory depression
• Severe hypotension
• Reduced reflex power
• Severe ataxia, also called incoordination, inability to control the body
• Coma
Valium Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person has become dependent on Valium, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when they abruptly stop using the drug. The withdrawal symptoms from Valium use are highly uncomfortable, but they are typically not dangerous or life-threatening. The symptoms will also vary in severity depending on how much of the drug was used and for how long.
The signs of Valium withdrawal can start to surface within a couple of hours after the last dose. The most common signs of withdrawal from Valium include:
• Heightened anxiety
• Irritability
• Hallucinations
• Tremors
• Sweating
• Derealization, a feeling of altered reality
• Depersonalization, feeling detached from the body or mental processes
• Headaches
• Muscle pain and cramps
• Increased sensitivity to light, sound, or touch
• Tingling or numbness in limbs
• Epileptic seizures
Valium Withdrawal Timeline
The withdrawal timeline depends on the dependence level. The first step is to consult a medical professional and taper off Valium as directed. Becoming drug-free usually takes between one to four weeks, depending on your dose and how long you’ve been using.
Generally, if someone is addicted to Valium, you can expect them to experience withdrawal symptoms as follows:
• One to two days: Individuals dependent on Valium will experience mild withdrawal symptoms within a couple of hours after their last dose, including anxiety, muscle cramps, and headaches.
• Three to five days: The symptoms will worsen, with the person beginning to experience severe indigestion, insomnia, irritability, sweating, and diarrhea.
• Five to 14 days: The intensity of the symptoms should start to disappear after this period, but some may experience rebound effects that cause symptoms similar to those experienced during the first few days of withdrawal.
• After two weeks: At this point, even those with a severe Valium addiction should begin to feel more “normal” and have an easier time managing their anxiety.
Valium Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one is dealing with an addiction to Valium, it’s important to remember that help is widely available, and you don’t have to go through withdrawal or treatment alone. For those who are physically dependent on the drug, abruptly stopping use is not recommended. Doing so can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms that can lead to relapse.
Those under a doctor’s care will be advised to gradually taper their dose as their body adjusts to smaller and smaller amounts of Valium in their system. However, many people with an addiction to Valium use the drug illicitly. For these people, the best option is to turn to a treatment center for help with detoxing from the drug.
Valium Detox
The first step toward overcoming addiction is detoxification. It usually takes place in a rehab facility that provides Valium treatment. In a treatment facility, you will be able to detox while under the care of medical professionals and addiction specialists.
With medical supervision, you will get help managing the withdrawal symptoms that can lead you to use. Doctors can also monitor you for any potentially dangerous symptoms and provide medical intervention if necessary. As the drug leaves your body, you are also able to prepare mentally and physically for the next steps in treatment. Depending on the severity of your addiction, you will have a number of treatment options to choose from.
Residential Treatment
Those with severe addiction issues and/or co-occurring mental health conditions will be most successful if they take part in residential, or inpatient, treatment. At a residential treatment center, you will receive 24-hour care in a structured environment that shields you from the people and places that may have contributed to your drug use.
Your days will be filled with both individual and group therapy sessions that focus on the causes of your addiction and help you to develop better coping mechanisms. You may also have access to holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy. While the length of residential treatment varies, it typically lasts between 30 and 90 days, with 90 days recommended for severe addictions.
Outpatient Treatment
An outpatient program allows you to live at home while receiving all your treatments. This method will enable you to maintain your routine while you accomplish the goals of your treatment program. This program offers clients therapy from professionals. In both outpatient and inpatient treatment, typical therapies offered include cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and motivational interviewing. You may attend outpatient therapy for several hours a day or just a couple of hours a week, depending on where you are in your recovery journey.
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
Many people in addiction recovery are dealing with a dual diagnosis of a mental disorder and an addiction to drugs or alcohol. This is often the case among those dealing with an addiction to Valium because many were first prescribed the drug for anxiety. Dual-diagnosis treatment will help you treat both addiction and your mental health condition with therapies and medications.
12-Step Programs
Whether during outpatient or inpatient therapy or as a follow-up program, most people recovering from addiction will take part in a 12-step program at some point. These programs allow people to work with a group of peers to help recover from addiction. The program is based on the 12 steps created by Alcoholics Anonymous and has been adapted for a wide range of addictions. This proven method can help you regain control over your life and accomplish your goals of overcoming addiction. People learn from each other and hold each other accountable for their own recovery.
Recovery Coaching
Many people need extra support to make it through their treatment program. A recovery coach or peer mentor can provide it. These are trained professionals who understand your addiction, and they help you overcome it by providing individualized treatment and support.
Relapse Prevention
Even after completing treatment, it is still possible to relapse. It can happen if you don’t learn the skills to overcome your addiction and deal with the issues that led to it. Relapse prevention teaches you how to deal with problems and helps ensure your long-term sobriety.
Reach Out for Help Today
Valium addiction and withdrawal can be difficult, but you don’t have to deal with your struggles alone. Treatment providers are available throughout the United States and offer the support you need to safely detox and move on to an effective treatment program. Whether you need help yourself or are seeking help for a loved one, reach out to a qualified treatment center to discuss your options today.
