Bipolar Disorder Treatment Valium to Manage Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 19, 2024 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print BSIP/UIG / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How Valium Works for Anxiety Before Taking Valium for Anxiety Side Effects Interactions Dependence and Withdrawal Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Trending Videos Close this video player Valium is a drug used for managing anxiety disorders and short-term treatment of anxiety symptoms. The drug, which is also sold under the generic name diazepam, works by actually slowing down activity in your brain. Valium can help people who need relief from anxiety, but it can also have side effects and risks you should understand before you begin taking this medication. At a Glance Valium is a type of benzodiazepine that may be prescribed to relieve symptoms of anxiety. It increases the activity of an inhibitory transmitter in the brain, which results in feelings of calmness, sleepiness, and relaxation. Keep reading to learn more about how Valium can help with anxiety as well as the potential risks you should consider. How Valium Works for Anxiety Valium works by increasing the availability of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system, which reduces symptoms of anxiety. The effects of GABA help calm anxiety, increase drowsiness, and relax muscles. For anxiety disorders, Valium begins working quickly to help reduce symptoms of anxiety. When taken orally, Valium usually begins to reduce anxiety symptoms within 15 to 60 minutes. Diazepam has a long duration, and the effects can last 12 hours or more. In bipolar disorder, Valium and other anti-anxiety medications in the same family can quickly help halt certain manic symptoms, such as agitation. This can give mood stabilizers enough time to kick in. Your physician may prescribe Valium just for a short period—generally just a few weeks or less—to treat manic symptoms in bipolar disorder. Valium also can be used to treat skeletal muscle spasms from conditions like inflammation or trauma, along with spasticity, a condition where your muscles contract involuntarily. Spasticity can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and even exercise and dehydration. In another use, Valium may be used as an add-on medication to help people who have seizure disorders. Finally, the drug may be prescribed to treat the symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal, where it may help control tremors, agitation and even the DTs (known in scientific terms as delirium tremens). Valium, which is potentially addictive, was one of the first drugs that are popularly known as the Benzodiazepine tranquilizers. It was approved in 1963. Before Taking Valium for Anxiety According to the manufacturer, Valium should not be given to children under the age of six months. Also, there are other possible contraindications in patients with sleep apnea, serious difficulty breathing, severe liver disease, or myasthenia gravis (a condition that causes weakness in your muscles). If you have glaucoma, it's possible that you should not take diazepam. Make sure you know whether you have open-angle glaucoma (where Valium use is okay as long as you are receiving appropriate treatment) or acute narrow-angle glaucoma (where Valium should not be used). You should contact your ophthalmologist if you are prescribed Valium. How Long Does Valium Last? Side Effects of Valium The most common side effects of Valium include: DrowsinessFatigueMuscle weaknessUnsteady gaitCognitive issues You shouldn't use alcohol or take anything else that makes you sleepy while taking Valium. In addition, if you're taking Valium to help treat a seizure disorder, you shouldn't stop taking it suddenly, because doing so may increase your risk for seizures. Possible Drug Interactions Because Valium slows the activity of your central nervous system, your doctor should be careful when prescribing other drugs that can affect your central nervous system. These include: Phenothiazine antipsychotics (including Compazine and Thorazine) Antipsychotics (including Zyprexa, Haldol, and Risperdal) Anti-anxiety medications (such as Xanax) Sedatives and hypnotics (including Ambien and Lunesta) Anticonvulsants Narcotic painkillers (such as Percodan) Anesthetics Sedative antihistamines (such as Benadryl) Barbiturates Certain antidepressants There also are several drugs that can potentially lead to increased Valium levels or even toxicity when taken with Valium. These include: Tagamet (cimetidine), prescribed for ulcers and excess stomach acidPrilosec (omeprazole), another drug for excess stomach acidOral ketoconazole, which treats fungal infectionsLuvox (fluvoxamine), used for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depressionProzac (fluoxetine), used for depression and anxiety You should always make certain both your physician and your pharmacist know what other drugs you're taking if you're starting a Valium prescription since it interacts with so many drugs. Overdose Valium should always be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It should never be combined with alcohol or other central nervous depressants. If Valium is taken in excessive doses or is combined with other depressants, an overdose may occur. Symptoms of an overdose can include extreme sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, weakness, trouble breathing, and unresponsiveness. How Long Does Valium Stay in Your Body? Dependence and Withdrawal Valium is a member of the benzodiazepine family. These drugs can lead to dependence even if you're only taking the prescribed dose. Valium can also be abused. You run a higher risk of this if you misuse the medication or have an underlying substance use disorder. Symptoms of withdrawal from Valium can be mild to severe and include: InsomniaHeadacheMuscle painSweatingRestlessnessIrritabilityAbdominal and muscle crampsTremorSeizures A temporary return of anxiety symptoms that are worse than before treatment was started also can occur. If you stop taking the drug suddenly, your withdrawal symptoms may be more severe. Your doctor can help you by designing a plan to taper down your dose gradually when discontinuing Valium. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Valium can potentially increase the risk of birth defects if you take it during pregnancy, and there is some risk that your baby will go through withdrawal if you take the medication during your third trimester. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. You also shouldn't use Valium if you're breastfeeding, since the drug will pass through to your baby in your breast milk. Keep in Mind Valium can be helpful for relieving anxiety, but other treatments are also available that can help. Your doctor may recommend Valium as a short-term treatment to give longer-term treatment approaches a chance to kick in. Other effective treatments for anxiety can include other medications such as antidepressants, beta-blockers, and buspirone. Different types of therapy can also be very effective for treating anxiety, including: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Exposure therapy Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) Lifestyle modification can also help, including getting regular exercise and practicing relaxation techniques. Therapy for Anxiety Disorders 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Edinoff AN, Nix CA, Hollier J, et al. Benzodiazepines: Uses, dangers, and clinical considerations. Neurol Int. 2021;13(4):594-607. doi:10.3390/neurolint13040059 Atagün Mİ, Oral T. Acute and long term treatment of manic episodes in bipolar disorder. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2021;58(Suppl 1):S24-S30. doi:10.29399/npa.27411 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Valium. Aylett E, Small N, Bower P. Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5 Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, et al. Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040 By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit