Medical Use vs. Abuse
If you are concerned about your Valium use, discuss this with a physician or licensed mental health professional. Never attempt to discontinue Valium use on your own. Medical supervision is required.
If you are using Valium under the supervision of a physician and following their instructions, discuss discontinuing the medication with them. You should not be concerned about becoming addicted or developing a substance use disorder.
If you are abusing Valium, seek help to determine the level of severity of your abuse and what steps should be made to stop use. If you have been using Valium for more than a few weeks, you should never abruptly stop using the drug on your own. You need medical supervision to stop use safely.
If you were using the drug for a medical or psychiatric condition, and you were compliant with your physician’s instructions, you most likely will not need further treatment. If you were abusing the drug, you will need addiction treatment.
Benzodiazepines
Valium (diazepam)Â is a benzodiazepine.
Benzodiazepines were developed as an alternative to the barbiturates, which at one time were prescribed regularly for the treatment of anxiety. Barbiturates were found to be extremely addictive, and benzodiazepines were developed as a safer alternative to barbiturates. However, benzodiazepines like Valium are also potentially addictive medicines.
The major use for benzodiazepines is for the treatment of clinically significant anxiety (a type of anxiety that occurs with psychiatric disorders), seizure control, to induce sleep, as anesthetics, and to address withdrawal symptoms associated alcohol, barbiturates, other benzodiazepines, and some other drugs
Dependence on Valium
The term drug dependence is not used to signify an addiction or addictive behavior. Instead the clinical term used to signify substance abuse or addiction is substance use disorder. If you are diagnosed with an addiction to Valium, you technically have a sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder.
These days, the term dependence is generally reserved for physical dependence, or the development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be a sign of addiction if you misuse or abuse the drug.
If you find that you need more Valium to get the desired effects compared to when you started using the drug, it’s likely you have a tolerance to the drug. If you begin to get irritable, jittery, nauseous, and have other uncomfortable symptoms (withdrawal symptoms) when you cannot take the drug, it’s likely that you have developed physical dependence on Valium.
Dependence vs. Addiction
Physical dependence and addiction are not necessarily the same thing. You can develop physical dependence on Valium if you regularly take the drug for seizure control or anxiety; however, if you are using the drug as prescribed, you would not be considered to have a substance use disorder.
Substance use disorders require misuse of a drug and the development of significant personal distress or impairment in functioning as a result of this use. If you have been misusing the drug and you are experiencing any some specific issues as a result of that use, you may have a substance use disorder (addiction).
Signs of Valium Addiction
In general, signs of Valium addiction include:
- Issues controlling how much, how long, or how often you use the drug.
- Frequently using Valium when it is dangerous to do so.
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop your use of the drug.
- Continuing to use Valium despite it causing you problems at work, with personal relationships, at school, or in other important areas.
- Continuing use of the drug despite your drug use leading to problems with physical, emotional, or cognitive health.
- Giving up important commitments to engage in Valium use.
- Significant cravings to keep using the drug.
- Increasing tolerance to Valium as a result of your misuse of the drug.
- Withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Valium as a result of your misuse of the drug.
Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?
How Can I Stop Using?
If you have been prescribed Valium, are using it under the supervision of your physician, and you wish to stop using the drug, discuss this with your physician. Your doctor will establish a tapering schedule where you are slowly prescribed lower doses of the drug at specific intervals. This will wean you off the drug and reduce any withdrawal symptoms.
If you are misusing the drug, your best bet is to get professional help to stop misusing Valium. This means getting involved in a comprehensive addiction treatment program that can help you through detox and then transition you into therapy.
Do Not Stop Use on Your Own
You should never attempt to stop using Valium on your own, especially if you have been taking it regularly for several weeks or longer. The withdrawal syndrome from benzodiazepines, including Valium, can include seizures, which can result in significant brain damage or be potentially fatal.
The tapered approach is the safest way to withdraw from Valium, but this must be designed and supervised by a physician. You should not attempt this on your own.
The Range of Withdrawal
Even with people who are taking small doses of benzodiazepines, withdrawal symptoms can occur after they have been using the medication for a month if they stop use abruptly.
Research studies suggest that among people using benzodiazepines for six months or longer, about 60 percent experience mild symptoms. About 40 percent experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop using the benzodiazepine.
The severity of the symptoms you might experience  are dependent on several different factors, such as the dose of the drug you have been using, how long you have been using it, the type of benzo you have been using, and if you been taking any other drugs in association with the benzodiazepine.
Long-acting benzodiazepines that stay in your system for longer periods of time may not produce any withdrawal symptoms for one or two days after you stop use. Short-acting benzodiazepines may produce withdrawal symptoms in as little as eight hours. Valium is a long-acting benzodiazepine, so it may take a day or longer for withdrawals symptoms to appear.
Valium Withdrawal Symptoms & Timeline
During Valium withdrawal, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Anxiety or insomnia (rebound effects)
- Tremors, particularly in the hands
- Muscle spasms
- Restlessness
- Sweating
- Accelerated heartbeat
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Irritability and/or restlessness
- Headache
- Delirium (confusion)
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Withdrawal Timeline for Benzodiazepines
There are several phases of withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms from long-acting drugs, like Valium, may take longer to appear than symptoms from short-acting drugs, like Xanax.
- Acute withdrawal symptoms occur once you stop taking your benzodiazepine of choice. These symptoms will continue to escalate in intensity and eventually peak.
- Once the symptoms peak, they will begin to decline after a day or two.
- Some people may experience long-term or protracted withdrawal symptoms that come and go for weeks or longer.
Because of the risk for seizures, withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be potentially fatal.
A Tapering Schedule
When withdrawal begins, you are likely to experience cravings and urges to take benzodiazepines to rid yourself of the discomfort. Ask your doctor or an addiction medicine physician to help you taper down your dose of Valium.
This allows you to wean off the drug without experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms. It also helps to control the potential for seizures.
You should never attempt to taper down your dosage yourself or to substitute benzodiazepines with a drug like alcohol and then try to taper down from there. The exact tapering dosage needs to be determined by a physician.
The tapering process can take several weeks or months, depending on the level of physical dependence you have developed.
In some cases, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms during the tapering process. If you are unable to tolerate the symptoms, your physician can raise the dose back up a bit and taper down more slowly. Other medications can be added to control issues with insomnia, headaches, and nausea.
There is no standard tapering protocol that everyone follows. The process is individualized to fit the needs of each person. Addiction medicine physicians who use these types of withdrawal management protocols operate with a specific outline or blueprint in mind, and then personalize it to fit your needs.
Other Approaches to Assist With Cravings
In addition to the tapering process, there are some other approaches that can help to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, particularly issues with anxiety, depression, and cravings. These include:
- Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Mindfulness meditation.
- The use of exercise programs as a distraction.
These interventions are designed to be complements to a standard tapering program. They are not substitutes for using a tapering schedule under the supervision of a physician.
Treatment for Valium Abuse
If you were abusing Valium and diagnosed with a substance use disorder, you’ll need comprehensive treatment. Simply getting through the withdrawal process will not solve your issues. Instead, you will need to become enrolled in a long-term program that should include:
- The treatment of any co-occurring mental health disorders (like depression or anxiety) that were identified by your treatment team.
- Psychotherapy for substance abuse, which will often involve cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapy can be performed in groups, on an individual basis, or given in a combination of groups and individual sessions.
- Development of a strong social support network that would ideally include the involvement of family and friends.
- Participation peer support groups, like 12-step groups, to assist recovery.
- The use of case management services to help you address other areas of need.
Recovery programs for substance abuse are typically long term because substance use disorders are chronic relapsing conditions. Recovery will be a lifelong endeavor, as you won’t simply be cured of addiction.
This doesn’t mean you have to be in intensive treatment for the rest of your life. Most often, you’ll begin in a higher level of care and then transition to less intensive care as you gain a firm footing in recovery. A good treatment program will help you transition seamlessly between the different levels of care, ensuring you have a good foundation to succeed.
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