How Long Does Valium Last?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffectsDurationFactors That Affect Detection TimeEliminationSymptoms of OverdoseGetting Help

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Effects

Duration

Factors That Affect Detection Time

Elimination

Symptoms of Overdose

Getting Help

What is the most important information I should know about Valium (diazepam)?Valium can be habit-forming, even when it is taken as prescribed.You should never stop taking Valium without talking to your doctor first, as it can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.

What is the most important information I should know about Valium (diazepam)?

Valium can be habit-forming, even when it is taken as prescribed.You should never stop taking Valium without talking to your doctor first, as it can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.

Valium (diazepam) is a fast-acting, long-lastingbenzodiazepinethat is often prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. How long Valium lasts depends on a variety of factors, but it can be detected in the body for up to 90 days, depending on the sample tested. Typically, you’ll feel its effects from one minute to one hour after administration, depending on the route.

Benzodiazepines such as Valium were originally developed to replace more dangerous and addictivebarbiturates. However, these substances can still lead to physical dependence and addiction even when taken exactly as prescribed. Benzodiazepines like Valium are classified asSchedule IV controlled substances.

Valium can also have potentially dangerous interactions with other medications and substances,so knowing how long its effects last and how long it stays in your body can help minimize the risk of interaction side effects and accidental overdose.

How Long Does Valium Stay in Your System?Urine: Up to six weeksBlood: Up to 48 hoursSaliva: Up to 10 daysHair: Up to 90 days

How Long Does Valium Stay in Your System?

Urine: Up to six weeksBlood: Up to 48 hoursSaliva: Up to 10 daysHair: Up to 90 days

Urine: Up to six weeks

Blood: Up to 48 hours

Saliva: Up to 10 days

Hair: Up to 90 days

How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects?

If you take Valium, it’s important to know how long the drug stays active in your system to avoid associated risks.

Valium to Manage Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms

How Long Do Valium’s Effects Last?

Valium has a half-life of approximately 48 hours.The half-life of a drug is how long it takes for half of a dose to be eliminated from the body.

Valium levels typically peak in the bloodstream in about one to two hours.While the physiological effects may only last between four to six hours, the drug will be detectable in the body for much longer.

A 5mg dose of Valium, therefore, might have a half-life of around 50 hours, but small amounts may remain in the body for up to 90 days, depending on the testing method.

The metabolites of the drug may have much longer half-lives as well. Nordiazepam, for example, has a half-life of up to 100 hours. Valium also accumulates when people take multiple doses over a period of time, which can slightly prolong the total half-life of the substance.

Valium—or rather, metabolites associated with the medication—can be detected in the body in different ways.

Urine

Valium can be detected in urine for one to six weeks after being taken.

Blood

Valium is detectable in blood for six to 48 hours. Blood tests tend to be used less frequently than other test methods due to the shorter detection window and the more invasive nature of the test. However, a blood test may be used in some forensic settings or to confirm an unexpected positive urine test result.

Saliva

A saliva test can detect Valium for one to 10 days after it’s taken. Research suggests that saliva testing can be a viable alternative to urine testing for the detection of Valium and other benzodiazepines.

While saliva tests have a fairly long detection window, this type of testing can present some challenges. Valium side effects can include dry mouth or hypersalivation, which can affect the ability to collect an adequate sample or may dilute the amount of detectable substance in the oral fluid.

Hair

Like many other drugs, Valium can be detected with a hair follicle drug test for up to 90 days. The long detection window of this testing method means that it can be used to look for past drug use. If you have been prescribed Valium to treat anxiety or another condition, be sure to inform the testing lab, even if you are no longer taking your medication.

False Positive Testing

There are some medications that may cross-react with drug screens. There are reports of the antidepressant medicationZoloft (sertraline)and prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Daypro (oxaprozin) causing false-positive urine screens for benzodiazepines like Valium.

Always disclose any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking to the lab so clinicians can accurately interpret your drug screen results.

Other factors that can affect how long Valium stays in the body have to do with the specific prescription. The larger the dose and more frequently you take it, for example, means it will likely remain in your body for longer.

Why You Might Be TestedSome prospective employers order drug tests during the interviewing process to screen for possible drug misuse. Or, a doctor may want to make sure you don’t have traces of Valium in your system before prescribing another medication. Understanding how long Valium remains in your body can help you avoid potentially serious drug interactions.

Why You Might Be Tested

Some prospective employers order drug tests during the interviewing process to screen for possible drug misuse. Or, a doctor may want to make sure you don’t have traces of Valium in your system before prescribing another medication. Understanding how long Valium remains in your body can help you avoid potentially serious drug interactions.

How to Get Valium Out of Your System

While the effects of diazepam will begin to wear off after about six hours, it will take much longer for this long-acting benzodiazepine to fully clear your system. You may want to get Valium out of your system if you are experiencing unpleasant side effects or if your doctor is planning to switch you to another medication.

The first step to getting Valium out of your system is to stop taking the drug. However, you should never stop taking prescribed medication without talking to your doctor first.Your doctor may recommend gradually tapering your medication to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Because your body can develop a tolerance anddependenceon the substance, suddenly stopping your medication can decrease your body’s tolerance for the drug.

If you start taking it again at the same dose, it can result in an accidental overdose. Discuss your options for safely stopping your medication, which may involve a gradual reduction in your dose in order to avoid withdrawal effects, a process known as tapering.

Once you have safely stopped taking Valium, make sure that you stay well hydrated, eat a healthy diet, and get regular physical exercise. Such habits may help to slightly increase how quickly your body metabolizes and excretes the drug and its metabolites.

Benzodiazepines such as Valium are usually considered safe when they are taken as prescribed. However, there are a number of factors that can increase the risk of overdose.

These include taking Valium in combination with other central nervous system depressants or alcohol, taking more than your prescribed dose, or taking the drug more frequently than prescribed. Being aware of the signs of a Valium overdose is important so that you or a loved one can get help as quickly as possible. Some signs of a potential Valium overdose include:

If someone is experiencing these symptoms, contact emergency services right away.

Dangers of Sedative Overdose

Valium carries a risk of dependence. If you suddenly stop using Valium, you may experience symptoms ofbenzodiazepine withdrawal, which can include anxiety, nausea, seizures, insomnia, tremors, and mental changes including confusion and even psychosis. With longer-acting drugs like Valium, withdrawal symptoms may not appear for a few days after your last dose.

If you believe that you might have a physical dependence or addiction to Valium, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can offer advice and assistance. In some cases, you might want to seek help from a medical detox center, since benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be severe.

Treatment options for Valium use disorders may take place in inpatient or outpatient treatment centers and involve individual psychotherapy or support groups to aid in your long-term recovery. Effective treatments may involve tapering your dosage to manage withdrawal symptoms as well as psychotherapeutic approaches includingcognitive-behavioral therapyand contingency management.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pfizer.Diazepam.Yaffe K, Boustani M.Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer’s disease.BMJ. 2014;349:g5312. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5312Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Treatment improvement protocol series. Appendix B. Urine Collection and Testing Procedures and Alternative Methods for Monitoring Drug Use.Dhaliwal JS, Rosani A, Saadabadi A.Diazepam. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Nordal K, Øiestad EL, Enger A, Christophersen AS, Vindenes V.Detection times of diazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam in oral fluid collected from patients admitted to detoxification, after high and repeated drug intake.Ther Drug Monit.2015;37(4):451-60. doi:10.1097/FTD.0000000000000174Nasky KM, Cowan GL, Knittel DR.False-positive urine screening for benzodiazepines: An association with sertraline?: A two-year retrospective chart analysis.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009;6(7):36-9.Additional ReadingCalcaterra NE, Barrow JC.Classics in chemical neuroscience: Diazepam (valium).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2014;5(4):253-260. doi:10.1021/cn5000056Food and Drug Administration.Valium.Gunn J.Understanding the toxicology of diazepam.Pract Pain Manag. 2015;12(1).

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pfizer.Diazepam.Yaffe K, Boustani M.Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer’s disease.BMJ. 2014;349:g5312. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5312Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Treatment improvement protocol series. Appendix B. Urine Collection and Testing Procedures and Alternative Methods for Monitoring Drug Use.Dhaliwal JS, Rosani A, Saadabadi A.Diazepam. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Nordal K, Øiestad EL, Enger A, Christophersen AS, Vindenes V.Detection times of diazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam in oral fluid collected from patients admitted to detoxification, after high and repeated drug intake.Ther Drug Monit.2015;37(4):451-60. doi:10.1097/FTD.0000000000000174Nasky KM, Cowan GL, Knittel DR.False-positive urine screening for benzodiazepines: An association with sertraline?: A two-year retrospective chart analysis.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009;6(7):36-9.Additional ReadingCalcaterra NE, Barrow JC.Classics in chemical neuroscience: Diazepam (valium).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2014;5(4):253-260. doi:10.1021/cn5000056Food and Drug Administration.Valium.Gunn J.Understanding the toxicology of diazepam.Pract Pain Manag. 2015;12(1).

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Pfizer.Diazepam.Yaffe K, Boustani M.Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer’s disease.BMJ. 2014;349:g5312. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5312Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Treatment improvement protocol series. Appendix B. Urine Collection and Testing Procedures and Alternative Methods for Monitoring Drug Use.Dhaliwal JS, Rosani A, Saadabadi A.Diazepam. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Nordal K, Øiestad EL, Enger A, Christophersen AS, Vindenes V.Detection times of diazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam in oral fluid collected from patients admitted to detoxification, after high and repeated drug intake.Ther Drug Monit.2015;37(4):451-60. doi:10.1097/FTD.0000000000000174Nasky KM, Cowan GL, Knittel DR.False-positive urine screening for benzodiazepines: An association with sertraline?: A two-year retrospective chart analysis.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009;6(7):36-9.

Pfizer.Diazepam.

Yaffe K, Boustani M.Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer’s disease.BMJ. 2014;349:g5312. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5312

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Treatment improvement protocol series. Appendix B. Urine Collection and Testing Procedures and Alternative Methods for Monitoring Drug Use.

Dhaliwal JS, Rosani A, Saadabadi A.Diazepam. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

Nordal K, Øiestad EL, Enger A, Christophersen AS, Vindenes V.Detection times of diazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam in oral fluid collected from patients admitted to detoxification, after high and repeated drug intake.Ther Drug Monit.2015;37(4):451-60. doi:10.1097/FTD.0000000000000174

Nasky KM, Cowan GL, Knittel DR.False-positive urine screening for benzodiazepines: An association with sertraline?: A two-year retrospective chart analysis.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009;6(7):36-9.

Calcaterra NE, Barrow JC.Classics in chemical neuroscience: Diazepam (valium).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2014;5(4):253-260. doi:10.1021/cn5000056Food and Drug Administration.Valium.Gunn J.Understanding the toxicology of diazepam.Pract Pain Manag. 2015;12(1).

Calcaterra NE, Barrow JC.Classics in chemical neuroscience: Diazepam (valium).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2014;5(4):253-260. doi:10.1021/cn5000056

Food and Drug Administration.Valium.

Gunn J.Understanding the toxicology of diazepam.Pract Pain Manag. 2015;12(1).

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