Valium is a brand name for diazepam, a prescription benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, certain muscle spasms and some seizures. It can be habit-forming even when taken as prescribed, and stopping it suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal, including seizures. Taken with opioids or alcohol, it can slow breathing to a life-threatening degree.
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Diazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine family, a group of central nervous system (CNS) depressants. According to MedlinePlus, doctors prescribe it to:
- Relieve anxiety
- Control agitation, shaking and other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
- Ease certain kinds of muscle spasms and stiffness
- Help control seizures
Valium is a controlled substance. It should be taken only by the person it was prescribed for, only as directed, and never shared.
Diazepam and alcohol withdrawal
Diazepam is one of the medicines doctors use to control agitation, shaking and other symptoms when a person stops drinking after heavy, regular alcohol use. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous on its own, so this is done under medical supervision, often in a detox program where staff can monitor you and adjust treatment. It is not something to manage at home with leftover or borrowed pills.
How Valium Affects the Brain and Body
Most CNS depressants, including benzodiazepines, work by increasing the activity of GABA, a chemical messenger that slows activity in the brain. MedlinePlus describes diazepam as calming abnormal overactivity in the brain. The result is a calming, drowsy effect.
Common side effects include drowsiness, tiredness and muscle weakness or unsteadiness. NIDA notes that people often feel sleepy and uncoordinated when they first start a benzodiazepine, and that the body adjusts over time. That adjustment, called tolerance, is one reason some people end up taking larger amounts than prescribed. Because Valium slows reaction time, do not drive or use machinery until you know how it affects you.
Short- and Long-Term Risks
- Dangerous combinations. Diazepam can cause serious or life-threatening breathing problems, heavy sedation or coma when taken with opioid pain medicines, some cough medicines, alcohol or other sedating drugs.
- Misuse and addiction. Diazepam can be habit-forming. Taking more than prescribed, taking it more often or taking it longer than directed raises the risk.
- Physical dependence. The body can come to rely on a benzodiazepine after steady use for days to weeks, even at prescribed doses.
- Withdrawal. Stopping suddenly or cutting the dose quickly can cause withdrawal reactions, including seizures that can be life-threatening.
- Allergic reactions. Get medical help right away for rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had problems with alcohol, street drugs or prescription medicines, or if you have depression or another mental illness, sleep apnea, lung or liver disease, glaucoma or myasthenia gravis. Also tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding or are 65 or older.
The FDA Boxed Warning on Benzodiazepines
In 2020, the FDA required the Boxed Warning, its most prominent warning, to be updated for every benzodiazepine, including Valium. The warning now covers abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. The FDA also pointed out that benzodiazepines are often misused together with alcohol, prescription opioids or illicit drugs, which raises the risk of overdose and death.
The FDA warned that withdrawal symptoms do not always end quickly. For some people, symptoms last weeks and can continue for as long as 12 months. That is one more reason any change in dose should be planned with a doctor.
Overdose: Signs and What to Do
Signs of a diazepam overdose can include:
- Drowsiness and confusion
- Slowed breathing and heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness
Call 911 if someone has collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing or cannot be woken up. Stay with the person until help arrives. For other concerns about a possible overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. The danger is much greater when Valium is mixed with opioids or alcohol.
Is Valium Addictive? Dependence and Withdrawal
Yes, Valium can be addictive. Physical dependence and addiction are related but different. Dependence means your body has adjusted to the drug, so you feel withdrawal when it is reduced or stopped. Addiction, or a substance use disorder, means continuing to use despite harm and having trouble cutting back. Dependence can happen even when you take Valium exactly as prescribed.
Do not stop taking Valium or lower your dose on your own. Withdrawal-type symptoms can include seizures, shaking, anxiety, sleep problems and muscle twitching. If you take diazepam for a seizure condition, stopping suddenly can make seizures worse.
The FDA says the safe way to stop is a gradual taper planned with your doctor. There is no standard schedule that fits everyone. If withdrawal symptoms appear, the taper may be paused or the dose returned to the previous level before tapering more slowly. If you have been taking more than prescribed, using Valium without a prescription or combining it with alcohol, a medically supervised detox program can manage the taper safely. Learn what to expect in our Florida medical detox guide.
Signs that use has become a problem
It can be hard to tell when a prescription has turned into a problem. Warning signs include:
- Taking more Valium than prescribed, or taking it more often
- Running out early or getting pills from more than one prescriber
- Taking someone else’s pills, or using Valium to get high or to cope with stress
- Wanting to cut back but not being able to
- Continuing to use despite problems at home, at work or with health
If any of these sound familiar, talk with your doctor honestly. These signs are a reason to get help, not a reason for shame.
Valium and the Law
Under federal law, diazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance. Schedule IV drugs have an accepted medical use and a lower potential for misuse than drugs in higher schedules, but they can still lead to dependence. Having diazepam without a valid prescription, or giving or selling it to someone else, is illegal.
Treatment for Valium Misuse in Florida
Treatment for benzodiazepine dependence usually begins with medical care. A doctor or detox team designs a slow taper, watches for withdrawal and adjusts the plan as needed. Detox is a first step, not the whole treatment. After it, care usually continues with counseling and support, whether in a residential program or on an outpatient basis.
Many people first took Valium for anxiety. When the medicine is reduced, that anxiety can return, so good treatment also addresses the original condition. Programs that treat mental health and substance use together are described on our dual diagnosis treatment page.
If you also drink heavily, tell the treatment team. Withdrawal from alcohol can be dangerous too, and both need medical supervision. If a loved one is in danger and refuses help, Florida’s Marchman Act allows involuntary assessment and stabilization for substance use.
You can search licensed Florida rehab facilities by location and type of care. Our directory lists facilities using SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov data.
Getting Help Now
- Emergency or possible overdose: call 911.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. It is free, confidential, open 24/7 and available in English and Spanish. They can help you find treatment and support near you.
- Crisis or thoughts of suicide: call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 for questions about a possible overdose or a medicine taken by mistake.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Valium (Diazepam): Uses, Risks and Benzodiazepine Dependence
What is Valium used for?
Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine used to relieve anxiety, control agitation during alcohol withdrawal, ease certain muscle spasms and help control seizures. It calms activity in the brain and nervous system. Diazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance, so it should only be taken as prescribed and never shared with anyone else.
Is Valium addictive?
Yes, Valium can be addictive, and misuse and addiction can develop even at recommended doses. Physical dependence can begin when a benzodiazepine is taken steadily for several days to weeks. Tell your doctor if you have ever had problems with alcohol, drugs or prescription medicines, or a history of depression or other mental illness.
Is it dangerous to mix Valium with alcohol or painkillers?
Yes, combining Valium with alcohol, opioid painkillers, some cough medicines or other sedatives can cause life-threatening breathing problems, heavy sedation or coma. This is one of the most serious risks of any benzodiazepine. Call 911 if someone is extremely sleepy, breathing slowly or with difficulty, has collapsed or cannot be woken up.
What happens if you stop taking Valium suddenly?
Stopping Valium suddenly can cause withdrawal reactions, including seizures that can be life-threatening, and it can make seizures worse if you take it for a seizure disorder. Do not stop or reduce your dose without your doctor. A gradual taper built around your situation is the safe approach, and some people have withdrawal symptoms for months.
Can Valium be used to treat alcohol withdrawal?
Yes, diazepam is one of the medicines doctors use to control agitation and other symptoms during alcohol withdrawal. This is done under medical supervision, because alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous on its own. It is not something to manage at home with leftover pills. A medical detox program can monitor you and adjust treatment safely.
Where can I find benzodiazepine detox in Florida?
You can find licensed benzodiazepine detox programs throughout Florida, including medically supervised settings that manage a gradual taper. Because stopping Valium too quickly can cause seizures, detox should be guided by medical staff rather than done alone. Search Florida detox centers, or call SAMHSA's free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-4357, 24 hours a day.
