Anxiety can be debilitating, leading people to retreat from daily life and be unable to function properly as a result. It can interfere with core activities such as job performance, school, family and social relationships. It is estimated that more than 31 percent of American adults experience some form of anxiety at some point in their lives.
Fortunately, there are remedies for anxiety, including therapy and medication. In terms of the latter, several different types of medications may be prescribed that are specifically designed to alleviate anxiety. Valium is one of those medications.
As effective as Valium may be at reducing the symptoms associated with anxiety, it is highly addictive. But how can a person tell when it is time to start worrying that a substance use disorder may be developing?
What Is Valium?
Valium is one of many commonly used benzodiazepines, which are used as anti-anxiety drugs. Valium can be used to treat muscle spasms and seizures, and it may also be used to treat alcohol withdrawal. Sold under its generic name, diazepam, Valium works by slowing down brain and nerve activity to induce a sense of calm.
Side effects of Valium include:
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Muscle weakness
No other substances that slow activity in the brain should be used in conjunction with Valium, as this can lead to excessive drowsiness and even coma.
What Are the Signs of Valium Misuse?
Ideally, Valium should only be taken for a short period of time. More specifically, Valium should not be taken any longer than four months.
It is important to be cognizant of potential Valium addiction symptoms to identify and treat it right away. Signs of Valium misuse and addiction include:
- Hallucinations
- Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Lower inhibitions
- Engagement in risky behaviors
- Aggression
- Hostility
- Hyperactivity
- Seizures
- Convulsions
- Confusion
- Loss of bladder control
- Tremors
- Slower reaction time
- Poor judgment
- Depression
- Thoughts of suicide
Another telltale sign of misuse and addiction of Valium is an increased level of tolerance. Excessive, prolonged use of Valium leads to the need for an increased dosage to achieve the same effect. Oftentimes people who develop a tolerance over a short period of time take far more Valium than they may have been prescribed and may even be obtaining the drug from illicit sources.
As the dosage of Valium increases, so does the severity of symptoms.
See Related: Valium Overdose
What Happens When a Person Becomes Addicted to Valium?
If Valium misuse turns into a full-blown addiction, medical detox may be required to help you safely remove the drug from your system. The symptoms of withdrawal are typically extremely uncomfortable and can be enough to tempt you to start misusing Valium again.
In a medically supervised environment, you can safely and effectively wean yourself off the drug with the help of medical professionals. From there, you can enter treatment to help you learn the habits and behaviors needed to start living a life of sobriety. You can learn to live without the drug and make decisions that are no longer influenced by the misuse of Valium.
There are treatment centers in Columbus and surrounding areas that help people addicted to Valium and other drugs to learn how to establish and enjoy sober lives. To find out which rehab centers help to treat addiction to Valium and other similar drugs, contact The Recovery Village Columbus today.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.