How long does valium work?!

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Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine. The following information is about the pharmacology of benzodiazepines in general.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. Benzodiazepines (BZD) exert their action by potentiating the activity of GABA. They bind to a specific receptor on the GABA A receptor complex, which facilitates the binding of GABA to its specific receptor site. BZD binding causes increased frequency of opening of the chloride channel complexed with the GABA A receptor. Chloride channel opening results in membrane hyperpolarization, which inhibits cellular excitation. Enhanced GABA neurotransmission results in sedation, striated muscle relaxation, anxiolysis, and anticonvulsant effects. Stimulation of peripheral nervous system (PNS) GABA receptors may cause decreased cardiac contractility and vasodilation. These changes could have the potential to alter tissue perfusion. The rate of BZD onset of action is determined by its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. The relatively lipophilic BZDs usually produce a faster onset of effect than the relatively water-soluble BZDs. BZD effects can be potentiated when ethanol is present as coingestant. Peak blood concentrations of most agents occur within 1-3 hours. After a single dose, the lipophilic agents can have a shorter duration of action (shorter CNS effect) than water-soluble agents because rapid redistribution from the CNS to peripheral sites (eg, adipose tissue); thus, lorazepam (water soluble) has a longer CNS duration of action than diazepam (lipophilic). However, diazepam metabolizes to active intermediates with prolonged half-life extending its therapeutic effects. BZDs are metabolized predominantly in the liver by oxidation and/or conjugation. Most BZDs are broken down into pharmacologically active metabolites, which may have longer half-lives than the parent compounds.

Simply put Valium and related drugs enhances the effects of GABA, the brains primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. By doing that synaptic transition is reduced and it becomes more difficult for cells to fire causing the brain to "quiet." With less activity in the brain it anxiety is reduced.

M.D., C.M. psychiatry, internal medicine (Québec)
Hons. BSc pharmacology

These are the metabolic data of diazepam. The maximum dosage=(Tmax). T1/2el=eliminatie, half of the diazepam is gone in 20-48 hours


Kinetic data
Tmax = tablet ?–1? hour. Stable plasmalevel after 7–14 days.
Metabolism in the liver into demethyldiazepam and into oxazepam
Elimination: like oxazepam. T1/2el =20–48 hours, 42–100 hours (demethyldiazepam).

So it has it's maximum effect in 1/2 upto 1,5 hours and half of the dosage is gone in 20-48 hours.

It will start to be felt within about 30mins to 1 hour, peaking just after 1 hour. The total effects will last between 3-4 hours,.. slowly falling off as the body metabolizes the drug. It has a very long half life so repeated daily doses can and do accumulate within the body.