How Long Do Benzos Stay in Urine?
Do Labs Test For It?

Benzos and woman in lab

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos” for short, are used to treat anxiety, agitation, insomnia, muscle spasms, seizures, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and more. On the whole, they’re viewed as being generally safe, at least when used in the short term. However, they sometimes generate what are termed “paradoxical” behaviors: behaviors that seem the exact opposite of what you would expect from the drug. Examples of paradoxical behavior include aggression, a loss of inhibitions, panic or agitation that actually becomes worse instead of better. Cognitive impairments are also sometimes noted in those using benzos.

Common street names for the different benzodiazepines include:

  • pills fall offRoofies
  • Rope
  • Xannies
  • Xanbars
  • Blue footballs
  • V’s
  • Howards
  • Tranks
  • Blue bombs

Background of the Substance…

Benzodiazepine can trace its lineage to 1955 when Leo Sternbach synthesized chlordiazepoxide (Librium) for the Hoffman-La Roche company. He was unimpressed with the pharmacological properties of the drug at the time however and shelved the project. Two years later his work was picked up by a co-worker named Earl Reeder who came across Sternbach’s crystalline samples and decided to submit them for more pharmacological testing. What he discovered was that chlordiazepoxide was a strong anti-convulsant with sedative and muscle relaxant capabilities as well. Startled by these findings the company rushed the drug to market under the name Librium and it was an instant hit.

As benzodiazepines quickly gained favor barbiturates fell out of favor. By the mid-1970s, in fact, benzos had pretty much replaced barbiturates as the world’s sedative of choice. Today, there are dozens of benzos on the market including:

  • benzos brandsAlprazolam
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Diazepam
  • Flurazepam
  • Halazepam
  • Nordazepam
  • Prazepam
  • Tetrazepam

At first, these new drugs were greeted by the medical community with enthusiasm but over time concerns began to arise about their addictive tendencies. In fact, the revelation of addictive qualities in benzos led to the largest class-action lawsuit in British history as thousands of patients sued over being kept in the dark about the risk of addiction.

What are the Side Effects of Benzos?

Benzos have myriad side effects including but not limited to :

  • medicine bottleSedation
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Aggression
  • Depression
  • Memory loss

Those who have been using this type of drug for a prolonged period may experience withdrawal symptoms upon putting it down. Those symptoms typically include agitation and insomnia among other things.

6 Factors Influencing the Duration of Benzos in Your System

Several factors, apart from the drug’s properties, can impact how long benzos stay in your system, including:

  1. The specific type of benzodiazepine consumed
  2. The individual’s metabolic rate, which affects the speed of drug processing.
  3. The dosage, method of ingestion, frequency, and duration of benzodiazepine use
  4. The individual’s physical health, which can influence drug metabolism and elimination.
  5. Personal characteristics like exercise, diet, weight, age, gender, and fluid intake
  6. Concurrent use of other substances is known as polysubstance use.

It’s important to consider these factors when determining the duration of benzodiazepines in the body, as they can vary among individuals. Benzodiazepines are classified as controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and primarily affect the central nervous system (CNS). They are commonly prescribed to address anxiety, sleep disorders, seizures, and various medical conditions.

Please note that the presence of benzodiazepines in the system can be detected through drug tests, including urine testing and blood tests, which are commonly used to monitor drug abuse and ensure safety in various contexts.

Do Employers Screen for Benzos in Urine Tests?

doctor and patient handshake

The typical 5-panel drug screening urine test most employers use does not screen for benzos. However, more advanced 10 and 12-panel tests do and those tests are becoming more commonplace as drug addiction becomes a larger and larger problem, and employers try to keep up.

So, How Long Are They Detectable?

Benzos such as Valium which are considered long-acting may be detectable in urine samples for 10 days to two weeks. While short-term benzos like Halcion should be clear of your system within two full days after use. In addition, if you have used something like Valium for years it will likely take several weeks for the drug to be completely clear of your system.

How Can I Pass a 10-Panel Test If I’ve Taken Benzos?

laboratory test

There are plenty of self-proclaimed experts out there who will tell you it’s not only possible, it’s easy to flush benzos out of your system. All you need is their miracle product. Don’t buy it. The only way to ensure you don’t test positive for benzos is to not take benzos. The only other way to ensure a clean test is to submit urine that is free of drugs and the best way to do it is to take detox drinks hours before your drug test.

Most people aren’t aware there is such a thing as detox drinks. And the drug testing companies like it that way because it means you are unlikely to purchase some to pass your next urine test.

However, you must be picky when it comes to your options of detox drinks as some products can be deceiving sometimes and would only bring about the undesired results of your test.

How It Works:

Detox drinks work for as long as you follow the instructions carefully. In the same manner with prescribed medicines, they take effect only when you observe the proper dosage and time of taking them. That said, you should be mindful of the fact that a detox drink represents the best chance of passing any drug test at any time. You should also keep the following in mind when purchasing and using a detox drink:

  • Make sure to mind your benzos intake – Rethink. Assess whether you are a light or a heavy user of benzos. Through this, you will be able to lay a schedule of when you will be starting your detox.
  • Make sure you arrange the time of your detox – Once you have evaluated yourself, it’s time to plan when to start taking detox drinks. If you heavily medicate yourself with benzos, then you probably should start detox drinking and avoid unnecessary medications at least 14 days to 48 hours before the urinalysis.
  • Make sure to take your detox drink fresh – By this time, you must be on your way to the company testing center. But, before that, users have given a piece of advice that aside from your detoxifying stage, you still must take detox drink like Rescue Cleanse at least 5 hours before having your urine tested. This is enough time to allow the drink to flush out a final wave of toxins from your system.

Drug tests don’t have to be the end of your career road. Detox drinks like Rescue Cleanse may be able to help you transcend the drug testing blues and keep your job. And, if you are serious about getting out of this mess, just click the button below or on your right to get started.

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