How Long Does Valium Stay in Your System?

Valium is a commonly used form of benzodiazepine. It is used to treat certain mental disorders such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and anxiety. It can also be used for other cases such as alcohol dependence as well. When used in a medical setting, valium can be a very useful asset when dealing with specific conditions or disorders. However, valium can also be abused and can be very addictive. With this in mind, how long does valium stay in your system? The answer depends on a few different factors. 

Valium is a long-acting drug and the longer it stays in your system the more effects it will have. Tests can be conducted to truly understand how long valium will stay in a person’s system. Looking at factors like age, average dose, and body fat can all be indicators of how long valium stays in your system.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the peak concentration of valium is 1 to 1.5 hours. The half-life of valium (the time it takes for a drug to be reduced by half in the body) is somewhere between 20-50 hours. The dosage of valium also makes a big difference in the time that valium takes to leave the body. Determining how long does valium stay in your system depends on several different factors.

What is Valium and What is it Used For?

Valium is the brand name of a long-lasting benzodiazepine by the name of Diazepam. It is typically consumed orally through a pill or in a liquid form (concentrated solution). Valium is used for a few different conditions and disorders. Valium is primarily used for:

• Seizures
• Muscle spasms
• Anxiety disorders
• Alcohol withdrawals
• Providing sedation in some medical cases

Valium works on the central nervous system (CNS) by boosting gamma-Aminobutyric acid (or GABA). In turn, this chemical helps relax the person while giving a sense of reward. Valium is commonly used for medical procedures or to help with anxiety and addiction. However, it is worth keeping in mind that valium (diazepam) can be addictive if abused. This is why it’s important to use valium as instructed. 

In cases of alcohol dependence, a person’s body becomes so accustomed to alcohol, that when a person stops drinking their body begins to experience withdrawals. These withdrawal symptoms can be particularly painful and distressing; this is where valium can help. This sense of reward is very useful in alcohol abuse cases where a person’s mind has been programmed to only feel reward through drug/alcohol use. 

How Long Does Valium Stay in Your System?

The longer valium stays in your system, the more effects will have. Valium is a long-acting benzodiazepine which means that it will stay in a person’s system much longer than shorter-acting medications. Valium’s half-life can help predict how long a person will have the drug in their system (based on the period since their last dose). With this in mind, the number will be on the longer side because of personal factors and the wide range of the half-life. 

To truly answer this question, certain tests can be conducted to see how long valium is detectable in the body. Blood, urine, hair, and saliva samples can help determine this number. Several personal factors will affect how long valium stays in the system, these include:

• Age
• Dosage 
• Metabolic rate
• Quality of health
• Weight and body fat
• Kidney/Liver functions
• How it is administered
• Whether or not you are using other substances

The different samples can indicate information that can help determine how long does valium stay in your system. When the time for detoxification comes, a person will be given one of these tests/screenings. 

Hair Sample – Valium can be identified in a person’s hair for up to 90 days. This test is primarily to determine chronic drug use for it is a delayed look at valium in the body.

Urine Sample  – How long is valium detectable in urine? Valium can be found in a person’s urine for almost six weeks since their last dose. This makes it one of the most common forms of seeing how long it’s detectable. 

Saliva Sample – Saliva is one of the more rarely used methods of finding out how long valium has been in your system. This is because saliva testing is only useful for up to 60 hours since the last dose of valium. 

Blood Sample  – While blood samples are also used it does have its limitations. Similar to testing with urine, valium is only detectable for around 48 hours since the last dose of valium.

Valium Withdrawals

A person can begin to experience withdrawal symptoms after a certain amount of time of not using. As time progresses these symptoms may begin to grow or change. One could look at these different symptoms as stages. Within 1 to 4 days of a person’s final dose, they will experience the following withdrawal symptoms:

After this period of withdrawal comes another period that can last anywhere from 10 to 14 days. At this point, the following symptoms may be noticeable: 

These secondary withdrawal symptoms are usually more tamed than the first stage of acute symptoms. After these symptoms, a person may or may not continue feeling the effects of depression or anxiety as the body tries to stabilize. These are just a few of the symptoms that may appear but everyone will have a different experience. 

Detoxing with Medical Help

Some people may attempt to detox from Valium on their own, however, this is not recommended. This could end up causing life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. This is why you should always get help from professionals when detoxing. There are two particular effects that can be extremely severe: psychosis and seizures. Psychosis in particular can affect how a person perceives reality and the world around them. 

Valium can be a very addictive and sometimes dangerous drug under some circumstances. The effects of valium can be seen even when it is used medically and correctly. If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction it may be time to get proper help. Coastal Detox may be able to help you towards a better life. 

Getting Addiction Help 

While valium may have its positive uses, there is always a chance for potential abuse or even addiction. Valium is a benzodiazepine, which is considered to be a very addictive class of drug. If you or a loved one has become dependent on valium or another form of the drug, now is the time to get help. After all, nothing is worth the cost of what addiction can do to a person. 

Here at Coastal Detox, we offer effective and trusted treatment for you or your loved ones. We understand what drug addiction can do to your body, mind, and life. At the end of the day, it is crucial to get professional help for the greatest chance of recovery and sobriety. Let’s take a look at some of our quality services with you in mind. 

Detoxification

Whether it be Valium, heroin, marijuana, or another substance, we offer detox services for a variety of drug addictions. Detox is a vital part of all addiction recovery processes. Detox helps a person overcome some of the negative withdrawal symptoms. Detox also opens the door for many other treatment options to get the ball rolling. 

As mentioned earlier, detox should be done under medical supervision. Certain drugs (like valium) can have unpredictable and dangerous withdrawal effects. Attempting to detox alone can be potentially fatal. Having professional and supportive care by your side through the process is vital to a successful recovery.

Residential Treatment

After detox, a person will most likely move on to more specialized treatment such as a residential program. A residential program gives full around-the-clock support while a person stays at a clean and supportive rehab center. This way they can focus on therapy sessions and other treatment methods without worrying about shelter or possible relapse. This is personalized with the person in mind and allows the best chance for recovery. 

Dual Diagnosis Help

In some cases, a person may be struggling with both a mental disorder and an addiction. This is known as a dual diagnosis (or a co-occurring disorder). At Coastal Detox, we provide comprehensive help to those who suffer from co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis cases are best done as an inpatient treatment and require much support. We’ll be by your side the whole way no matter what.

Let Coastal Detox Help You Today!

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction, now is the time to get help. We offer several opportunities to overcome addiction and start living a better, brighter life. Contact us today if you have any questions about our treatment options and detox process.