Valium (diazepam) is a prescription benzodiazepine drug used to treat anxiety and seizures. It comes in tablet and liquid forms, which can be taken orally or injected. Like many other drugs, it can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms if misused or stopped abruptly after long-term use. Understanding how long valium stays in the body influences its effectiveness and safety for short-term use.
How long valium stays in your system depends on a variety of factors, including dosage and frequency of use, as well as how the medication is consumed. When valium is taken orally, it is broken down in the stomach before entering the bloodstream. If valium is injected, it bypasses the stomach altogether and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. The longer a person takes valium and the higher their dose, the more it builds up in their liver and fatty tissues, where it can remain for longer periods of time.
If a person is suspected of using Valium, a drug test may be conducted to evaluate the amount of the drug in their system. Unlike urine and saliva samples, which can only detect the drug itself, blood tests can determine the presence of metabolites, which are the breakdown products of Valium that pass through the liver and into the bloodstream. Blood tests have a shorter detection window than other types of testing, but traces of valium can still be found in the system for up to 24 hours.