WARNING: Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening due to the risk of seizure. You should not attempt to do this without medical supervision.
Many people begin taking diazepam (a benzodiazepine formerly branded in the UK as Valium) prescribed by a doctor to reduce anxiety and seizures, or to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, this can lead to misuse, because people get used to relying on it to calm down, relax the muscles and feel normal.
If you’re taking Valium without the instruction of your doctor, or you’ve been taking a high dose for a long time, your body may have developed benzodiazepine dependency or addiction. Recovery from substance abuse is always possible with the right support.
Your Valium detox could last anywhere from ten days to over a month, depending on your dosage, how long you’ve been taking the sedative, whether you taper off, and your overall health.
Find out how you can stop taking sedatives with Valium detox, addiction treatment and an aftercare plan that’s right for you.
Acute withdrawal typically lasts 2-4 weeks, but symptoms can persist longer. Because Valium is long-acting, withdrawal may start later than short-acting benzodiazepines. Protracted withdrawal (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome – PAWS) can last months in some cases.
Valium is a long-acting benzodiazepine which enhances GABA activity, slowing brain function and relaxing your muscles. Over time, your body can adjust to this and develop dependence, so stopping Valium can cause neurological hyperexcitability.
Your detox duration may be longer if you’ve developed a physical dependence, because you’re more likely to experience physical withdrawal symptoms which could be dangerous to deal with cold turkey, and your symptoms are likely to be more long term.
You’re more likely to need a longer detox if:
Diazepam can take up to four days to leave your system due to its long half-life. As the drug leaves your system, there will be reduced GABA activity in your brain, so you’ll likely experience some acute withdrawal symptoms:
These early symptoms are usually short-lived, but anxiety may persist.
Your body will now be free from Valium and adjusting to significantly reduced GABAergic activity. This is typically when withdrawal symptoms peak or remain intense, particularly if the taper has been too rapid:
Some people also experience a rebound of anxiety between day 10-14. If you experience suicidal thoughts, seizures, severe confusion or hallucinations, speak to a medical professional.
Some people may experience a gradual stabilisation by week two. Withdrawal symptoms can rise again in the third and fourth week for people with a high level of dependency, and include heightened or lowered perceptions. You may feel more or less sensitive, or experience:
Overall, your sleep and mood should improve.
In patients who have abused a high dose of diazepam for years, the withdrawal period lasts around 6 weeks and they may develop PAWS. This is a set of ongoing emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms:
While some Valium withdrawal symptoms might never fully vanish, you will find them much easier to manage as time goes on. Addiction support can greatly increase your chances of a full recovery without relapse. [1]
Tapered withdrawal from benzodiazepines is when you gradually cut down your dose until you stop completely. The length of time it lasts will be proportionate to your current dose, and can take anywhere between 4 weeks-12 months. The higher your dosage, the longer you will need to taper off.
For example, if you’re taking 40mg or less a day of diazepam, this may be reduced by 2-4mg every 1-2 weeks until you reach 20mg a day. This will then be reduced every 1-2 weeks over the span of 30-60 weeks.
If your dose is currently 20mg, your tapered detox could last 20-40 weeks under this schedule.[2]
There are many different treatment options for Valium detox that offer varying levels of support. If you or someone you know is addicted to Valium, seek help as early as possible from a medical professional for the best chance of a successful recovery. Valium treatment options include:
Detox is only the first stage of Valium addiction recovery. Relapse prevention planning will be very important for staying sober. Therapy, support groups and lifestyle changes offer a holistic approach to healing.
Below, we outline common questions around the topic of Valium detoxification:
If you’ve developed withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop Valium like cravings, mood swings, anxiety, nausea or headaches, you may have developed a dependence. This means you will need help coming off Valium safely in the form of a carefully-managed detox.
A medicated detox is when you’re prescribed different medication to ease your Valium withdrawal symptoms. You might be prescribed anticonvulsants if seizures occur, or antipsychotic medication to treat delirium.
Both can be medically serious because the withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Valium detox can last longer with more intense withdrawal symptoms later in the detox process. The psychological rebound of Valium detox can also be more severe than alcohol detox.
While some people are able to complete Valium detox in ten days with abrupt cessation, others will need over a month of medical care, or even several months of tapered detox. Given the risk of seizures, we would never recommend an abrupt cessation, not unless you are under 24/7 medical observation.
The duration of your Valium detox will vary based on your unique needs, your dosage and how dependent you are on the sedative. No matter how long it takes, recovery from Valium is possible with the right support.
If you have any further questions about Valium detox, or you’d like a referral to a reputable inpatient rehab, reach out to our staff who can give you tailored advice. Call 0800 140 4690 (or +44 345 222 3508 from outside the UK).
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1862031/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
