If you start taking it again at the same dose, it can result in an accidental overdose. Discuss your options for safely stopping your medication, which may involve a gradual reduction in your dose in order to avoid withdrawal effects, a process known as tapering.
Once you have safely stopped taking Valium, make sure that you stay well hydrated, eat a healthy diet, and get regular physical exercise. Such habits may help to slightly increase how quickly your body metabolizes and excretes the drug and its metabolites. Benzodiazepines such as Valium are usually considered safe when they are taken as prescribed. However, there are a number of factors that can increase the risk of overdose. These factors include taking Valium in combination with other central nervous system depressants or alcohol, taking more than your prescribed dose, or taking the drug more frequently than prescribed.
Being aware of the signs of a Valium overdose is important so that you and your loved ones can get help as quickly as possible. Some signs of a potential Valium overdose include:. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, contact emergency services right away. Valium carries a risk of dependence. If you suddenly stop using Valium, you may experience symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal , which can include anxiety, nausea, seizures, insomnia, tremors, and mental changes including confusion and even psychosis.
With longer-acting drugs like Valium, withdrawal symptoms may not appear for a few days after your last dose. If you believe that you might have a physical dependence or addiction to Valium, talk to your doctor right away.
Your doctor can offer advice and assistance. In some cases, you might want to seek help from a medical detox center, since benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Treatment options for Valium use disorders may take place in inpatient or outpatient treatment centers and involve individual psychotherapy or support groups to aid in your long-term recovery.
Effective treatments may involve tapering your dosage to manage withdrawal symptoms as well as psychotherapeutic approaches including cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Accessed November 27, Yaffe K, Boustani M. Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer's disease. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Treatment improvement protocol series. Appendix B. Detection times of diazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam in oral fluid collected from patients admitted to detoxification, after high and repeated drug intake. Ther Drug Monit.
False-positive urine screening for benzodiazepines: An association with sertraline? Psychiatry Edgmont. Classics in chemical neuroscience: Diazepam valium. ACS Chem Neurosci. Food and Drug Administration.
Gunn J. Understanding the toxicology of diazepam. Practical Pain Management. Your Privacy Rights. Valium is often frequently used to treat severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in a medical detoxification setting. This specific medication has a high potential for abuse and is one of the most frequently abused prescription medications throughout the United States.
It is important to take Valium exactly as it is prescribed by a medical professional because it is extremely habit-forming and can result in serious side effects when not taken properly.
This specific drug is generally only prescribed for short periods; taking Valium long-term leads to tolerance, symptoms of withdrawal upon ceased use, and other serious health-related concerns. It is possible to overdose on this medication. Diazepam-related overdoses can be fatal and are responsible for thousands of fatalities nationwide on an annual basis. If you or someone you love has been abusing Valium, professional medical help must be sought immediately.
Garden State Treatment Center offers comprehensive addiction treatment services to those who have been abusing prescription drugs of any kind. For more information on our program of recovery, please feel free to reach out at any point in time. Our dedicated team of diverse, compassionate professionals is standing by to answer any questions you may have, and to get you started on the road to recovery as soon as possible.
Those who abuse Valium take more than the recommended dose, or take the prescription medication other than as prescribed generally report similar experiences. Some of the short-term symptoms of Valium abuse include:. The immediate effects of Valium abuse are similar to the effects of alcohol consumption — an individual who is high on Valium might appear to be intoxicated. Drowsiness, weakness, confusion, and extreme dizziness are also side effects of Valium abuse. If your symptoms do not improve after a week, speak to a doctor as you may need a lower dose.
There's not enough information to know if diazepam is safe to use in pregnancy. But it can give your newborn baby withdrawal symptoms. You may need to keep taking diazepam during pregnancy as it's important for you to remain well. Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits of taking diazepam, and will help you choose the best treatment for you and your baby. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, diazepam can be used during breastfeeding as long as you're only taking a low dose of diazepam occasionally or for a very short time.
Diazepam passes into breast milk. If you take diazepam for a long time or in high doses, it can build up in your milk. This can make your baby drowsy or tired and can make it difficult for them to feed.
If you're breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, as other medicines might be better while breastfeeding, although this will depend on what the diazepam is being used for. If you do take diazepam while you're breastfeeding and you notice that your baby's not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy, has unusual breathing, or you have any other concerns about them, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible. Some medicines interfere with the way diazepam works and increase the chances of you having side effects.
Before you start taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you're taking :. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with diazepam.
Do not take herbal medicines for anxiety or insomnia, such as valerian or passionflower, with diazepam. They can increase the drowsy effects of diazepam and may also have other side effects. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
Depending on your health condition, this can make you feel drowsy, relieve anxiety, stop seizures or relax tense muscles. Diazepam will work quite quickly or more slowly depending on what you're taking it for:. Diazepam is usually only recommended for a short period of time of up to 4 weeks. If you're prescribed diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be reduced gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
If you're prescribed diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be reduced gradually when coming off it to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Diazepam is not likely to be addictive if you take it at a low dose for a short time 2 to 4 weeks. You're more likely to get addicted if you have, or previously had, problems with alcohol or drugs.
You should take diazepam tablets for as short a period of time as possible. If you have been taking a high dose or have been taking it for a long time, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking it, you may occasionally experience some side effects, such as:.
The risk of these side effects can be reduced by gradually reducing your dose. For anxiety, depending on your symptoms, you may need a medicine to treat your physical symptoms, as well as your psychological ones. Your doctor will usually start you on a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI , such as sertraline , paroxetine or escitalopram.
For fits, a medicine called midazolam can be used. It comes as a pre-filled syringe and is given inside the mouth between the cheek and the gum buccal cavity. This can be used instead of rectal diazepam, which is inserted into the anus. You can discuss the different options with your doctor. They'll help you decide which medicine is best for you. Diazepam can be given as a pre-med to relax you before an operation or dental treatment that may be uncomfortable or make you feel anxious.
It's important to tell your doctor or dentist if you're already taking diazepam. Tell your doctor that you take diazepam if you're going to be put to sleep using a general anaesthetic or having any kind of major operation. Do not drink alcohol while you're on diazepam.
Alcohol can increase the effects of diazepam. It can make you go into a very deep sleep. There's a risk you will not be able to breathe properly, and may have difficulty waking up. Using cannabis, heroin or methadone with diazepam will increase the drowsy effects of diazepam. There's a risk you will not be able to breathe properly, and you may have difficulty waking up. Using cocaine or other stimulants like MDMA ecstasy and amphetamines with diazepam can also lead to drowsiness.
Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking diazepam. Grapefruit juice may increase the amount of diazepam in your blood. It's a good idea to avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking diazepam.
Caffeine is a stimulant and may reduce the calming effects of diazepam. It's best not to have drinks like coffee, tea and cola because they contain caffeine. Alcohol can increase the effects of diazepam and make you go into a very deep sleep. Diazepam will not affect any contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. Some contraceptive pills can keep diazepam in your body for longer and increase its effect. You can also get bleeding in between your periods if you take diazepam and contraceptive pills together.
There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking diazepam will reduce fertility in either men or women. If you're trying to get pregnant, or you're having problems getting pregnant while on diazepam, speak to your doctor. Do not drive a car or ride a bike if diazepam makes you sleepy during the daytime, gives you blurred vision, or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions.
This may be more likely when you first start taking diazepam, but could happen at any time for example, when starting another medicine. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected.
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