Benzodiazepines can stay in urine for anywhere from one day to six weeks after last use. The amount of time benzodiazepines will remain in urine will depend on the drug.
Short-acting benzodiazepines, like Xanax, will remain detectable in the urine for a shorter amount of time than long-acting benzodiazepines such as Valium or Librium.
Learn more about how long benzodiazepines can be detected in your system
Benzodiazepine Urine Detection Times
The length of time benzodiazepines will show up on a drug test can vary depending on which type of benzodiazepine drug a person has ingested.
Average detection times for common benzodiazepines include:
- alprazolam (Xanax) urine detection: 2 to 8 days
- lorazepam (Ativan): up to 5 days
- clonazepam (Klonopin) urine detection: 21 to 30 days
- diazepam (Valium): up to 6 weeks
- chlordiazepoxide (Librium): 1 to 6 weeks
- triazolam (Halcion): up to 3 days
- temazepam (Restoril): up to 1 week
Factors That Affect How Long Benzodiazepines Stay In Urine
The amount of time it takes for a drug to be fully processed and eliminated from the body can vary from person to person. A wide range of factors can affect this.
Factors that can affect how long benzodiazepines stay in urine include:
- age
- metabolism
- dose taken
- frequency of use
- duration of use
- use of other drugs
- kidney and liver function
- body fat percentage
People who are older, have poorer health, or have been taking benzodiazepines for a long time may have longer detection windows than average.
How To Clear Benzodiazepines From Your Urine
Quitting benzodiazepines all at once to get them out of your urine can be dangerous. For people who are addicted or drug-dependent, this can trigger moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms.
Getting off benzodiazepines for a long enough time to test negative requires a gradual tapering process. For some, this can take a few weeks. For others, it can take months.
The safest and most effective way to get off benzodiazepines is to seek professional support through an inpatient or outpatient detox program.
Finding Treatment For Benzodiazepine Addiction
Overcoming an addiction to benzodiazepines is possible with a strong support system. By calling our helpline, we can help you find a drug treatment program that’s right for you.
Call today to find a treatment center that offers benzodiazepine detox and addiction treatment.
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- American Family Physician—Urine Drug Tests: Ordering and Interpreting Results
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p33.html - Redwood Toxicology Laboratory—Laboratory Reference Guide
https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/Programs/CIP/events/redwood/LAB_Reference_Guide.pdf - U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—Prescription CNS Depressants DrugFacts
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-cns-depressants
