Valium withdrawal symptoms

Valium Addiction, Treatment and Withdrawal
Valium is a benzodiazepine class of drug, with sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, amnestic and muscle relaxant properties. Valium was first introduced in 1963 and is currently avaialble as diazepam. The drug was a modification of the first benzodiazepine, librium, and today is used in the treatment of anxiety. Valium has totally replaced the barbiturates as the drug of choice for decreasing anxiety. Valium has a relatively lower abuse potential and relatively fewer adverse reactions.

Valium is considered a minor tranquilizer. For the past 40 years, valium has been most often used for the short-term relief of moderate-severe, disabling anxiety or insomnia. Long-term use can be associated with the development of tolerance, physiological and psychological dependency. Valium is believed to interact with the GABA receptor; GABAA; the activation of which decreases neuronal activity.

Dosing

Valium can be taken orally, administered intravenously or even rectally. Valium is usually taken before bedtime and has few residual effects. However, rebound insomnia may occur and may cause anxiety while awake. In the elderly and in those patients with liver and kidney problems, accumulation of valium can occur. It has a long half-life in the body lasting about 36-48 hours. The recommended starting dose is 5 mg per day and one can go up to 10-15 mg per day. Valium is a Schedule IV drug in the USA under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. It is only available with a prescription from a physician.

Therapeutic Uses

Valium is indicated in the management of short term anxiety disorders. Anxiety associated with the stresses of daily life is not an indication for valium consumption. In hospitals, valium is frequently used to treat the agitation and delirium tremens that may occur after acute alcohol withdrawal. It is also useful in the relief of skeletal muscle spasms, spasticity (such as in cerebral palsy) and for use in status epilepticus. The drug should be periodically assessed by the physician to determine if it is clinically useful to the patient.

Side Effects

The side effects of valium are obvious. Drowsiness, lethargy, gait problems mental confusion, vertigo and impaired judgement are common side effects. Since valium impairs mental judgement, it is recommended that individuals not drive vehicles or operate any machinery while taking the drug. The side effects of valium are augmented by consumption of alcohol or other central nervous depressants. In fact, consuming valium with alcohol can result in a potentially fatal overdose.

When valium is used as an adjunct in the treatment of seizures, an increase in dosage of the primary anti seizure drug may be required. The concomitant administration of valium and anti-convulsants may precipitate an increase in certain seizure activity, specifically tonic-clonic seizures.

In individuals who take valium for prolonged periods, frequent liver function tests should be done and the dose of valium adjusted if there is liver impairment. The possibility of liver damage should always be considered, especially in individuals using valium and other over the counter analgesics and/or alcohol.

Some individuals may have a paradoxical reaction to valium and have worseing of their anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Initial monitoring of all patients during the start of therapy is recommended.

Withdrawal of Valium

Valium should never be stopped abruptly after long term use. Withdrawal symptoms, similar in signs and symptoms to those observed with barbiturates and alcohol (eg, insomnia, diaphoresis, tachycardia, hypertension, convulsions, psychosis, tremor, cramps, vomiting and hyperanxiety) do occur when valium is abruptly discontinued. Onset of the withdrawal syndrome after prolonged heavy use of valium might be delayed, although withdrawal from short duration use often presents early.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms are identical to the symptoms for which the medication was originally prescribed. The ability to determine the difference between relapse and rebound is very important during the withdrawal phase.

The more severe withdrawal symptoms have usually been linked to those patients who have been taking high doses of valium for a prolonged period of time. Generally milder withdrawal symptoms (eg dysphoria and insomnia) have been reported following abrupt withdrawal of valium taken continuously for several months. Consequently, after long term therapy, abrupt discontinuation should generally be avoided and a gradual dose tapering regimen followed.

Addiction prone individuals should be under careful surveillance when receiving valium because of their predisposition to habituation and dependence. Withdrawal can be be avoided or minimized by use of a long half-life benzodiazepine and very gradually tapering off the drug over a period of many weeks or even months.

Dependence and Tolerance

Tolerance to valium can develop rapidly with daily or frequent use. Generally, tolerance to the hypnotic and sedative effects occurs within days, however, tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of valium, rarely, if ever, occurs.

Long-term valium usage generally leads to some form of dependence. Studies show that up to 50 percent of patients prescribed valium for 6 months or more, become physically dependent to the drug.

Abuse Potential

Although valium is extremely effective in the management of anxiety disorders, it has the potential for abuse and may cause physical dependence or addiction. Intentional abusers of valium usually have other substance abuse problems. Valium is usually a secondary drug of abuse, used mainly to potentiate the high received from another drug or to diminish the adverse effects of other drugs. However, even legitimate, therapeutic usage of valium carries with it an innate risk of addiction and physical/psychological dependence.

Intoxication

Overdosage of valium, particularly when combined with alcohol, may lead to coma, but does not cause severe electrolyte/biochemical changes and therefore carries a relatively good prognosis if the amount ingested was not sufficient to cause death.

Valium overdose presents with lethargy, somnolence, confusion, coma and decreased reflexes. Blood pressure and respiration can decrease dramatically. In acute overdose, general supportive measures should be undertaken. The stomach should be lavaged and IV fluids administered. Airway control should be obtained if there is evidence of respiratory difficulty.

The antidote for valium overdose is flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine antagonist, which is occasionally used empirically in all patients presenting with unexplained coma in emergency rooms. All essential supportive measures should be available prior to administration of any benzodiazepine antagonist in order to protect the patient from both the withdrawal effects and possible complications arising from simultaneous utilization of chemically unrelated drugs.

Withdrawal From Valium

Withdrawing from Valium after long term use is not easy to do and dosage reductions must be done slowly to avoid serious physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. On this page you can read a suggested withdrawal regime to wean yourself off of Valium (Valium).

Valium is a benzodiazepine which has a very long elimination half life (20 – 100 hours with an active metabolite 36 – 200 hours). Another good thing about using Valium is that it is available in low potency doses of 2 mg tablets which can be quartered allowing for very small dose reductions. You can also get liquid form Valium, which a small number of people prefer to take to wean off the last few mg’s. These factors makes Valium the ideal benzodiazepine to use to taper off other benzodiazepines. If the benzodiazepine that you have a dependence on is Valium, then you are already off to an advantage. If you are dependent on a benzodiazepine other than Valium we recommend the reading the excellent summary of the reasons for tapering using Valium (valium) by Dr JG McConnell entitled The Clinicopharmacotherapeutics of Benzodiazepine and Z drug dose Tapering Using Valium. You can use this page to compare equivalent doses of Valium to other benzodiazepines if you are dependent on another benzodiazepine and you are considering crossing over to Valium. This is also another useful page containing Professor Heather Ashton’s Benzodiazepine Equivalents Table.

It is easier to become addicted to benzodiazepines as tolerance rapidly develops to these drugs, than it is to free oneself from an addiction to Valium or other benzodiazepines. The good news is that there are withdrawal methods which can be utilated to make the withdrawal process easier and more managable. See Valium withdrawal table below.

Below is a withdrawal schedule that we suggest as a general guide. It is important to note that this withdrawal schedule is seen as a schedule which is a general guide and not a withdrawal schedule which is carved in stone. We advocate that the individual takes responsibility for their own rate of withdrawal according to their own body’s response to dose reductions. Individuals should remember that withdrawal effects from Valium usually appear within 5 days to 14 days, but can be delayed for up to 3 weeks. Some individuals may want or feel it necessary to go even slower than the rates shown below and some may want or feel they can go quicker. It is the individuals choice. We do believe however and agree with the statement in the B.N.F (British National Formulary) that it is better to reduce benzodiazepines too slowly than it is to reduce them too quickly!
Withdrawing from Valium
Withdrawing from 60 mg of Valium to 40 mg can be carried out using 5 mg or 10 mg sized tablets
Follow Table From Your Starting or Current dose
Morning     Afternoon     Evening     Total Daily Dose
20 mg     20 mg     20 mg     60 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
17.5 mg     17.5 mg     20 mg     55 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
17.5 mg     15 mg     17.5 mg     50 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
15 mg     15 mg     15 mg     45 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
12.5 mg     12.5 mg     15 mg     40 mg

Withdrawing from 40 mg of Valium to 20 mg can be carried out using 5 mg sized tablets

Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
12.5 mg     11.25 mg     12.5 mg     36.25 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
11.25 mg     10 mg     11.25 mg     32.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
10 mg     8.75 mg     10 mg     28.75 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
8.75 mg     7.5 mg     8.75 mg     25 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
7.5 mg     7.5 mg     7.5 mg     22.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
10 mg           10 mg     20 mg
Withdrawing from 20 mg of Valium should be carried out using 2 mg sized tablets
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
9 mg           9 mg     18 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
8 mg

8 mg
16 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
7 mg           7.5 mg     14.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
6.5 mg           6.5 mg     13 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
5.5 mg           6 mg     11.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
5 mg           5 mg     10 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
4.5 mg           4.5 mg     9 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
4 mg           4 mg     8 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
3.5 mg           3.5 mg     7 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
3 mg           3 mg     6 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
See also NOTE below for additional information on withdrawing from 5 mg of Valium
2.5 mg           2.5 mg     5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
2 mg           2.5 mg     4.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
2 mg           2 mg     4 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
1.5 mg           2 mg     3.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
1.5 mg           1.5 mg     3 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
1 mg           1.5 mg     2.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
1 mg           1 mg     2 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
0.5 mg           1 mg     1.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
0.5 mg           0.5 mg     1 mg
Hold reduction for 3 – 4 weeks
0.5 mg     0.5 mg
Drop Last 0.5 mg dose of Valium and Never Take Another Benzodiazepine Again
N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A
Gradual Valium Detox Complete

Valium withdrawal symptoms and side effects

Valium is a benzodiazepine derivative drug that is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, and has been one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the world for the past 40 years. Valium possesses anticonvulsant, sedative, skeletal muscle relaxant and amnesic (memory disturbance) properties. Valium also alters the sleep architecture by reducing the amounts of restorative Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and increasing the non-restorative sleep patterns. This can result in daytime drowsiness and poor cognitive function. Valium also depresses the tone of respiratory muscles, leading to sleep apnea.

symptoms MAY include but not limited to:

Valium Side Effects May Include:
drowsiness, fatigue, light-headedness, loss of muscle coordination, Anxiety, blurred vision, changes in salivation, changes in sex drive, confusion, constipation, depression, difficulty urinating, dizziness, double vision, hallucinations, headache, inability to hold urine, low blood pressure, nausea, overstimulation, rage, seizures (mild changes in brain wave patterns), skin rash, sleep disturbances, slow heartbeat, slurred speech and other speech problems, stimulation, tremors, vertigo, yellowing of eyes and skin

Valium Abrupt Discontinuation Symptoms May Include:
abdominal and muscle cramps, convulsions, sweating, tremors, vomiting

Valium Withdrawal Symptoms May Include:
abdominal pains, aching, agoraphobia, anxiety, blurred vision, body vibrations, changes in perception, diarrhea, distended abdomen, feeling of unreality, flu-like symptoms, flatulence, food cravings, hair loss, heart palpitations, heavy limbs, increased allergies, increased sense of smell, insomnia, lethargy, loss of balance, metallic taste, muscle spasms, nightmares, panic attacks, paranoia, persistent & unpleasant memories, severe headaches, shaking, short term memory loss, sore mouth and tongue, sound & light sensitivity, speech difficulties, sweating, suicidal thoughts, tinnitus, unusually sensitive, fear

Like all benzodiazepines, Valium can cause physical dependence. In a clinical study that appeared in the Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 100% of patients on low dose Valium therapy became addicted to their medication. Therefore, anyone taking Valium should discontinue through slow and gradual dose reduction.

An Introduction to Valium Withdrawal
Valium® (diazepam) is a prescription medication approved to treat seizures, anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and muscle spasms. Because Valium can cause psychological and physical dependence, you should not stop taking the drug suddenly.

Symptoms of Withdrawal From Valium
Valium withdrawal symptoms can include but are not limited to:

* Dizziness
* Personality changes
* Sensitivity to sound or light
* Numbness or tingling
* Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
* A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
* Heart palpitations
* Hallucinations
* Memory loss
* Panic attacks
* Seizures
* Fever
* Headaches
* Anxiety
* Tension
* Depression
* Insomnia
* Restlessness or irritability
* Confusion
* Sweating.

Limiting Withdrawal
To avoid severe withdrawal symptoms, your healthcare provider may decide to wean you off Valium slowly — though this may not be necessary in all situations.
Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider before stopping this medication. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you notice any bothersome symptoms after stopping Valium. Do not be afraid to ask your healthcare provider for help with Valium withdrawal, even if you have been abusing the drug (see Valium Addiction) or taking it without a prescription. Withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous.