Addiction Experts

with Adam Cox

Benzodiazepine addiction: honest help with diazepam, Valium, Xanax and street benzos

Please read this first

Never stop taking benzodiazepines suddenly. Withdrawal can be severe, and FRANK warns it can cause fits. Whether they were prescribed or not, speak to your GP, prescriber or pharmacist before you change how you take them.

Mixing benzos with opioids, alcohol, pregabalin or gabapentin can slow or stop your breathing, and FRANK says it raises the risk of overdose and death. Call 999 if someone has a fit, is very drowsy and can’t be woken, or their breathing is slow or shallow.

Street benzos sold as Valium or Xanax often don’t contain what they’re sold as, and FRANK says they can be far more dangerous. FRANK adds that they often come in blister packs, which can make them look legitimate and safe when they aren’t. FRANK is confidential and open 24 hours on 0300 123 6600. If you’re feeling hopeless, call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time.

Benzodiazepines, often just called benzos, include diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Diazepam is prescribed for things like anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms. The NHS says it should only be used short term, up to 4 weeks, because taking it for longer can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms. FRANK adds that some people get withdrawal symptoms after a relatively short time.

A lot of people who end up dependent on benzos started with a genuine prescription during a hard time. Others started with pills bought online or from a friend to calm their nerves or get through a comedown. However it started, I won’t judge you for it, and the most important thing is getting the right support to change it safely.

Signs benzos have become a problem

FRANK says benzodiazepines can cause both psychological and physical addiction, and that tolerance builds over time. Signs to look out for include:

  • Needing more than you used to for the same effect
  • Taking them for longer than the short course you were prescribed
  • Headaches, sickness, anxiety or confusion when you go without
  • Getting extra from friends, online or the street
  • Worrying about running out, or needing them to face the day
  • Memory gaps, or feeling foggy and slow

Where to get help in the UK

  • Your GP or prescriber. The most important person to talk to. They can check how you are and plan any change safely, which matters because benzo withdrawal can be dangerous.
  • Your pharmacist. Free, confidential advice about benzos and how they mix with your other medicines.
  • FRANK. Confidential advice 24 hours a day on 0300 123 6600, or text 82111. Read FRANK’s guide to benzodiazepines.
  • Local drug services. Especially if you’re using street benzos or other drugs. They’re free and you can contact one yourself. Find support near you
  • Support groups. Narcotics Anonymous (helpline 0300 999 1212, 10am to midnight) and SMART Recovery run free meetings in person and online.
  • For family and friends. Adfam offers advice for families, and Addiction Family Support has a helpline on 0300 888 3853.

Where hypnotherapy fits

Hypnotherapy is not a treatment for benzodiazepine dependence, and I don’t offer it as one. Your GP or prescriber needs to be part of any change to how you take them, and I will never tell you to stop or cut down a medicine.

Where I can help is alongside that care. Most people take benzos because of anxiety, panic or poor sleep, and those don’t disappear when the tablets change. Sessions can help you learn to calm your body, manage anxious thoughts, sleep better and build confidence in coping without reaching for a pill. The work of changing is still yours, but sessions can make it feel more manageable.

Before we work together I’ll ask whether you’re getting support from your GP, prescriber or a drug service. If I think you need that first, I’ll tell you honestly.

Things that can help day to day

  • Speak to your GP, prescriber or pharmacist before you change how you take them. That includes stopping, cutting down or adding anything new.
  • Don’t drink alcohol with them. The NHS says not to drink while taking diazepam, as it can increase the risk of side effects.
  • Tell your GP or pharmacist about everything you take. That includes painkillers, sleeping pills and anything bought online, so they can spot risky combinations.
  • Practise a simple calming skill daily. Slow breathing for a few minutes, twice a day, gives you something to fall back on when anxiety rises.
  • Get help with the anxiety itself. In England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies for free.

Benzos are often taken alongside other medicines or drink. My pages on sleeping pills, pregabalin, heroin and opioids and alcohol cover those.

Common questions

Is diazepam addictive?

It can be. The NHS says diazepam should only be used short term, up to 4 weeks, and that taking it for longer can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms. FRANK says benzodiazepines can be highly addictive, which is why they’re mainly recommended only for short-term use.

How do I come off diazepam safely?

Speak to your GP, prescriber or pharmacist before you change how you take it. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal, and FRANK warns benzo withdrawal can cause fits. Your doctor can plan any change with you so it’s done safely. Please don’t do it on your own.

Are street Xanax and Valium safe?

No. FRANK says street benzos are unpredictable in content and strength, often don’t contain the drug they’re sold as, and can be far more dangerous. Benzodiazepines are Class C drugs, so having them without a prescription is illegal.

Is it confidential?

Yes. What you tell me stays between us. As with any therapist, the only exception is if I believed you or someone else were at serious risk of harm.

I’m worried about someone else’s benzo use. What can I do?

Encourage them to talk to their GP, and make sure they know not to stop suddenly. If they’ve mixed benzos with drink or other drugs and you can’t wake them, call 999. Adfam and Addiction Family Support are there for you too.

Talk it through

If you’re already getting support and want help alongside it, book a £49 consultation call. We’ll talk about whether sessions would help with what you’re already doing. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis afterwards.

Book a consultation (£49)

Written by Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist. This page does not give dosing advice. Sources: FRANK, benzodiazepines; NHS, diazepam; NHS, drug addiction: getting help. Checked October 2026.