Last Updated on August 20, 2021
Valium is an anxiolytic and muscle relaxant, which is widely used in healthcare. This drug is one of the most long-acting benzodiazepines, which is why millions of people use it for anxiety. Learn more by reading below.
Valium – Long-Lasting Relief from Anxiety
The treatment of a broad range of medical conditions requires the use of medicines known as benzodiazepines. One of the best-known representatives of this class is Valium. This medication has been on the shelves of drugstores for more than 60 years. It has helped millions of people cope with their health problems and improve their quality of life. Valium is a prescription-only medication. Due to some habit-forming potential of the drug, its active substance, diazepam, is controlled. Therefore, you can get this preparation only after a visit to your doctor’s office on condition that your GP considers the potential benefits of using Valium prevail over the possible risks.
How Does Valium Act? How Fast Can It Help Your Condition?
Your GP may recommend taking Valium for several reasons. Based on the FDA label for this medication, it is intended to treat the symptoms of anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, skeletal-muscle spasms, and spasticity in people with cerebral palsy. Valium is also effective as an adjunct therapy in convulsive disorders. Along with the on-label uses, Valium can also be prescribed off-label to improve restless leg syndrome and insomnia. This preparation influences the GABA neurotransmitters in the brain, intensifying their activity. This results in pronounced anxiolytic, muscle-relaxant, and calming effects. Depending on the route of administration, the onset of the effects comes within 1 – 5 minutes (for Valium injections) or within 15 – 60 minutes when used orally. The effects of Valium last for about 4 – 6 hours, yet the preparation stays in your organism for much longer. In some people, it may be detected in blood three months past the last intake.
Choosing the Best Valium Dosage
Valium is a drug you should use only by prescription. The dose of the drug should be individualized to reach the best results in treatment. So the choice of the most appropriate dosage is a task for your healthcare provider. Depending on the recommendations you get, choose one of the available Valium pill dosages: 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg. It is likely that your doctor will advise you to start with a smaller dosage and gradually titrate it up to reach the desired therapeutic effect. Such an approach to choosing the dosage has two reasons. The first one is to find the lowest effective dose of the preparation. The second one is to minimize the risks of unwanted reactions, which are more likely to happen if you begin your treatment with a high dose of the medication. So follow the guidelines given by your doctor to get the most benefit.
General Recommendations for Valium Intake
While the choice of the dosage should be individualized, some recommendations on Valium use are common for all people using this medication. Have a look at some pieces of advice for Valium users. By following them, you can make your therapy not only more effective but also much safer.
– If you use the tablet form of the drug, swallow the pills without chewing or crushing them. Wash them down with a glass of water. Don’t use grapefruit juice for this purpose as it interferes with the drug metabolism. This slows down the clearance of diazepam from the body, which may result in drug overdose and more intense adverse reactions.
– You can ingest Valium regardless of meals unless your doctor says different.
– It’s better to take the medication at the evenly spaced time, at the same hours daily. This will help you not to forget about the pill and keep the levels of diazepam in the body at stable levels, which is better for effective treatment.
– Be careful taking any other medicines when on Valium. It can dangerously interact with opioids and other CNS depressants. In some cases, the concomitant use of these preparations may be lethal. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are going to use with Valium to avoid the risks.
– The maximum duration of treatment with Valium shouldn’t exceed four weeks. Otherwise, there is a high risk of developing tolerance and dependence on the drug.
– You should stick to the dosage and the frequency of taking the pills set by your doctor. Don’t change your dosing schedule without consulting your healthcare provider.
– If used for longer than a month, Valium may not work as well as it used to. Consult a doctor about dose increase or substitution of Valium with other medication.
– Whenever you decide to taper off the therapy, do it by gradually reducing the dosage. If you stop using Valium abruptly, you risk developing withdrawal syndrome.
Valium is a potent treatment for anxiety and panic disorders, as well as many other medical conditions. Still, it shouldn’t be used uncontrollably. It’s only up to your doctor to decide whether Valium is the best treatment for your medical condition or not. So make sure you talk to your GP before ordering Valium online.