Person experiencing Valium side effects

Valium Side Effects To Look Out For

Valium, a common benzodiazepine (benzo), is often prescribed for anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms. While many use it safely, it does carry a risk of dependence or addiction—among other harmful side effects of Valium misuse. Some may even misuse it by getting it from friends, family, or off the street. If you or someone you care about is struggling with Valium misuse, know that help is available—treatment can make all the difference. 

Tranquilizer addictions can be dangerous because they slow the body’s systems, including respiration. Uncertainty about how long Valium stays in the system can lead to an overdose if someone takes more of the benzo too soon after a prior dose. It is important to know the facts and be able to assess if your Valium use is within safe guidelines or if you have tipped into misuse and addiction. Do you have questions? The staff at The Right Step Houston can answer them and help you determine whether you need the professional support of a benzo addiction treatment program.

How Long Does Valium Stay in Your System?

A drug lingers in the system based on its elimination half-life, which is the amount of time it takes for your body to eliminate half of it. Valium’s half-life is longer than some drugs. But how Valium is used affects how long it takes to clear.

Short-term use for acute symptoms of anxiety, for example, means that there is no ongoing therapeutic use. For example, if you take Valium once or twice a month during temporary high-stress periods, your body will effectively eliminate the drug after each use. The therapeutic effects are short-lived and the risk of dependence is very low.

For those who use Valium for the long term to manage an anxiety disorder, for example, it will accumulate in the body. For people who use Valium recreationally and become dependent, daily, ongoing use will have the same effect—it will accumulate and result in persistent sedation. This kind of ongoing use means that the body never fully eliminates the drug. However, if and when the person decides to detox from Valium it will take about 10 to 13 days for all traces of the drug to leave the system.

Side Effects of Valium Use

Valium has short-term side effects as well as serious side effects that may indicate dependence or addiction. Valium commonly causes immediate effects such as sleepiness, confusion, loss of coordination, and tremors. Even more concerning are the following symptoms of Valium abuse that require medical intervention:

  • Auditory or visual hallucinations
  • Delusional thinking
  • Frequent falls
  • Mood swings, including restlessness, agitation, or aggression
  • Jaundice (yellowed whites of the eyes, also visible on light skin tones)
  • Memory loss
  • Cognitive impairment 

The number of people taking Valium under a doctor’s supervision who develop an addiction to Valium is relatively small. However, many people access Valium and other benzos through different channels. This population faces an elevated risk of addiction. If you’ve started using Valium in ways other than prescribed by your doctor or are obtaining it illegally—whether through unauthorized sales or from someone other than a pharmacist—you may be in danger. Seeking support from a rehab center, such as The Right Step Houston, can help you regain control and protect your well-being.

Connect with The Right Step Houston and Start Benzo Addiction Treatment Today

Valium side effects are the unintended effects of the drug. If you take Valium for anxiety but find you are having memory loss, for example, the side effect can be a warning sign of trouble. The first thing to do is get answers to your questions. Knowledge is power, and once you have a sense of your risks due to Valium use you will know how to proceed.

Let The Right Step Houston help you find the answers you need and support you in the next steps. Reach out through our online form or call 1.844.768.0169 today.

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