Valium Addiction and Abuse

Valium is a long-acting benzodiazepine, generally used in the treatment of anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms. It is also used to ease distressing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Valium is a prescription medication that is consumed orally in the form of a pill. This medication is designed for long term consumption, although it possesses a high potential to cause an addiction.

According to a report by ABC News, benzodiazepines consist of different onset rates. For example, Valium lasts much longer in the body than shorter-acting benzos like Halcion. Due to this long-acting nature, patients require fewer doses of Valium in a day compared to shorter-acting benzos.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) claims that more than 18 percent of the adult population in the US suffer from anxiety disorders. As a result, there are more than 150 different variations of diazepams currently available on the market today.

Valium operates by reducing hyperactive brain function to ease off extreme anxiety and stress. When consumed at high doses, this medication can induce intense calmness and euphoria. The behavioral effects of Valium intoxication are also quite similar to that of alcohol intoxication.

Valium is most commonly used by individuals who need help coping with the stressors of daily life. Valium consumed in higher doses, for longer periods than prescribed or for reasons other than prescribed, is considered abuse. Although there are several reasons for Valium abuse, many individuals who misuse the drug do not take it to get high. While some patients abuse it to alleviate tension and anxiety, others abuse it to help them induce sleep.

Some of the signs of Valium abuse are:

• Dilated pupils
• Changes in appetite
• Impaired co-ordination
• Uncharacteristic sadness or irritability
• Shaking (from withdrawal)
• Slurred speech

Valium addiction often begins in a seemingly innocuous manner when consumed as a coping mechanism during stressful events or when unable to sleep naturally. Valium addiction can develop rapidly if the medication is used in a way that is not recommended by a doctor. Over time, patients may develop a dependence on the drug. This is caused when an individual’s brain can no longer function normally without the effects of the drug. Most patients with a Valium dependence or addiction are typically unaware of their condition. Consuming Valium for more than 4-6 weeks, even under a doctor’s prescription, raises the risk of forming a potential addiction.

A few signs of Valium addiction are:

• Having intense cravings for the drugs
• Staying isolated from family and friends
• Continuing the drug use despite the harmful consequences
• Losing interest in pastimes or activities that were once of interest
• Neglecting responsibilities and obligations
• Requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effect

“I was taking so many pills that I wasn’t even taking them to get high anymore. I was taking them to feel normal. Not that I didn’t get high. I just had to take a ridiculous amount. I want to say in a day I could consume anywhere from 40 to 60 Valium.”

-Rapper Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Rolling Stone, 2011.

Valium was formally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1963. Strengthened by an aggressive advertising campaign that targeted middle-class and middle-aged patients, Valium soon became one of the most highly prescribed drugs of the 20th century that led to its mass abuse and addiction.

Some of the side effects of Valium abuse are:

• Weakness
• Seizures
• Skin rash
• Blurred vision
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Slowed breathing
• Confusion
• Drowsiness

Many patients tend to underestimate the addictive qualities of Valium as they are medications that are prescribed by their doctor. Valium can lead to coma and convulsions in heavy users. Certain evidence shows that long-term Valium use results in brain damage that affects memory and cognition. Patients who consume high doses of the drug and those who consume Valium with a combination of other drugs can highly increase their chances of an overdose.

Some signs of a Valium overdose are:

• Double vision
• Trouble breathing
• Weakness
• Drowsiness
• Unco-ordinated movement
• Bluish lips

Individuals who use Valium over a long period may develop co-occurring mental health disorders that were not present before. As a patient forms a dependence on the drug, abrupt cessation of Valium consumption can cause an imbalance in the brain that could result in psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. David Knott, a physician at the University of Tennessee, recorded damage to the cerebral cortex in Valium users as early as 1976. The cerebral cortex plays a massive role in the memory, thought process, and attention of a person.

Valium is often abused, along with other drugs, to enhance the effects of the drugs. Since Valium depresses the central nervous system, it is particularly dangerous to combine this drug with other CNS depressants such as alcohol or opiates. The sedative effects of both CNS depressants amplify when taken together, resulting in breathing difficulties or decreased heart rates to the point of complete failure.

“Combinations of benzodiazepines with opioid pain relievers or alcohol were associated with a 24 to 55 percent increase in the predicted risk of a more serious outcome compared with benzodiazepines alone.”

-The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), 2014.

• 14.7 Million: In 2011, doctors wrote 14.7 million prescriptions for Valium.
• 3x Admissions: Hospital admissions for benzo treatment (including Valium) increased by three folds between 1998 and 2008.
• 1.2 Million: About 1.2 million people abused benzos like Valium for the first time in 2013.

Patients who consume Valium for over four months (or even fewer in some cases) may encounter withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing the drug use. As Valium builds up with continued use, the body reduces the production of natural anxiety-relieving chemicals. Hence forming a physical dependence on the drug. During this stage, patients require Valium to function on a day to day basis and to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. Patients often increase their Valium doses to prevent withdrawal symptoms as their drug tolerance increases.

As withdrawal from Valium is considered dangerous, patients are highly advised to seek medical and professional help when planning to stop drug consumption. Abrupt cessation of Valium use can lead to seizures, coma, and other fatal consequences. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines such as Valium is quite distressing due to its severity and duration. The initial acute withdrawal phase generally lasts up to 90 days, while the post-acute withdrawal phase can persist anywhere between 18 – 24 months.

The severity of Valium withdrawal symptoms depends on factors such as how long the drug was used, how much of the drug was taken on a daily basis, and if the drug was stopped cold-turkey or tapered off.

As per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM – 5), taking as little as 15 mg of Valium every day for several months can cause withdrawal symptoms. Individuals who take more than 100 mg of Valium a day are most likely to suffer extreme withdrawal symptoms and complications. Although Valium withdrawal can be severe and life-threatening, its symptoms are often less intense compared to other potent benzos like Xanax.

Some of the common symptoms of Valium withdrawal are:

• Sweating
• Muscle pain
• Vomiting
• Restlessness and insomnia
• Numbness
• Panic attacks
• Memory issues
• Severe anxiety
• Confusion
• Muscle twitching
• Abdominal cramps
• Headache
• Weakness
• Reduced appetite
• Sensory hypersensitivity
• Heart palpitations
• Tremors

The following complications can also occur depending on the severity of Valium use:

• Depersonalization
• Psychosis
• Convulsions
• Coma
• Delirium
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Numbness/tingling in the arms or legs
• Death

Valium withdrawal lasts longer compared to other benzodiazepines. Due to its long-acting effects, Valium withdrawal symptoms generally take longer to set in. Patients with severe addiction may experience initial symptoms of withdrawal a week after the last dose.

A 1980s study examined the withdrawal duration in patients who had been using 60mg to 120 mg of Valium for 3 to 14 years. The results showed that the withdrawal symptoms of the participants lasted for more than a month.

“The withdrawal period lasted about six weeks. The intensity of the symptoms and signs was high initially, fell during the first two weeks, then rose again in the third week before finally declining.”

–Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ),

“Diazepam withdrawal syndrome: its prolonged and changing nature,” 1982.

An increasing number of individuals are pursuing treatment for Valium addiction. In 2008, more than 60,000 people received treatment for an addiction to benzodiazepines, such as Valium. Valium addiction treatment is usually a combined approach of tapering down doses and partaking in therapy.

Valium detox is the process of removing Valium from the patient’s body while minimizing withdrawal symptoms. Valium detox can be dangerous without appropriate medical supervision. Valium detoxification involves the gradual reduction of doses over a certain period. This reduces withdrawal symptoms and prevents complications such as seizures to a great extent.

“Most guidelines and researchers … advocate a fixed discontinuation schedule varying from 4 to 8 weeks in duration.”

– Lowinson and Ruiz’s Substance Abuse Textbook, Fifth Edition

The severity of Valium addiction is the main factor that determines the duration of the detox process. Patients who have severe addictions tend to take longer as abruptly reducing their Valium doses can result in harmful withdrawal symptoms.

After the completion of detoxification, patients must receive further treatment at an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation center. Patients who are diagnosed with a severe addiction are generally recommended to attend an inpatient treatment program.