Valium Detox

Valium detox is the term for the process of your body getting rid of the drug. Because quitting cold turkey can lead to serious problems like seizures, it is advisable to slowly reduce your dose with help from a professional care team. A medical valium detox in a detox facility makes the withdrawal safer and more manageable. How long it takes really depends on how much you have been using the drug and for how long. If your body has gotten really used to it, then this process needs even more time and supervision.

Pride Detox provides an LGBTQ-affirming valium detox program that will allow you to get off the drug in a comfortable and welcoming setting. We also offer residential rehabilitation services and an aftercare program to help you achieve lasting recovery. 

What Is Valium (Diazepam) Withdrawal?

Valium withdrawal happens when your body starts adjusting to life without the drug after becoming dependent on it. If you have been taking Valium regularly, even for just a few months, your system will tend to rely on it to feel balanced. That is because over time, your brain slows down its own production of calming chemicals, leaning more and more on Valium to do the job.

When you stop taking diazepam suddenly, it can cause some pretty serious symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms can range from anxiety and tremors to seizures or even a coma. That is why it is so important to have medical support during withdrawal. Eliminating Valium from your system can take a bit of time. The most intense symptoms sometimes last up to 90 days, and the lingering effects potentially stretch out for over a year. It is not an easy road, but with the Pride Detox, it’s one you do not have to walk alone.

Valium Withdrawal Symptoms & Stages

You do not have to have a full-blown Valium addiction to go through withdrawal. Even people who have taken it regularly for a few days and suddenly decide to stop may experience withdrawal symptoms. While the timeline and intensity can vary from person to person, the process usually follows a similar pattern. Experts generally break it down into two main stages: acute withdrawal and general (or protracted) withdrawal.

Acute Withdrawal (Days 1–4)

This stage typically kicks in about one to four days after your last dose. Since Valium stays in the body for a while, its half-life can be up to 48 hours. Some people do not feel anything right away. But by day three or four, the symptoms often start to show. How quickly and intensely withdrawal hits depends on things like how long you’ve been taking Valium, the dose, your general health, and whether you’ve used other substances. If you’ve had anxiety or depression in the past, you might notice those symptoms creeping back early on.

Symptoms during this phase can include:

• Physical: Headaches, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and tremors (especially in the hands)
• Cardiovascular: Increased heart rate and blood pressure, sometimes tied to anxiety
• Neurological: Confusion and, in severe cases, seizures, which are serious and require immediate medical care
• Psychological: Mood swings, cravings, panic attacks, depression, and rebound anxiety

General Withdrawal (Days 5–14)

After the acute symptoms start to fade, most people move into a longer, less intense stage that lasts around 10 to 14 days. You might still feel off, but the symptoms are usually milder. Common experiences during this time include lightheadedness, chills, mild headaches or fever, nausea, anxiety, depression, and low motivation. For some, rebound anxiety may show up again between days 10 and 14.

Post-Acute Withdrawal (Weeks to Years):

Once your body stabilizes, you might still feel emotionally out of sync. Some people go through what’s called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)—a longer-term set of symptoms that may include mood swings, irritability, low motivation, and difficulty feeling pleasure. Not everyone experiences this stage, and not all experts agree on how to define it, but it can last from weeks to even years and often requires ongoing therapy to manage.

Why Knowing What to Expect from Valium Detox Matters

Understanding what to expect from withdrawal is essential because relapse often happens during this vulnerable time. The return of anxiety or physical discomfort can be overwhelming, and taking Valium again may seem like the easiest way to feel better. That is why quitting Valium cold turkey without medical support is risky. Professional help makes a huge difference in getting through withdrawal safely and building a foundation for long-term recovery.

Pride Detox will Help You with your Valium Detox.

Reaching out for help is a brave and important step in taking your life back from benzo addiction. That’s why it matters that your valium detox experience not only provides medical support but also understands and affirms who you are. For many LGBTQ individuals, treatment spaces can feel unsafe or retraumatizing, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With Pride Detox, you will find support groups and community resources that connect you with others who get what you are going through. Call us today at 1-866-465-6889 to move toward your goal of lasting sobriety.