Valium for Sleep: Does It Work, and What Are the Risks?

Valium (diazepam) is part of a group of medications called benzodiazepines. Valium tablets are FDA approved to treat short-term anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is also approved as an add-on medication to other treatments for muscle spasms and seizures.

Some benzodiazepines are prescribed on a short-term basis to help people who have trouble sleeping (insomnia). But most benzodiazepines, including Valium, aren’t approved for this use. In this article, we’ll discuss whether taking Valium for sleep is a good idea.

What’s Valium?

As mentioned, Valium is a benzodiazepine, or “benzo” for short. Benzos are part of a broad category of medications called sedatives, which are known for slowing down brain activity. Like other benzos, Valium works by attaching to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors (proteins) in the brain. This increases the activity of GABA, a brain chemical that has a calming effect.

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The FDA classifies all benzos as controlled substances. This means that they can cause physical or psychological dependence and misuse.

While benzos all work similarly, how long they last in the body varies. Valium is considered a “long-acting” benzo because it stays in your body for a long time — even up to a few weeks — after you take it.

Can Valium help you sleep better?

Valium may help you sleep better, but it’s not the best medication to treat insomnia or other sleep problems.

If you’re prescribed Valium for anxiety or another reason, it may also help you sleep. All benzos are known to cause sleepiness. But Valium isn’t FDA approved as a sleep aid. Benzos that are FDA approved for sleep issues — like Restoril (temazepam) — last for a shorter amount of time in the body. This makes it more likely that their sleep-inducing effects wear off by the time you wake up the next morning. 

Since Valium lasts so long in the body, you can take it before bedtime and its effects may still linger the next morning. This can cause daytime drowsiness and dizziness, which can be dangerous, especially if you’re driving or operating machinery.

Good to know: Even though some benzos, like Restoril, are approved to treat insomnia, they’re not first-choice medications. This is because all benzos come with significant risks, which we’ll talk about in the next section. Most experts recommend that benzos are not taken for too long (5 weeks or less) for sleep issues.

What are the risks of taking Valium for sleep?

There are significant risks associated with taking Valium for sleep, especially if you take the medication long term. We’ll discuss some of these risks below. But if you have questions about Valium for sleep, talk to your healthcare provider. They can discuss different medication options with you, based on your unique situation.

Drowsiness and dizziness

Drowsiness and dizziness are common Valium side effects. If you’re older or have liver problems, Valium may stick around in your body for a longer amount of time, making it even more likely you’ll experience these effects.

To be safe, avoid doing tasks that require alertness (like driving) until you know how Valium affects you. Benzos can increase the risk of having a car accident.

Falls

Benzos including Valium can make you feel sleepy and dizzy. This increases your risk of coordination problems and falling. Older people and those who have trouble with coordination or balance are especially at risk.

Falling can lead to fractures, especially in older adults. So it may be best for older adults to avoid diazepam and other benzos altogether.

Dependence and misuse

As mentioned before, Valium is a controlled substance. Taking Valium may lead to dependence and misuse. This is more likely if you have a history of substance use disorder.

If you start feeling like you need a dose of Valium before your regularly scheduled time, you may be developing dependence. Taking Valium for a longer period of time or at a higher dosage than intended are also signs of dependence and misuse. This can lead to the development of a substance use disorder.

To minimize your risk of dependence and misuse, only take Valium exactly how it’s prescribed. And take it for the shortest amount of time possible, at the lowest dosage possible.

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.

Withdrawal

Habit-forming medications like Valium can also cause withdrawal if you stop taking them abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms include nausea, restlessness, and a fast heartbeat. Withdrawal symptoms may appear up to 5 days after stopping treatment with Valium, and it’s possible to feel the symptoms for weeks. In rare cases, benzo withdrawal is more serious. Seizures, hallucinations, and even heart-related issues can occur. 

If you take Valium regularly and want to stop treatment, talk with your healthcare provider first. They can explain how to gradually lower your dosage to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Overdose

Between 2000 to 2019, over 100,000 overdose deaths involving benzos occurred in the U.S. Most often, benzo-related overdose deaths occur in people who also take opioids. They also commonly involve alcohol. This is why it’s best to avoid taking benzos with opioids, alcohol, and other sedatives.

Excessive drowsiness, trouble breathing, and confusion are all signs of a benzo overdose. If you think you took too much Valium, call 911 and get help right away, even if you don’t have symptoms immediately.

Drug interactions

Valium has a number of potential interactions. For example, combining Valium with alcohol, opioids, or seizure medications can increase the risk of falls and severe breathing problems.

To be safe, check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking Valium with any other medications, even ones sold over the counter. Giving your provider and pharmacist an updated medication list can help them check for interactions.

What are alternatives to Valium for sleep?

If you’re having trouble sleeping, let your healthcare provider know. Before considering any medications for sleep, they’ll likely want to talk to you about your “sleep hygiene,” or daily habits and practices that improve sleep. 

Having good sleep hygiene involves habits like avoiding screens before bed, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, and meditating to help you relax before bed. Exercising early in the day, getting direct sunlight in the morning, and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening may help, too. And these are just a few of the many lifestyle tweaks worth trying for better sleep.

Your provider may also recommend trying cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a first-choice option for treating insomnia. CBT-I involves reframing unhelpful thoughts you might have about your insomnia.

If improving your sleep hygiene and trying CBT-I doesn’t help — and your sleep issues are chronic, meaning that they occur at least three times a week for 3 or more months — your healthcare provider may recommend medication. Some options they may discuss with you are:

• Z-drugs like Ambien (zolpidem)

• Other benzos like Restoril

• Rozerem (Ramelteon)

• Orexin receptors antagonists like Dayvigo (lemborexant)

• Silenor (Doxepin)

Who shouldn’t take Valium?

Some people are more likely than others to experience harmful effects from taking Valium. Your healthcare provider might not recommend Valium for you if you:

• Are 65 years or older

• Have myasthenia gravis

• Have sleep apnea

• Have a history of substance use disorder

• Are pregnant

• Drink alcohol

• Take opioid medications

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Daphne Berryhill, RPh

Daphne Berryhill, RPh, has two decades of experience as a clinical pharmacist. She spent most of her career in the Chicago area practicing in-home infusion.

Edited by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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