How Long Does Valium Take to Work for Anxiety and Muscle Spasms?

Summary: Valium (also known as diazepam) is a prescription drug used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal. When you take it by mouth, it usually takes 30 to 60 minutes to start working. It works by boosting a chemical in your brain called GABA, which helps calm your nervous system down.

However, Valium comes with serious risks. The FDA has given it "boxed warnings," which are their strictest alerts, because it can be highly addictive. If you take it for a long time, your body gets used to it (tolerance), and stopping suddenly can cause bad withdrawal symptoms like depression, muscle twitching, and trouble sleeping. It is incredibly dangerous to mix Valium with alcohol or opioid drugs, as this can lead to slowed breathing, coma, or even death. Because of these risks, many people use natural, non-drug treatments for anxiety and muscle pain, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), yoga, massage, and acupuncture.

For more details, see Verywell Health at verywellhealth.com/how-long-does-it-take-valium-to-work-8576569 (opens in new tab)