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Valium Warning Signs and Diazepam Side Effects

hile medications like Valium can have a vital part in helping a patient struggling to cope with mental illness, these types of medications can also have devastating effects on a person if misused or abused. Other dire repercussions can result if the patient develops a serious drug addiction to the medication. Keeping an eye on the warning signs and side effects of a Valium addiction can be beneficial to help prevent any potential problems. Keep reading to learn what some of these Valium warning signs and side effects might be and how to combat the problems if they do arise as you take this medication.

What is Valium?

Valium (brand name for diazepam) is a medication commonly prescribed to help patients struggling with anxiety and panic disorders. Sometimes it is also prescribed for persons struggling with severe insomnia, alcoholism and muscle spasms. It is also occasionally used on patients prior to major surgeries. Valium is part of the group of medications known as Benzodiazepines. This psychoactive drug works by increasing the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The GABA is what reduces the activity of the brain neurons that cause anxiety and stress.

Valium Warning Signs:

valium warning signs

There are a few different ways a person can develop a tolerance for Valium and other benzo medications. Sometimes it is intentional misuse that causes the tolerance to build quickly and dangerously. Sometimes, a patient might have a history of substance abuse or might have a genetic or otherwise predisposition to addictive tendencies. In these cases, it can be likely that a person would develop an addiction to Valium. Knowing and understanding the warning signs associated with those can help you if you are someone that is prescribed and taking Valium as a medication. Or if you know someone who is taking the drug but is showing signs they might be addicted or building too strong of a tolerance.

Short term use for drugs like Valium is ideal when doctors prescribe the drug to their patients. Too consistent usage for too long of a time period results in changing neurons in the brain. The drug no longer inhibits the GABA as well as it did before. This means the patient will need to increase dosage or take it more frequently. This is exactly the combination that can quickly lead to a Valium addiction.

In addition, those who intentionally abuse drugs like Valium in order to get high, abuse in combination with other medications, drugs, alcohol and other substances, are at an increased risk to develop addiction, but also

Some warning signs a person might be addicted to Valium include:

  • Increasing dosage without consulting doctor
  • Taking it more frequently
  • Increase in panic attacks
  • Acts increasingly frustrated or irritated when they cannot take the drug or are unable to get a refill
  • Unable to function normally without it
  • Uses money to buy drugs illegally
  • Is secretive about taking the drugs
  • Begins to abuse other drugs and substances

All of these signs are indicative that a drug addiction might be occurring. If this sounds like you or someone you know, it may be time to discuss treatment options with your doctor.

There are many side effects to any pharmaceutical drug.

Valium side effects include:

  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Inability to talk or respond
  • Low blood pressure
  • Agitation

While these can be normal, prolonged experience of these side effects should be addressed promptly with a medical professional. However, there are some serious adverse side effects that can arise with the use of benzos like Valium. These may include:

  • Hypotension
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Apnea
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Skin rash
  • Blurred vision

Using Valium along with any other mind-altering drugs, substances and herbs can create a serious and possibly deadly combination for the user. Using drugs or substances while taking Valium can be fatal. If you or someone you know is misusing Valium and other medications and are seeking help, talk to your doctor right away.

Knowing the Valium abuse warning signs and side effects for addiction and adverse effects and reactions to the drug can help make you more conscious of the repercussions of taking a medication like Valium. If addiction to the drug becomes part of your daily life, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. There are a variety of Valium treatment and rehab options for those struggling with a Valium and benzo addiction.

Some warning signs of a person intentionally misusing Valium include:

Presentations of intentional malingering may include exaggerating symptoms of anxiety or insomnia; resisting access to outside medical records; deterioration or exacerbation of symptoms when medication dose is due to be reduced; a significant number of tests, consults, and treatments have been performed with little success; non-compliance with diagnostic or treatment recommendations; or evidence from tests disputes information provided by the patient.

Sources: medicalnewstoday.com

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

rehabselector.com

Drugs.com

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