Valium
is the brand name of Diazepam, a benzodiazepine manufactured by Hoffmann-La
Rouce. It is one of the most popular tranquilizers or muscle relaxers in the
world.
Valium
is prescribed to treat a range of conditions. Its popularity among other drugs
in the benzodiazepine family is due to Valium’s rapid onset and its ability to
quickly control seizures.
Due
to its availability as a prescribed medication, Valium is a common recreational
drug, and sometimes mixed with other drugs like cocaine and alcohol, which can
sometimes lead to overdose and death.
Alternative & street names
Valium
is often used interchangeably with Diazapram in a clinical setting. It is sold
in Australia as “Antenex.” Its street name is “Valerie.”
How
is it taken?
Valium is taken orally as a tablet
or intravenously as lorezapam.
Effects
of Valium consumption
Valium is a fast-acting
tranquilizer. Its effect on the body provides an anti-anxiety effect, used to
treat panic attacks and states of agitation.
It
has been prescribed to treat a wide variety of emotional, psychological and
stress-related anxiety.
Impact
on the mind/body and health risks
Negative side effects of Valium
include:
- amnesia
- sedation
- depression
Valium users can develop a
tolerance, which can lead to addiction that then leads to withdrawal syndrome
upon reduction of dosage.
Use of benzodiazepines like Valium
sometimes can reveal suicide ideation in patients prone to depression, due to
fear reduction and disinhibition. Therefore, though nontoxic by itself, there
is always concern that Valium could become an inadvertent facilitator in a
patient’s suicidal behavior.
Signs
of abuse of Valium
Because Valium is a common drug in
many medicine cabinets, it is a common drug to be misused in a recreational
way.
Sometimes,
Valium is used by stimulant users to help them “come down” from their high and
get to sleep.
Valium
increases the desire for alcohol when taken by someone prone to abuse alcohol,
and problem drinkers tend to drink more alcohol in conjunction with Valium than
without.
A
user who overdoses on Valium might have the following symptoms within four
hours of overdose:
- drowsiness
- mental
confusion
- hypertension
- impaired
motor functions, reflexes, coordination
- dizziness
- coma
While
an overdose on Valium alone is not usually deadly, it may be fatal is combined
with other drugs like alcohol, opiates or cocaine.
Common
treatment options for Valium addiction
When Valium abusers come to terms
with their addiction, their next step is finding a treatment facility that
meets their needs.
Those
with a physical dependence on Valium will need a 24/7 facility that offers
detox services with medical supervision. Those with psychological dependence
will need a facility with counseling and therapy options.
Overcoming
Valium addiction almost always requires supervised detox and inpatient
monitoring and counseling.
Valium withdrawal/detox
symptoms
Most doctors wean Valium patients
off the drug slowly with gradual doses to avoid the worst of the withdrawal
symptoms.
Those
at risk of suffering from Valium withdrawal should ask their doctor for help,
even if they are abusing Valium or obtaining it illegally.
Symptoms
of Valium Withdrawal Syndrome, which could be dangerous, include:
- dizziness
- personality
changes
- sensitivity
to sound or light
- numbness
or tingling
- nausea,
vomiting or diarrhea
- rapid
heartbeat, heart palpitations
- hallucinations
- memory
loss
- panic
attacks
- anxiety
- seizures
- fever
- headaches
- tension
- depression
- insomnia
- sweating