In this article, I’m going to discuss how to use Valium for alcohol withdrawal. People who cross the line from heavy drinking to alcoholism are often shocked at how difficult it can be to quit drinking. Quitting cold turkey is painful and dangerous, and the process can be made much easier by taking a benzodiazepine like Valium for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
I remember vividly how over the span of about a year, quitting drinking after a binge went from merely annoying to psychologically exhausting and painful. Because I hated going to the doctor, I had no idea that I could have used a drug like Valium for alcohol withdrawal. Usually I endured prolonged periods of nervous exhaustion on my couch. Of course, it was only a matter of time before I drank and the process started all over again.
It’s important to understand that alcohol withdrawal is not all in your head. Symptoms like rapid heart beat, panic attacks, or a profound sense of impending doom can get worse and lead to fatal seizures. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms become more severe with repeated episodes because of a phenomenon known as kindling.
When I finally quit drinking, I was prescribed a benzodiazepine called Ativan for alcohol withdrawal. I was first given a shot of Ativan in the arm and then doctors tapered my oral doses slowly over the course of about 10 days.
Overview of Valium
Valium is in a family of anti-anxiety drugs called benzodiazepines. Valium is a brand and its generic name is diazepam. Other benzodiazepine brands include Librium, Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin.
All of these drugs can be effective for alcohol withdrawal symptoms because they reduce anxiety, prevent convulsions, and help with sleep. Because they vary in terms of strength and their length of effects, doctors choose between them depending on the patient’s symptoms.
Valium is effective at alleviating or preventing the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Headache
- Restlessness
- Panic attacks
- Tremors
- High blood pressure
- Delirium Tremens
Benzodiazepines work by activating GABA receptors in the brain, which are also stimulated by alcohol. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter associated with feelings of calm. Alcohol intoxication causes a spike in GABA and withdrawal involves a plunge in GABA. Many alcohol withdrawal symptoms (including panic and even seizures) are caused by insufficient levels of GABA in the brain.
Using Valium for alcohol withdrawal can provide temporary peace of mind and prevent severe symptoms from manifesting. Because of the effectiveness of Valium for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, hospitals often prescribe this drug to alcoholics and then gradually reduce the dose to taper them off of it.
Here are some things to consider before obtaining a prescription of Valium for alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
- Because everyone is biochemically different, another benzodiazepine may work better for you than Valium.
- Depending on the severity of your alcoholism, your doctor may recommend inpatient detox or prescribe you with Valium that you can taper off of while you quit drinking at home. If you quit drinking at home, make sure you have support and that you repair your body proactively!
- All benzodiazepines including Valium can be addictive, which is why they should only be used for a short period of time and in the lowest effective dose. When I quit drinking years ago, I tapered off of Ativan in less than two weeks.
- All benzodiazepines including Valium can cause overdose if too much is taken at once. Mixing these drugs with alcohol can be very dangerous and lead to blackouts.
- Even if you take Valium for alcohol withdrawal, you will still need to repair nutrient deficiencies caused by excessive drinking. You may also have other symptoms such as low motivation and depression that benzodiazepines cannot resolve.
- Using Valium for alcohol withdrawal is a great strategy for the short term, but in the longer term, it’s important to have external support and to renew your sense of purpose in life. When I quit drinking, I began a personal transformation that permanently altered my view of drinking culture while making me a much happier person.
How To Take Valium
Here are some things to consider as you take Valium for alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
- Only take Valium with a prescription and under the supervision of a doctor.
- Valium tablets are typically 2, 5, or 10 mg.
- Doses of Valium are often divided throughout the day, with 3 or 4 doses on the first day being a common practice.
- There is no standard dosage of Valium for alcohol withdrawal; a doctor can determine this depending on your situation.
- Most people do not need to take Valium for alcohol withdrawal for more than a few days or a week.
- To avoid dependence, do not use Valium for longer than you need it.
Further Considerations
By preventing complications caused by low levels of GABA in the brain, using Valium for alcohol withdrawal can help you have a much safer and more pleasant detox. Even if your symptoms aren’t severe, envisioning life without alcohol is hard enough. Nervous exhaustion and insomnia can make the task of quitting drinking seem nearly impossible.
But while Valium can help with getting off of alcohol, it is not a cure-all for the physical damage caused by alcoholism. Many people who use benzodiazepines like Valium end up relapsing because they feel tortured by depression or alcohol cravings after their taper ends. These other symptoms are often caused by the following problems that are NOT resolved by benzodiazepines:
- Low dopamine
- Low serotonin
- Magnesium deficiency (my life changed when I began taking magnesium!)
- B-vitamin deficiencies
- Other vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Poor liver health
Fortunately, there is a way to address all of these problems at once. Calm Support (read my review here) is an organic nutritional supplement designed specifically for rebalancing your mood. I wish it had been available when I quit drinking, because in my opinion it is by far the best supplement for repairing your body and brain after you quit drinking.
If I had to quit drinking all over again, I would take Calm Support as soon as I tapered off of Valium (or another benzodiazepine) for alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol addiction is a complex brain disorder and GABA is not the only neurotransmitter that needs to be addressed when you quit drinking.
The bottom line is that using Valium for alcohol withdrawal can be very effective, but it’s just the first part of a long process. Give your body what it needs during this time, and your mind will be sure to follow!
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the use of Valium for alcohol withdrawal. If you’re in the position that I was once in before I quit drinking, I feel your pain. Subscribe to my email list to stay posted on future articles that can help you down the road.
If you have any questions about how to use Valium for alcohol withdrawal, please leave them in the comment box below.
I bought Valli’s of the street in Scotland just to get of drink am so scared doctors won’t help me
I have been a heavy drinker for over 15 years and am ready to give up now after 2 detox i wont to do it myself as i think I have wasted there time and my sister has termain cancer and i really need to be there for her and her kid am feed up getting up gelling like shit I need to now how to do it at home safley reed valium can help can u give me advice please ready now
Hi Trisha, that’s great that you’ve decided to quit drinking. If you have a prescription for Valium or diazepam from a doctor, then the information in this article can help you safely feel better. Please review the section on standard dosage above. Only your doctor can determine the right dose for you.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This comment is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, trying any new supplements, medications, exercise or alcohol recovery programs.
I’ve relapsed on alcohol after a good period of sobriety. Just saw my Dr to get a home detox and was told no valium but to control my alcohol consumption as suddenly stopping could be dangerous. I am ready to stop now but withdrawal is awful. Lol that she thinks alcoholics can control drinking. Very uncaring.
Hi Jayne, unfortunately our medical establishment is broken when it comes to addiction.
As far as alcohol withdrawal goes, you might benefit from reading my articles about phenibut and kratom.
Also, replenishing your system with nutrients can help immensely in ending the severity of withdrawal.
Best of luck to you!
Once I came to the realization I am an alcoholic I tried to quit cold turkey and I became violently ill At the 19 hour mark.. At the time I relapsed for one day and went to my doctor the next day. He prescribed 5 my of valium and. Citalopram 20 mg. While fed not at 100% these meds have helped. I’m not dry heaving or vomiting and my tremors are greatly reduced. In at the 24 hour mark now and I go back to see him to follow up. My employer is very supportive and giving me all the… Read more »
Awesome, keep it up LuAnn!
Hi, I’ve just came off a horrendous bender after being 2 years sober. I’m shaking, sweating and in general feel awful. I have 10mg valium how often should I take this and will it help my withdrawal enough
Hi Victoria, only a doctor can determine the proper dose for you, since they have to take into account your medical history, bodyweight, tolerance, etc. Generally, a doctor will try to give you the minimum amount necessary to take care of symptoms without making you feel overly relaxed, zoned out, or “high.” They will then taper the dose for a few days as described in the article. Hope you feel better and best of luck to you! Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This comment is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease.… Read more »