What is Valium?

What is Valium?

Valium, otherwise known as diazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, work as an anticonvulsant, and to function as a muscle relaxant.  Like Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan and other common anxiety relief prescriptions, Valium is a drug that is highly addictive.  Within weeks, the human body develops tolerance to the drug, requiring higher and higher doses of Valium to fully block your anxiety receptors. Physical dependence also involves withdrawl, which can lead to the uncomfortable physical symptoms when the medication is decreased or stopped.

What is a Valium Detox?

A Valium detox allows your body to comfortably get off Valium without withdrawl symptoms.  Withdrawl symptoms occur when you stop taking Valium or when you miss your dose or take a smaller dose than you need. Withdrawl symptoms are minimal at first and include anxiety, irritability, sweating, headache, tremor, shakiness, dizziness, muscle aching, fatigue, insomnia, palpitations, and concentration and memory difficulties.   Nevertheless, if you don’t take another Valium dose soon, these symptoms will get worse and can lead to extremely dangerous withdrawl symptoms including delirium, seizure, and even death.

At Palm Beach Outpatient Detox, we don’t think you should have to fear getting off Valium because of withdrawal symptoms. There’s a way that you can detox off of Valium in the comfortable setting of your own home with a long acting benzodiazepine initiation followed by a gradual taper of the medication and finally, no medication.

Why Do I Need a Valium Detox?

Long term use of Valium can have a number of social and physical consequences.  As tolerance to Valium develops the body requires more and more Valium or withdrawl symptoms will occur.  As more Valium is needed daily, a person often spends a great deal of time and/or money obtaining more medication.  The need for Valium can turn into an obsession.  Often important social and recreational activities are given up or reduced to obtain and use Valium.  Valium can also take a physical toll on the body and has a number of side effects including the following:  fatigue, sedation, memory problems, nausea, confusion, delirium, birth defects, and even death.  A Valium Detox can allow a person to take control of their life again and to once again obtain a “clear-headed” perspective on life.

What Can I Expect From a Valium Detox?

Without medical supervision, a Valium detox can be an extremely difficult, uncomfortable, dangerous, and even painful experience. You can expect stomach cramps, headache, extreme anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, agitation, irritability, sweating, hot and cold flashes, dizziness, tremor, and muscle pain. These symptoms begin within hours of your last dose, peak after a few days and last for as long as a few weeks.
With a prescription to a long acting benzodiazepine you can detox off of Valium without experiencing these symptoms. Long acting benzodiazepines stay a long time in the blood system, thus diminishing withdrawl signs and symptoms on discontinuation.  This medication will allow you to break your physical dependence to Valium as your doctor slowly lowers your dose over two to six weeks and eventually stops it.  Dr. Scanlan will also use other non-addictive medication along with the long acting benzodiazepine to help with the taper and to keep you safe, calm, and able to sleep at night while getting detoxed.
