What to Expect During Valium Detox

Safe Valium detox is essential for preventing the potentially devastating health effects of quitting Valium cold-turkey.

Valium Addiction and Dependence

Addiction and dependence are not the same thing, although they both develop as a result of brain changes that occur when you heavily abuse drugs.

Addiction develops as the result of changes in the learning, memory, and reward centers of the brain. These changes lead to intense cravings and compulsive drug abuse despite the negative consequences the abuse causes. Your world may be falling apart all around you, but if you’re addicted, you’ll continue to use drugs anyway.

Dependence is a physical need for a drug in order to keep your brain functioning “normally.” When you heavily abuse drugs, your brain changes its chemical function in order to compensate. This results in tolerance, which means that you need higher and higher doses of a drug to get the same effects. But the more you use, the more your brain changes. At some point, your brain function may shift so that the brain operates more comfortably when Valium is present than when it’s not. Then, when you stop using Valium, normal brain function rebounds and causes the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal is the indication that dependence has developed.

Valium detox ends a dependence on diazepam so that you can focus on addressing the far more complex issues behind the addiction.

Valium Withdrawal

Valium detox is the process of removing all traces of Valium from your body so that brain function can begin to return to normal. With other drugs, like cocaine and alcohol, this involves quitting cold-turkey. During medical detox from these drugs, medications are used to treat withdrawal symptoms and reduce the time it takes to detox. But Valium is different. Coming off diazepam can produce dangerous symptoms like elevated blood pressure and heart rate, and these can be fatal. Unfortunately, there are no medications approved by the FDA to counteract these dangerous symptoms. As a result, valium detox is a matter of tapering off the doses to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms altogether.

How to Deal with Diazepam Withdrawal

When done properly, Valium detox will prevent withdrawal symptoms altogether. The answer to the question of how to deal with diazepam withdrawal is to prevent it by closely following your doctor’s directions for tapering off the doses. If you experience any of the withdrawal symptoms associated with diazepam, contact your doctor right away. Withdrawal symptoms for diazepam include:

• Intense cravings.
• Tremors,
• Anxiety attacks.
• Paranoia and irritability.
• Dizziness and lightheadedness.
• Dangerous increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
• Hallucinations.
• Delirium.
• Psychosis.
• Seizures.

Coming off diazepam properly shouldn’t cause withdrawal discomfort.

How Long Does Valium Detox Take?

How long it takes for you to detox from Valium depends on a number of factors, including how much you’re taking, how long you’ve been dependent, and the function of your biological processes, such as your metabolism. Your physician will work with you to determine what doses you should be taking and how long it will take to fully detox from Valium.

Valium Detox is Not Addiction Treatment

Addiction is far more complicated than dependence. Addiction usually has underlying issues that must be addressed in order to successfully treat the addiction. These underlying issues often include stress, mental illnesses like anxiety or depression, and a history of trauma, such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

A comprehensive treatment program will help you detox from valium as well as address a range of issues behind the addiction. You’ll learn to evaluate your thoughts and behaviors and replace harmful ones with those that are healthier. You’ll work to set goals and find purpose and meaning in life. A high quality treatment program is essential for successfully ending an addiction, and Better Addiction Care can help you find the right program for your needs. Treatment works, and it can help you restore your life and your sense of wellbeing.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, get help right away. Make a phone call that will connect you to a professional drug treatment center. The call you make may save your life or the life of someone you love. Call us today at (800) 429-7690.