Valium Addiction:Taking Tranquilizers
Valium is a form of tranquilizer. More specifically, it is a benzodiazepine. It has many uses because of its sedative properties. The most common version of it is in the form of a prescription called Diazepam. It is often prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and other psychological illnesses by psychiatrists and family physicians. Valium is also used to treat hospitalized patients suffering from dementia, and patients who are in a detox facility that are going through withdrawal. Unfortunately, valium is only designed for short term use though in practice it isn’t always used that way.
Information has shown that the around 40-50 percent of people that use valium have become addicted at some point. The properties of it include dependence as a side effect. People who have an intentional addiction to this drug will often abuse other substances as well. It is possible, however, for people who have a genuine illness that is treated with valium to develop a dependence. Some people take it initially to deal with a stressor in their life such as post traumatic stress disorder, a reaction to job anxiety or problems with jitters. Because of the withdrawal symptoms experienced, you should’nt just stop taking the medication; it has to be a gradual reduction in dosage until you can stop taking it altogether.
Valium addiction, like many other addictions, can be identified by certain side effects and behaviors. If you suspect that a person may be dependent on it, look for the following symptoms: changes in personality, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, anxiety or paranoia, and irritability. You may also notice
clumsiness ,slurred speech, trembling, mental confusion.
It is important to make sure that the person seeks professional help for treatment in order to lower the dosage or change medications. Often it is the unbearable withdrawal symptoms that will drive them back to taking the valium. There can be many physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms and this is mainly why a professional needs to be consulted. The physician will help with the tapering process or through substitution to a different med.
Professional help can come in a few different forms. Help for Valium addiction can be reached through outpatient detoxification and follow up care. It can also be done through the admittance into a rehabilitation clinic. Either method will help treat the withdrawal symptoms that are experienced so that the process is a bit easier. Some people choose to do this through outpatient management at a mental health clinic. It depends on the degree of severity, self-discipline of the patient and other factors whether or not this is successful. Finding ways to deal with the root cause of the anxiety itself is a critical approach so that panic feelings don’t arise when there are frustrations, issues of loneliness, issues with deadlines and other situations that can cause shakiness and mental discomfort.
My mom has taken valium for years but she says it’s ok because it’s prescribed by her doctor. This has me worried. When she forgot it once on vacation she was extremely shaky. Was that valium detox symptoms or just that she was nervous? I have read that some use valerian as a substitute. I think it’s a herbal valium without a prescription. Not sure if it’s better or less addictive.
My mom may have a valium addiction because she takes one daily but when she has a lot going on she’ll take an extra one. I didn’t relaize it’s supposed to be for short-term use. I know when my aunt tried to cut back on her prosac dosage by skipping the afternoon dose she got the shakes. Is that a detox symptom of getting off prosac or maybe she’s just really nervous.