Valium Symptoms and Signs

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What Are Valium Symptoms and Signs?

Valium is a prescription tranquilizer used legally to treat anxiety disorders, muscle spasms, seizures, severe sleep disturbances, and the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It is also sometimes offered to provide sedation in institutional and hospital settings, helping to calm violent or uncontrollable behaviors.

Included in the class of drugs called Benzodiazepines, which are sometimes known by the street name “Benzos,” Valium is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world. Valium works by slowing the central nervous system, reducing the rate of respiration, relaxing muscles, and creating a sense of physical and mental calm.

However, for these same reasons, Valium is also abused for recreational purposes, and may be taken in excess of prescribed amounts, or even purchased on the street. According to substance abuse data, in 2017, roughly 5.4 million people aged 12 or older were misusers of benzodiazepines, like Valium. Unfortunately, there is a common belief that prescribed medicines are “safe” because they can be obtained legally.

This misunderstanding can easily lead to abuse of prescription drugs, as they can be just as deadly as any illegal substance. If you are worried that you or a loved one may be misusing Valium, there are Valium symptoms and signs of excessive use that you can identify.

Some of these signs and symptoms of unsafe Valium use include:

• Extreme and continual drowsiness
• Memory problems
• Muscle weakness
• Lack of coordinator
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness and confusion
• Dilated eyes
• Double vision or blurred vision
• Loss of interest in normal activities
• Decreased libido

In more extreme cases, abusers of Valium symptoms may be more dramatic and include:

• Hallucinations
• Depression
• Erratic or hostile behavior
• Anxiety, agitation, or trouble sleeping
• Thoughts of suicide or self-injury
• Trouble focusing
• Urinary incontinence
• Muscle tremors
• Seizures

It’s important to remember that these problematic signs and symptoms of Valium misuse can be ignored. While Valium can provide needed relief to individuals in a clinical setting, it is a drug that can have serious consequences for unsafe users.

Addiction to Valium can begin in just a few weeks, even when taken as prescribed. Additionally, most individuals will develop a tolerance to Valium quickly, increasing the temptation to take the medication more frequently to control anxiety or muscle pain. Once tolerance has begun, users will experience withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to quit taking Valium.

Furthermore, Valium withdrawal can be dangerous, resulting in a mental health crisis and erratic behavior, which can result in self-harm. Withdrawal can begin within 24 hours after the last dose, but with professional help, freedom from addiction is possible. Resurgence Behavior Health can help you overcome the symptoms of Valium misuse, and restore your peace of mind.

Effects of Valium Symptoms and Signs

Because Valium is a nervous system depressant, the signs and symptoms of its misuse indicate a dangerous medical situation. Slowing muscle reaction and breathing can help ease the extreme anxiety of a panic attack, but it can also result in the body shutting down necessary functions. Essentially, someone misusing Valium may simply stop breathing or may experience heart failure as a result of nervous system paralysis.

Signs and symptoms of Valium overdose include:

• Trouble breathing
• Bluish lips (a sign of reduced breathing)
• Stumbling, falling, or loss of coordination
• Double vision
• Amnesia
• Loss of consciousness

While all signs of Valium misuse require immediate professional rehab treatment, the signs above indicate a possibly fatal episode, and medical attention should be sought immediately.

Mental Illness and Valium Symptoms and Signs

Valium is associated with relaxation and freedom from physical pain. And for those who have been prescribed Valium to treat PTSD, insomnia, or extreme anxiety, Valium may provide the ability to cope with panic attacks or debilitating fear. For this reason, Valium can provide some benefits when used under the care of a physician as a mental health treatment program.

But Valium is more than a muscle relaxer. This tranquilizer drug influences the chemical balance of the brain and, even in individuals who do not abuse Valium, this drug can worsen and create mental health issues. Research indicates that those with chronic mental health conditions may already be predisposed to prescription addiction. As a result, the addictive cycle can form rapidly for those who already struggle with mental health issues.

Furthermore, Valium is known to cause depression, suicidal thoughts, fatigue, memory loss, restlessness, and lack of libido – the resulting panic from which can drive individuals to take more Valium than they should.  Soon it can be hard for Valium users to feel normal without the drug, or to imagine life without it. Without help, and medically supervised detox, it can be nearly impossible for the Valium user to overcome the signs and symptoms of Valium misuse and restore their mental health.

Treatment and Valium Symptoms

Because of its highly addictive properties, and its powerful effect on the mental health and well-being of users, it is nearly impossible for those addicted to Valium to stop using the drug “cold turkey.” Furthermore, the signs and symptoms of Valium withdrawal are dangerous, and usually require the assistance of a substance abuse treatment center to be fully managed.

These earliest signs and symptoms of Valium withdrawal symptoms can include, vomiting, hallucinations, headache, tremors, increased heart rate, anxiety, body pain, confusion, mood swings, and anxiety. This is because, as the tranquilizer leaves the system, the body experiences an extremely adverse reaction, often worsening underlying mental and physical health issues.

Severe symptoms may also be present, such as seizures and severe depression, which can result in self-harm or suicide. These symptoms, and their risks, may persist for several days, followed by continued depression and anxiety, headache, fever, nausea/vomiting, chills, flu-like symptoms, and disorientation.

Medical detoxification can help relieve these symptoms, and a treatment team and may prescribe other medications to manage fear, pain, anger, and insomnia, which would otherwise trigger a relapse. This clinical assistance also reduces the likelihood of a serious complication or self-harm incident. Once the body is free of Valium, the therapist or treatment team will work to resolve underlying issues that caused the addiction, such as physical pain or PTSD.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to be effective in helping with freedom from Valium addiction by educating the user on how behaviors and environmental factors have contributed to addiction and helping them create a plan for healthy trigger management. Furthermore, drug rehab centers can offer 12-step programs, support groups, yoga, nutrition counseling, art therapy, and other therapeutic experiences that will help those in recovery find healthy coping strategies for a lasting recovery.

Payment Information

Resurgence Behavioral Health offers payment plans that can work with almost any financial situation, and we accept most PPO insurance and private forms of payment. You can even pay for your admission online. Worried about your insurance? Don’t be. The Resurgence Behavioral Health team will work with your insurance provider on your behalf, so you can focus on your recovery.

Let Resurgence Behavior Health be your partner in recovery. Just call us at 855-458-0050 and experience Resurgence.

How to Get Help

Overcoming Valium addiction is difficult, and we understand your struggle. Resurgence Behavioral Health is here to help you break the cycle of addiction, and achieve the sobriety you’re seeking.

And the first step of your journey is closer than you think. We have locations in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, and Fullerton Hills, and each of our beautiful centers has everything you need to minimize distractions and focus on your wellness needs.

Our experienced team can offer medical drug detoxification, residential, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs, counseling, 12-step programs, spiritual services, yoga, peer support, and other resources to help you feel supported in achieving your recovery goals.

Just call Resurgence Behavioral Health at 855-458-0050. Your drug-free future begins today.