Can Diazepam Damage Kidneys?
Diazepam is one of the most prescribed medications in the US and is used to treat things like anxiety, panic disorders, muscle spasms, sleep disorders, seizures, and is used in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Can diazepam damage your kidneys?
Diazepam is one of the most prescribed medications in the US and is used to to treat things like anxiety, panic disorders, muscle spasms, sleep disorders, seizures, and is used in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. It works by diminishing the hyperactive function in the brain and relieve anxiety and stress. So basically, it makes your brain less sensitive to outside stimulation while at the same time creating feelings of calmness and relaxation. Diazepam is a fast-acting and long-acting benzodiazepine and is only meant to be prescribed for a short amount of time due to its strength and long-term effects on your brain and body. 
Diazepam Can Damage Your Kidneys?
Diazepam use and abuse can cause havoc on your body as a whole and also to your individual organs. Your kidneys in particular can even be affected. The main function of your kidneys is to cleanse your blood of any toxins and turn the waste that is produced into urine. A study was done by Research Gate, where they tested the effects of diazepam on the kidneys of rats over a span of 28 days. It showed that since diazepam is a fat-soluble medication, it takes longer to be excreted, so it does effect the elimination process of the kidneys. Research gate states that
There are two general ways of diazepam being responsible for acute renal injury. First, they are affecting the hemodynamic aspect and destructing cells by its chemical compounds and their activities. Second, diazepam can decrease the blood pressure and lower blood flow to the kidney. This condition may lead to an ischemic condition of kidney which induces hypoxia condition in renal cortex cells.
Damage to Your Other Organs Caused by Diazepam
Diazepam probably does the most damage to your brain. There are multiple neurotransmitters located in the brain responsible for helping the nerves interact with each other. Diazepam works directly with these neurotransmitters and affects the communication flow between the nerves. When diazepam is taka a long period, it can cause brain damage resulting in short-term, long-term, and even permanent brain damage. Diazepam use long term can literally cause structural changes to you brain. It can even shrink the grey matter of your brain. This can lead to cognitive impairments like memory loss, impaired learning abilities, impaired movement and balance, depersonalization, an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s or dementia later in life, and a long list of other things.
Can Damage Be Lessened?
The best way to lessen the damage that diazepam has caused is to stop using the drug altogether. This lowers your chance of developing irreversible damage and heightens your chance that the damage already done can be fixed. In all diazepam abuse and addiction cases, medical detox is the best way to get off of diazepam. Here doctors and medical staff will help you every step of the way to help with the initial detox process. This process can be painful, and we do not recommend you try doing this on your own as it can even be deadly. However, it also gives you the best chance at avoiding relapse during such a volatile time.
Start Healing From Drug Abuse at Evoke Waltham
Treating addiction does need to go beyond detox, however. Once the drugs are out of your system, the real work in recovering can begin. Intensive and specialized treatment is the next step. Here you will have the opportunity to understand better why your addiction happened in the first place and learn new skills to stay sober going forward. If you are ready to get sober, we are here to help you through it.
