Valium, otherwise known as diazepam, can remain in your system for up to 3 months. It can be detected through many means of testing, including through the urine, blood, saliva, and hair. If you are using valium and are worried about detection tests or withdrawal symptoms when trying to taper off the drug, read on.
This article will answer all of your questions, like how long does diazepam stay in your system, what is valium medically used for, how long does it take for valium to work, and how you can taper off of valium safely.
If you or someone you know is struggling with valium abuse/dependence, you may find this article very informative.
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What is valium?
Valium is the brand name for diazepam, a powerful benzodiazepine with strong effects. It has been classified by the US government as a Schedule IV drug because it’s widely abused and has a high potential for dependence and addiction.
Valium is prescribed by medical professionals to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures, insomnia, and for pre-surgical sedation. It is also sometimes used, under strict medical supervision, to help alcoholics deal with withdrawal symptoms when attempting to detox from alcohol.
How long does valium last?
If you or a loved one is using valium, you may be wondering, how long does one valium stay in your system? Valium can remain in one’s system for up to three months, although it can’t always be detected for that long in a urine test. However, it’s important to note that the drug can still be detected in your system long after the physical effects of the drug has worn off.
In other words, valium’s effects on the body may last for a relatively short amount of time, in comparison to the long amount of time that it can be detected in the body.
There are four ways to test for valium in the body: urine, saliva, blood, and hair. Each method has a different window of detection, as will be explained below.
Valium half-life
In order to understand how long valium lasts in the body, it’s important to explore the half life of valium. The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the concentration of the drug in the body to reduce by half. The concentration then halves again and again, until the entire drug has left the body. Most drugs require 5 half lives before they are eliminated completely from the body.
Valium has an unusually long half-life of 20-50 hours. This means that it can take around 20-50 hours for the concentration of valium in the body to reduce to half of its original concentration. Although 20-50 is the average amount of hours, it can extend to 100+ hours in people who are elderly or experience liver issues.
Half-life varies from drug to drug, but also from person to person. For example, people who have a quicker metabolism, healthy internal organs, and are young and fit, are more likely to rid their bodies of the drug faster than those who are older, less healthy, or have slower metabolisms.
How long does valium take to kick in?
If you’ve been prescribed valium by a doctor, you may be wondering - how long does diazepam take to work for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures? Although the timing differs for different people, the standard time of onset is around 30-60 minutes when the medication is taken orally.
There are other methods of taking valium which could ensure the drug kicks in faster, such as injecting it into the bloodstream, placing it into the rectum (suppository), or sniffing it. When injecting valium, for example, effects can kick in as soon as 1-3 minutes.
Valium’s concentration in the body usually peaks at around an hour after administration, after which it starts to reduce in concentration.
Does valium show up on a drug test?
Yes, valium will show up on a drug test. However, how long it will be detected in the body for depends on the method of testing.
- Urine: How long does valium stay in your urine? Valium can be detected in the urine for around 1-6 weeks, depending on the individual’s pattern of using valium. People who use valium as a one-off will only receive a positive urine test for 1-3 days after taking the drug. On the other hand, people who use valium regularly can receive a positive urine test for 4-6 weeks after the last dose, or longer. Urine tests are very common because they are easy, cost effective, and have a longer detection window than other testing methods.
- Blood: Valium can be detected in the blood from anywhere between 6- 48 hours after the last dose was taken. Blood tests are less common than urine tests, but are used in hospitals in the case of an overdose or drug poisoning, to determine DUI/ DWI cases (driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated), and for other legal investigations.
- Saliva: Valium can typically be detected in the saliva for 1-10 days after the last use. It is used as the preferred method of testing in the construction industry, and is convenient because it provides results quickly.
- Hair: Valium can be detected in the hair follicles for up to 90 days (3 months) after the last dose was taken, although, interestingly, valium will not show up on hair tests right after the last dose- only after around a week of the last dose. It is more expensive than other forms of testing, but is very accurate and can detect valium use for longer than all other methods of testing.
Factors affecting valium detection
Every person using valium will experience a different half-life and detection time. There are many factors that can contribute to a longer or shorter half-life and detection window:
- Metabolism- People with a quicker metabolism will find that the valium is faster processed through the body, resulting in a shorter half life and smaller window of detection time in a drug test.
- Age- Younger people’s bodies usually work faster than the elderly, which means that the valium is processed and eliminated faster than their older counterparts. This would result in a quicker half time, leading to lower chances of valium being detected in a drug test after a few days.
- Dosage- If you take a smaller dose of valium, the body will have an easier time processing the drug and eliminating it from the body. Conversely, a higher dose will overwhelm the system and require more heavy-duty work to bring it to its half life and remove it from the body.
- Frequency of Use- People who use valium only rarely will have detection on a drug test for a shorter amount of time in contrast to people who use valium frequently. The more often you use the drug, the harder your body will have to work to eliminate it, resulting in longer detection times on a drug test.
- Liver and Kidney Health- If your liver and kidneys are working properly, they can help valium exit your body quicker. On the other hand, people who struggle with a fatty liver, diseased liver, or kidney disease will retain the valium in the body for longer. Additionally, regular alcohol use- which damages the liver- or other medications, can cause the valium to stay put in the body for extended periods of time.
- Lifestyle- Drinking water can help flush out valium, so people who drink a lot of water will find that the drug doesn’t show up for very long on a drug test. The same is true for exercise. People who exercise regularly may have a faster metabolism than people who don’t, allowing the body to process the drug faster.
Tapering off of valium
It can be very dangerous to suddenly stop taking valium. Whether you have been prescribed valium for a medical issue or are taking it regularly for recreational purposes, it is imperative to taper off the drug slowly, instead of quitting cold turkey.
This is because the withdrawal symptoms of valium can be severe and even fatal. Symptoms include seizures, high fever, severe dehydration, breathing issues, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and suicidal ideation.
It is recommended to gradually reduce your dose and ideally, taper off of the drug under competent medical supervision. You can complete medical detox at a hospital, medical center, or reputable rehab facility, where licensed staff will keep you safe and ensure you are as comfortable as possible throughout the process.
Valium addiction treatment
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder. The best indicator of addiction is inability to quit despite the negative consequences, and withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop using the drug. If you are using a greater dose of valium than prescribed, taking the medication more frequently than recommended, or are obtaining valium illegally for recreational purposes, you may be addicted to valium.
If you’re ready to let go of the substance that’s causing you misery, heartache, and despair, you may want to reach out to a reputable rehab center. At Avenues Recovery Center, you will find a professional, caring staff of mental health counselors and therapists who will help you reclaim your life, your sanity, and your freedom.
Across our various rehab facilities nationwide, we have helped thousands of people find their path to long-lasting sobriety. Reach out today to start your journey home!