How Long Does Valium Stay in Your System?

Valuum is a popular and well-known prescription medication commonly prescribed for anxiety and other issues. It’s safe when used according to medical instructions but many people end up abusing it, leading to benzodiazepine addiction. This article will answer the following questions:

• What is Valium?
• What is Valium used for?
• How long does Valium last?
• How long does Valium take to kick in?
• Is Valium addictive?
• How long does Valium stay in your urine?
• How long does Valium stay in your blood?
• How long does Valium stay in your saliva?
• How long does Valium stay in your hair?

If you are thinking of taking Valium, it’s important to have the answers to these questions to be informed. Read on to learn more.

What Is Valium and How Is It Used?

Valium is a prescription medication used to treat anxiety. It’s a brand of the generic drug diazepam, part of the benzodiazepine family of drugs – tranquilizers developed to treat clinical anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Valium is typically taken orally in tablet form, but it can also be administered as an injection in medical settings. Due to its fast-acting nature and potential for dependence, doctors will usually prescribe it for short-term use and to be used only according to careful instructions.

While Valium can be effective in relieving symptoms of anxiety or acute stress, long-term use increases the risk of tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal symptoms, which is why it’s under Schedule IV on the Controlled Substances List.

How Long Does Valium Take to Kick In?

Valium takes effect relatively quickly — typically within 30 minutes to an hour after taking it. The drug can then stay in the body for up to several hours before another dose is needed. For the most part, Valium may be taken every six to eight hours. It’s important to understand Valium’s half-life to avoid a dangerous build-up of the drug in the body, which can open the door to dependence.

How Long Does Valium Stay In Your System?

This has to do with the half-life of the drug. A drug’s half-life is the amount of time it takes your body to reduce by half the amount of the drug in your system. Because it usually takes five half-lives for a drug to be totally eliminated, and diazepam’s half-life is 48 hours, this means it generally takes about ten days for the drug to leave the body completely. 

Factors that influence Valium’s half-life include:

• Age (older adults may metabolize it more slowly)
• Liver function
• Body fat composition (Valium is lipophilic and stores in fat tissue)
• Frequency and duration of use
• Other medications or substances used concurrently

Understanding the half-life of Valium is key when considering dosing, withdrawal, and drug testing, as it remains in the body much longer than many people expect.

How Long Can Drug Tests Detect Valium?

Valium can be detected in the body for a surprisingly long time due to its extended half-life and the presence of long-lasting metabolites. The exact detection window depends on the type of drug test used, as well as individual factors mentioned above.

Here’s a general breakdown of how long Valium may be detected:

• Urine Test: Valium can typically be detected in a urine test up to one to six weeks after the last dose. This is the most common form of drug testing and offers the longest detection window for diazepam and its metabolites.
• Blood Test: Valium is usually detectable in blood for up to one to two days, though heavy or chronic use may extend this period.
• Saliva Test: Saliva tests can detect Valium for approximately one to ten days, depending on usage patterns.
• Hair Follicle Test: Hair tests can reveal Valium use for up to 90 days or longer, though this method is less commonly used and more expensive.

Keep in mind that chronic or high-dose users may test positive for longer than those who took a single, low dose. Additionally, many standard drug panels do not test for benzodiazepines specifically unless they are customized to do so.

If you’re undergoing a drug screening and take Valium legally with a prescription, it’s important to disclose this to the testing provider ahead of time.

How Long Does It Take for Valium to Wear Off?

Valium is known for its long-lasting effects, which can vary significantly depending on the dose, individual metabolism, and duration of use. While the immediate calming and sedative effects of Valium typically peak within 1 to 2 hours after ingestion, the drug’s overall effects can last much longer.

On average, the noticeable effects of a single dose of Valium may last for 4 to 6 hours, but in some individuals—especially those who are older, have slower metabolisms, or are taking larger doses—the sedative impact can persist for up to 12 hours or more.

Remember that the duration of Valium’s perceptible effects is different from how long it remains in your system, which is governed by the half-life of diazepam.

Risks of Long-Term Use and Addiction to Valium

Valium can be a helpful treatment for anxiety and other issues, but abusing it would be replacing one problem for another. With regular use, the body becomes accustomed to Valium, leading to tolerance—a state where higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect. This often results in physical dependence, meaning the body relies on the drug to function normally.

There are also various Valium withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Insomnia
• Tremors
• Sweating
• Nausea
• In severe cases: seizures or psychosis

These symptoms can begin within a few days of stopping and may last for weeks or even months, a condition known as protracted withdrawal.

Long-term diazepam use can also lead to cognitive impairment, including memory, concentration, and decision-making deficits. It may also lead to emotional blunting, depression, and a decreased ability to feel pleasure or motivation (a condition known as anhedonia).