The invention of Valium in 1963 was a great breakthrough.
The lower toxicity when administered with a prescription by a physician gives it an edge over existing treatments.
However, with the increasing liberal availability and widespread usage, people have begun exceeding its prescriptions, instead of misusing the drug.
From Celine Dion’s candid revelations about her near-fatal dependence on Valium during her battle with Stiff-Person Syndrome to Jordan Belfort’s infamous struggles, the stories surrounding this medication are both compelling and cautionary.
Table of contents
- Introduction
- Understanding Valium addiction
- Statistics around Valium Addiction
- What are the dangers of Valium abuse?
- Valium withdrawal
- Signs and symptoms of valium withdrawal
- Withdrawal Period
- The detoxification process
- Treatment options for valium addiction
- Post-detox from Valium: how to avoid relapse
Introduction
Valium (diazepam) is a prescription medication under the benzodiazepine category relied upon to treat seizures, alcohol withdrawal, and several forms of anxiety. Valium has calming effects helping by attaching to GABA receptors in the brain and slowing down brain activity. Using the drug continuously builds tolerance, needing higher doses and leading to dependency. Recovering from it requires a combination of therapy and tapered doses.
Benzodiazepines first entered the US market in 1960, with clinical trials of Chlordiazepoxide, and slowly gained popularity as safety profile improved. Two decades after the discovery researchers have a better understanding of how they act. Most people take the drugs as prescribed, however, some are at a higher risk of abusing BZD, especially if there is a personal or family history of substance abuse.
Understanding Valium addiction
Abuse of BZDs like Valium is on the rise today, resulting in several deaths from overdoses. When misused, a chemical dependency puts the user in the worst-off position and requires addiction treatment to get back to normal. A 2008 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows over 60,000 people began treatment for benzodiazepines like Valium. Surprisingly, many people who abuse BZDs today, do so alongside other substances—mainly alcohol and opioids.
Statistics around Valium Addiction
- A 2013 NSDUH survey shows that 12.5 million people across the U.S. reported non-medical use of Valium.
- Valium ranks third among the most misused tranquilizer drugs in the US.
- In 2021, 14% of overdose deaths involving opioids involved benzodiazepines.
- People between the ages of 18 to 25 were at the highest risk of misusing benzodiazepine in 2021.
Dangers of abusing Valium?
When you use valium for a long period it results in serious repercussions. The depressant powers of Valium override most of the symptoms it looks to treat. Valium is a depressant drug and thus a controlled substance. Increased intake only builds the body’s tolerance level. Misuse can bring about severe panic attacks, anxiety, prolonged drowsiness, and lack of sleep. If you are a student or work in a job your output starts to decline.
In the UK, the NHS recommends Valium should not be taken for over 4 weeks. The FDA has mandated stronger warning labels for all benzodiazepine products, including boxed safety warnings.
Valium withdrawal
If you’ve used Valium for over four months, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. The longer you take it, the more it builds up in your system. As valium builds up, the body cuts down on chemicals that relieve anxiety, instead relying more on the drug. At this point, Valium users go through strong withdrawal symptoms as the body shifts full reliance on the drug. From here, the user has to increase the Valium doses to counter the withdrawal symptoms. A “cold turkey” attempt to quit after a moment of clarity episode can result in dangerous if not fatal consequences. Recommended course correction at this point is addiction treatment where it is medically managed, providing ample time for the body and brain to recalibrate and return to normal without the drug.
Valium and other benzodiazepines are very hard to withdraw from because they severely affect the brain and have long-lasting withdrawal symptoms. For most Valium addicts, acute withdrawal can last up to three months, and post-acute withdrawal can last up to 24 months.
Signs and symptoms of valium withdrawal
Common symptoms | Serious symptoms |
Headache, tremors, abdominal cramps, sweating, vomiting, confusion, weakness, panic attacks, weakness, heart palpitations, sensory hypersensitivity, numbness | Seizures, hallucinations, delirium, depersonalization, coma, convulsions, psychosis |
It takes 15 mg of Valium daily for several months to start experiencing withdrawal symptoms according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Those on over 100 mg daily are likely to experience serious withdrawal complications.
People who become dependent on it often feel exhausted and confused. They slowly drift into anxiety and paranoia—in full contrast to what it was earlier prescribed for. After using it for a long period, the user becomes lethargic and experiences frequent dizziness. Some users even report having a bloody stool. Chronic abuse of the drug often throws the users into a depression where they often admit to having suicidal thoughts.
Withdrawal Period
Long-acting benzodiazepines like Valium are made for anxiety relief, thus having long-lasting effects that take time for the body to experience withdrawal symptoms. Here is the estimated withdrawal timeline for Valium users:
- 4 days—12 to 24 hours after stopping usage
- Week 2—withdrawal peaks in week 2 after quitting
- Week 3-4—withdrawal continues for a month after stopping the use
- Week 5+ A physical dependence may have developed. Upon stopping its use, symptoms can appear unpredictably even after experiencing no symptoms for months or years.
The detoxification process
Valium detox is getting the substance out of the body safely. Without any form of medical guidance, detoxing from Valium can be dangerous. How long your detoxification process takes depends on the severity of your addiction.
What are the conditions to disclose:
Discussing any underlying conditions with your care team lets them know your risk of exposure to Valium and prevents you from avoidable complications.
- Glaucoma—Diazepam is capable of increasing intraocular pressure and worsening your glaucoma.
- Alcohol abuse—People with histories of substance abuse are exposed to higher risks of depending on benzodiazepines like Valium.
- Liver/kidney disease—increased risk of toxicity as the drug hurts those whose kidney or liver is impaired, affecting body metabolism and clearing of the valium in the bloodstream.
- Neuromuscular disorder or Parkinson’s disease—muscle relaxants can bring about complications in people with these conditions.
- Breastfeeding/Pregnancy—Valium hurts fetal development when passed through breast milk, putting the infant baby at risk.
- Suicidal thoughts—patients with long histories of suicide stand a greater chance of drifting into depression.
- Respiratory issues—patients with breathing or lung diseases are at risk of respiratory complications when on Valium, especially if taken in combination with other depressants.
- Mental health—Valium could result in severe side effects or complications on people with bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, or other mental health conditions.
Now that you have made the necessary disclosures, here are treatment options you will be presented with:
Treatment options for valium addiction
Anyone addicted to Valium the drug or suffering from another BZD can start their journey to recovery in a rehabilitation center. Take some time to find out if they have a proven record of recovery and what is their approach to addiction treatment. The top rehabs where people are addicted to Valium are:
Inpatient rehab
Where there is a high likelihood of relapse, inpatient rehabilitation is highly recommended. It mostly applies to people who have heavily used Valium in the past. If the user is addicted to more than one substance, they must undergo treatment for each of their addictions. Only through the help of an addiction specialist can your addiction symptoms be identified and properly treated. In-patient rehabilitation programs run between one to three months. In special cases, it can go longer.
Outpatient treatment
If Valium addiction symptoms are mild, an outpatient clinic can be enough. Many people continue outpatient rehab after inpatient rehab to avoid relapse. Outpatient rehabs help reduce Valium dosage through weekly clinical visits. Detox alone isn’t enough; you also need counseling and therapy.
Post-detox from Valium: how to avoid relapse
Have a hobby
Taking part in a hobby that demands your full attention is a good start to distracting your mind from Valium cravings. Productive hobbies like sports, painting, drawing, or even playing video games are some ways of distracting the mind. Recovery teaches the user to avoid extended spells of boredom, which remains a top trigger for cravings.
Get enough rest
Healthy sleep habits lower anxiety and stress improving your concentration. Sleep helps repair the body and reduces free time which might tempt you to use Valium.
Diet and exercise
Healthy sleep and a good diet reduce stress and exercise the brain. Physical activity like exercise is a good distraction from cravings.
Counselling meetings
Many cases of relapse occur when detox is the only path to recovery. Fending off the cravings for Valium is difficult and constantly interacting with counselors or support groups helps users remain on the right track.
Mood alterations
People suffering from Valium addiction stand at a higher risk of relapse. Stay away from people drinking alcohol and other mood-altering substances.
Find a Valium Rehab
The first step in curbing Valium addiction is to quit and seek assistance. If you think you need a fresh start, you probably do. It’s simply a matter of detoxing safely.
There are many ways one can afford treatment. Among the financing options available are insurance programs.