How Long Does Valium Withdrawal Last?

Written By

Dominic Nicosia

November 3, 2021

Valium withdrawal lasts for different periods, depending upon how long and how much for the drug you’ve been using. Valium (diazepam) is a highly addictive benzodiazepine (benzo) that can, and often does, lead to overdose if taken in excess or improperly.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that Valium and other benzos were involved in nearly 7,000 overdose deaths in 23 states from January 2019 to June 2020. This accounts for over 17 percent of all drug overdose deaths for that period. The agency also indicates that Illicit benzo deaths increased 520 percent from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020 and that prescription benzo deaths increased 22 percent from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020.

Many who are prescribed Valium for anxiety disorder don’t know they’re having dependency until it’s too late. Learn more about Valium, including how long it may last, what to expect, and how you can overcome it.

Valium Withdrawal Symptoms

Just as the duration of Valium withdrawal will be different, depending on scope of use and physiology, so will the symptoms. That being said, some of the more common symptoms of Valium withdrawal include:

• Cognitive Decline
• Memory Impairment
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Difficulty Managing Stress
• Tired Feeling
• Fatigue
• Flu-Like Symptoms
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Persistent Headache

It’s important to realize that Valium is not meant for chronic or extended long-term use. These symptoms often occur as a result of patients taking too much of the drug or taking it for too long. If you or someone you care about is struggling with these symptoms, talk to your prescribing physician about tapering off. You may be experiencing deeper levels of dependency than you realize.

What Is the Average Valium Withdrawal Timeline?

Once more, the amount of time that Valium withdrawal lasts is different for each individual user; however, it’s not uncommon for withdrawal to last for three weeks to a month. The stages of the process generally play out as follows:

• Days 1-7 – Valium is a long-acting medication, the effects of which generally last around four to six hours. It can take up to a week for side effects to manifest. During the first week of withdrawal, common symptoms may include fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, and fever.
• Week 2 – The second week of withdrawal is generally when your symptoms are at their worst. You may also experience more symptoms, like tremors and shaking, anxiety and irritability, confusion and disorientation, sweating, agitation, hallucinations, and seizures.

Symptoms should gradually start to lessen in scope and severity during the third and fourth weeks of withdrawal. After a month, they should all but disappear. Although you may not feel effects after a month, Valium can stay in your system for longer than that:

• Up to Six Weeks in the Urine
• Up to 48 Hours in the Blood
• Up to 10 Days in the Saliva
• Up to Three Months in Hair Follicles

If symptoms last longer than a month, seek medical help immediately.

Overcoming Serious Valium Withdrawal

Like other types of prescription and illicit medications, there are different levels of Valium withdrawal. Those who are experiencing milder symptoms may be able to overcome them on their own, under the guidance of the physician. Severe Valium withdrawal, however, will require medically supervised detoxification from doctors and nurses who are specially trained to treat withdrawal symptoms.

Recovery Unplugged offers expert, compassionate, and supportive medical detox at our facilities in Lake Worth, FL; Austin, TX; and Nashville, TN. We are in-network with most major insurance providers and offer a full range of treatment services. Don’t struggle with Valium withdrawal on your own any longer. Contact Recovery Unplugged today.

Dominic Nicosia

The Senior Content Writer here at Recovery Unplugged, Dominic Nicosia oversees the maintenance of our online blog while also handling and overseeing all written communications within Marketing. He also writes articles, thought leadership pieces, and basically everything written regarding web content. Dominic has over seven years of writing experience in the addiction care field and a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing from the University of Arts in Philadelphia. Dominic has been writing and playing music for years and is the proud owner of a Jack Russell/Pitbull mix named Jack. His favorite books are The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, and Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.