Valium Taper Calculator
Diazepam is the Ashton Manual's preferred tapering benzodiazepine. Build your week-by-week reduction schedule below.
Valium (diazepam) is the benzodiazepine most tapers are built on. Its very long half-life — 20–100 hours, with an active metabolite that lasts even longer — creates a natural cushion: blood levels drift down slowly after each cut instead of dropping off a cliff. This is why the Ashton Manual uses diazepam as the gold-standard tapering medication and converts other benzodiazepines to it.
Enter your total daily diazepam dose below to generate a full percentage-based taper schedule, complete with dates and a printable chart for your prescriber.
Half-life
20–100 hours (metabolite up to 200h)
Ashton reference
10mg diazepam = baseline equivalent
Common tablets
2 / 5 / 10 mg (scored)
Liquid available
Yes (oral solution & concentrate)
Why diazepam tapers are smoother
Three properties make diazepam the most taper-friendly benzodiazepine. First, the long half-life smooths out the drops between steps — you're tapering a slowly draining reservoir, not a leaky bucket. Second, it's the least potent of the common benzodiazepines, so scored 2mg tablets allow proportionally tiny cuts (a quarter of a 2mg tablet is just 0.5mg). Third, a manufactured liquid exists for the final stretch where even 0.5mg cuts feel large.
If you're currently on a short-acting benzodiazepine and considering switching first, see our guides to the Xanax-to-Valium crossover and the step-by-step Ashton Method, or use our Ashton Method calculator.
Reading your diazepam schedule
The Ashton Manual's published diazepam schedules typically reduce by 1–2mg every 1–2 weeks at higher doses, shrinking to 0.5mg steps below 20mg — which is roughly what a 5–10% exponential taper produces automatically. That's what this calculator generates: each cut is a percentage of your current dose, so steps get gentler as you descend.
Because diazepam accumulates, expect a cut to take up to a week or more to fully register. Judge each step by how you feel at the end of a hold, not the beginning, and slow down whenever symptoms stack up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Valium taper take?
From 20mg daily with 10% cuts every two weeks, the schedule runs roughly 12 months; from 10mg, around 9–10 months. The Ashton Manual notes that tapers from higher doses commonly take a year or more, and that speed should always yield to symptom tolerance.
Why is diazepam preferred for tapering off benzodiazepines?
Because of its very long half-life (20–100 hours plus active metabolites), low potency that allows small cuts with ordinary tablets, and available liquid formulation. Together these make each reduction gentler and more precise than with short-acting, high-potency benzodiazepines like alprazolam or lorazepam.
What is the lowest dose of Valium before jumping off?
The Ashton Manual describes final jump-off points around 0.5–1mg of diazepam for many people, though some taper lower using the liquid. There's no single correct number — the right jump-off dose is the one you and your prescriber choose based on how the final steps have felt.
Is 5mg of Valium hard to come off?
5mg is a moderate dose, and stopping it abruptly after long-term use can still cause significant withdrawal. Tapering from 5mg with 10% cuts every two weeks takes about 7–8 months and is generally well tolerated. Enter 5 in the calculator above to see the full schedule.
Does this calculator work for tapering other benzos via Valium?
Yes. If you've already crossed over to diazepam from another benzodiazepine, enter your current total daily diazepam dose. If you haven't crossed over yet, see our Ashton Method calculator, which shows your diazepam-equivalent dose and explains the staged substitution process.
Sources & methodology
Equivalence values and reduction percentages follow the Ashton Manual (Prof. C. Heather Ashton, 2002), consistent with modern deprescribing guidance recommending gradual, patient-led benzodiazepine reduction and warning against abrupt discontinuation. This calculator performs arithmetic only — it is educational, not a prescription. Always work with your prescriber.