Valium is the brand name of the drug diazepam. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, diazepam is part of the larger benzodiazepine (benzo) family.
Medically, Valium is prescribed to treat those suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks, certain types of muscle spasms and seizures, and as part of medical detox for alcohol withdrawal. As a CNS though, Valium also tends to be abused and taken in ways other than directed.
If you or a loved one is suffering from Valium addiction or dependence in Anaheim, CA, or the surrounding Southern California area, Valium detox at Restorations Health Care is the first step in the addiction treatment process.
What is Valium Detox?
While many people assume that the first step in addiction treatment is to enter into a treatment program, that is not the case. The first step is to actually go through detoxification.
Valium detox is done in order to naturally rid the body of all the valium that is in it, along with any other potentially harmful substances. Whether taken recreationally or medically, someone can build up a dependency to Valium in a short period of time (as little as 3-6 weeks).
Once the body and brain have become dependent on Valium, it will experience withdrawal symptoms when the Valium leaves the system.
Valium withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and even dangerous when not properly monitored and attempting to self-detox or quit “cold turkey” can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
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That’s why the detox process should always be done under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals. Medical detox should be done at a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or a treatment center that also offers detox programs such as Restorations Health Care in Anaheim.
Symptoms of Valium Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms are the result of the brain craving something and then no longer being able to get it. In the case of Valium addiction, the cravings are the result of the mental and physical dependence the body and brain experience as a result of the person’s valium addiction.
Some of the mental and physical symptoms and side effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal include:
- Muscle pain
- Sweating
- Cramps
- Headaches
- Numbness
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Cognitive issues
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Heart palpitations
- Hallucinations
- Elevated heart rate
- Seizures
If you or a loved one is suffering from Valium dependence or addiction in and around Anaheim, or the greater Southern California area, contact us today to learn about our medical detox services.
Valium Detox Timeline
While the average stay in a medical detox program is 5-7 days, sometimes a longer stay is required. Your stay in detox will depend on a variety of factors such as:
- The severity of your substance use disorder
- Your overall physical and mental health
- The amount of Valium you were taking
- The extent of your Valium use
- If you were mixing Valium with any other substances
Below is a basic Valium withdrawal timeline:
Day 1 (Admission)
Unlike many other substances of abuse, including other types of benzos, Valium withdrawal symptoms may be delayed. Symptoms can begin as soon as 12 hours after your last dose or can take several days to arrive, making it important to enter into a detox program right away once you have made the decision to stop taking Valium.
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Upon coming to Restorations Health Care to begin your prescription drug detox program, you will sit down with one of our treatment professionals for an evaluation. Based on the results of the evaluation, a detox treatment plan and timeline will be created for you based on your needs.
If you are not experiencing a delayed reaction, you will experience mostly mild, psychological symptoms for the first day or two centered around the cravings you are experiencing and the inability to satisfy those cravings.
Days 2-4
As your time in detox progress, you will begin to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms. It is during this time that medical supervision and care are most crucial.
During this “peak” period, over-the-counter and prescription medications may be administered to help alleviate and treat some of the more unpleasant symptoms as well as address cravings.
Days 5-7 (Discharge)
Once your symptoms have peaked, they will begin to subside before going away completely. It’s important to remember that with Valium, it may take several weeks before you no longer experience any withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can linger for even longer which is known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
After it has been deemed that you have successfully completed detox, you will be discharged. Once you have been discharged the next step will be to enter into a Valium addiction treatment program.
Your treatment professional will present you with treatment options such as inpatient and outpatient treatment, along with their recommendation.
Schedule an appointment today.
At Restorations Health Care in Anaheim, California, we want to make the entire treatment process as easy and as comfortable for you as possible. That’s why we offer detox in addition to a variety of treatment options, allowing you to stay at one treatment facility from start to finish.
Contact us today if you or a loved one is in need of Valium detox and addiction treatment in Anaheim or throughout California.
Medications for Valium Detox
While there are no medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of benzodiazepine addiction, there are some over-the-counter and prescription medications that may be administered during Valium detox in order to make detoxing more comfortable as well as address some of the withdrawal symptoms.
These medications include:
- Clonidine
- Anticonvulsants
- Beta-blockers
- Pregabalin
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants
Detox from Valium at Our Anaheim Detox
Attempting to self-detox or quit taking Valium cold turkey can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
At Restorations Healthcare in Anaheim, CA we provide a safe environment for you to undergo detox surrounded by trained medical and treatment professionals, all of whom are there to help make the detox process as comfortable as possible.
If you or someone you know is in need of treatment for Valium abuse or addiction in Anaheim or the greater Southern California area, you can call us at 877-578-0708, fill out a contact form on our website, or speak to one of our live chat representatives.
Sources
Valium detox symptoms, timeline, medications and treatment. MentalHelp.net. (2022, April 20). Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/substance-abuse/valium/detox/
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, March 1). Diazepam (oral route) description and brand names. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/diazepam-oral-route/description/drg-20072333
4 withdrawal management – NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Diazepam: Medlineplus drug information. MedlinePlus. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682047.htmlWebMD. (n.d.). Valium oral: Uses, side effects, interactions, pictures, warnings & dosing. WebMD. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-11116/valium-oral/details