Ativan Addiction

Most families hope they never have to deal with addiction. Family members might try and ignore the early signs of a problem, thinking it will resolve without any confrontation or outside assistance. But when it comes to Ativan (lorazepam) addiction, the problem only gets worse. People who struggle with Ativan addiction need the help of their families and a qualified treatment program in order to heal.

Ativan Basics

Understanding Ativan side effects and withdrawal symptoms helps families recognize warning signs in their loved ones. Ativan is a prescription drug used to treat anxiety disorders, seizures, insomnia and alcoholism. These conditions stem from unusual electrical activity in the brain. Ativan soothes overactive brain cells and allows brain activity to drop to more reasonable levels. Often those who need Ativan only take it for a short period of time. This typically provides adequate control in the beginning phases of treatment allowing those who use the drug to feel better and begin additional therapies.

Ativan Dangers

Ativan is highly habit forming. Using the drug for longer periods of time or in larger amounts than prescribed by a doctor can quickly lead to addiction. Because Ativan produces sensations that users find pleasurable, a psychological dependence on the drug is part of the problem. Because the drug produces feelings of euphoria, it may be difficult for users to see that Ativan can cause a great deal of damage.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the following are the short-term side effects of Ativan abuse:

  • Drowsiness
  • Slurred speech
  • Poor concentration
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Problems with memory
  • Problems with movement
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Slowed breathing1

Because of its sedating effects, there is an increased risk of accidental overdose and death associated with Ativan abuse. This is particularly true when people combine the pills with other sedating substances like alcohol or prescription painkillers. In a few cases, Ativan has been known to produce a more manic experience for the user.

This response can cause other types of serious issues including:

  • Violence
  • Delusions of danger
  • Criminal activities
  • Aggression
  • Law enforcement action

Those who struggle with Ativan addiction are often incapable of expressing emotion, making healthy relationships with family members and friends almost impossible. Without help, those who are addicted to Ativan may become isolated to the point of feeling they are completely alone. These behavioral patterns can quickly lead to thoughts of suicide.2

Steps to Recovery

The changes Ativan produces inside the cells of the brain are so prominent and so severe that removing the drug abruptly can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. That’s why getting help through medically-supervised detox is so important. Medically-supervised detox gives patients the chance to rid their bodies of the toxins of the drug in a safe way. By enrolling in a formal treatment program that provides supervised withdrawal, those who struggle can slowly transition into a life that doesn’t involve drugs.

Once detox has ended, treatment can begin. Diagnosis of any underlying mental illness contributing to or causing the problem is an important part of the process. If a co-occurring disorder is present, treating the conditions simultaneously greatly increases the likelihood of recovery.

Getting Started

At Black Bear Lodge, we offer a supervised program that allows residents the chance to step away from everyday concerns and truly focus on recovery. Our master’s-level counselors provide the therapeutic support people need to understand their addiction. We augment that care through a number of innovative treatments, including experiential therapy and art therapy. The help and supervision we provide, as well as assistance from consulting physicians, are firm steps on the road to recovery.

If you or your loved one struggles with Ativan addiction, we are here for you. Call us at 706-909-9811 to speak to an admissions coordinator about available treatment options.

How to Help a Family Member With an Ativan Addiction

Discovering that a beloved family member has an Ativan addiction can be devastating. Feelings of anger, guilt and betrayal are common, as are overwhelming sensations of sadness and loss. But, when the shock wears away, it’s time for family members to pitch in and aid in the recovery process. By doing so, they may help the addicted person to heal, and they may experience their own emotional recovery at the same time.

Start With Research

Ativan can steal a person’s ability to think clearly and plan for the future. As a result, people who have these addictions are often in no position to enter into long research projects involving care options and payment considerations. They may need help from their families, and that means a little research is in order.

Family members can start by determining what other types of drugs the person takes in combination with Ativan. It might seem unlikely that the loved one would mix and match drugs in this way, but a study from the Journal of Psychiatric Research suggests that people who abuse benzodiazepines often do so in order to ameliorate the negative effects of other drugs. They might take pills to boost the effects of alcohol, for example, or they might take Ativan to help them deal with the sped-up feeling cocaine can bring about.

Since different drugs can cause different types of withdrawal symptoms, it’s vital for family members to obtain a complete list of the drugs and the doses the person takes on a regular basis. This is the kind of information the treatment team will need, so it’s important to get that data pulled together before therapy begins.

Family members should also think about the possibility of an underlying mental health disorder that could complicate care. People who abuse Ativan might have an anxiety disorder, and that feeling of worry might drive their drug use.

Or, they may have undiagnosed mental health problems after enduring a traumatic episode, such as:

  • A car accident
  • A physical assault
  • A terrorist attack
  • A natural disaster

Survivors of episodes like this might have latent anxiety that only Ativan seems to touch, and their use of the pills might quickly spiral into abuse.

Find Help

Once families understand the drug abuse history and the mental health status of the person in question, they’re in an excellent position to find the proper treatment facility that can help. As they research their options, they can simply state the needs the addicted person has, and they can compare notes about each facility’s capacity to handle the problem in question.

Once the person enters a treatment program, the family’s work might not be done. For example, in a study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, researchers state that family therapy can help people with anxiety disorders and other mental health issues to control their symptoms. As they learn alongside their families, they gain a level of control and mastery that may have eluded them in the past, and the family will know more about how to assist. Those families that stay involved in healing like this could provide the addicted person with vital assistance that leads to long-term gains.

If you’re researching your options for a family member in your midst, we hope you’ll call us at 706-909-9811.

How Ativan Affects Your Eating Habits and Appetite

Ativan is a benzodiazepine, prescription narcotic that is primarily used to treat short- and long-term anxiety disorders and seizure disorders. The drug depresses the central nervous system, causing several neurological side effects such as drowsiness, apathy, and mood swings, but the use and abuse of this drug also has many physical side effects.

Many people are unaware of the significant impact medications can have on their metabolism, appetite and weight gain/loss.

Common Ativan Side Effects

More common side effects of Ativan use include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Appetite changes

Weight Gain & Weight Loss

Studies on Ativan use have documented that the drug can cause both weight gain and weight loss. The effects of Ativan, like any other medication, are dependent on a dozen factors like other medications being used, genetics, pre-existing health conditions, and more.

A decrease in appetite and weight loss are more common side effects of Ativan when the drug is taken short-term, whereas long-term Ativan use is more likely to result in weight gain.

Any central nervous system depressant works by slowing down brain activity and as a result the rest of the body’s organs function slower than usual while the drug is present. This can slow down the digestive system and affect one’s metabolism and perhaps lead to weight gain.

Ativan As a Benzodiazepine

Another possible reason the drug could lead to weight gain is due to the general side effects of using a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepine’s cause tiredness, drowsiness or apathy and this can impact how active a person is, ultimately affecting weight gain. The motivation to exercise may be depleted by the drug’s sedating and calming effects. Furthermore, Ativan is addictive, and this can also have a significant impact on appetite, eating habits and weight fluctuations.

When people become physically dependent and psychologically addicted to a substance, they lose control over their behavior.

Feeding the addiction becomes a necessity and things like nutrition, exercise, and other responsibilities fall to the wayside. This can result in overeating, under-eating, eating to fend off withdrawal symptoms, having no energy to workout, or having little to concern about eating. When addicts become so consumed with their addiction, they place all their time, focus and energy into maintaining a life that supports their addiction, or allows it to continue. This is one reason why several drug addicts experience a change in their diet, eating habits, weight and physical appearance.

If unwanted side effects do arise from Ativan use, patients should talk to their doctor or pharmacist immediately to avoid any serious damage.

Ativan Help

If you’re concerned with your Ativan use and would like to learn more from a recovery professional, you can call our toll-free number, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 706-909-9811. Our recovery professionals are happy to assist you with all of your questions, concerns and needed information regarding Ativan.

For those of you seeking drug abuse, dependence or addiction treatment, we have connections to a wide-array of quality treatment services all across the globe and can help you find the options that are right for you and your unique needs. Only you can make the decision to better your health; if you’re ready, people are ready to help you the rest of the way. So call and ask for help today.

How Long Does It Take to Become Addicted to Ativan (Lorazepam)?

The amount of time it takes to become addicted depends on you. It depends on your individual mental and physical health. It depends on biological and environmental factors. To understand Ativan addiction and its risk factors is to better understand how, why, and when you became addicted.

What Is Ativan?

Ativan is a brand name for lorazepam. This is a drug in the benzodiazepine family. All benzodiazepines slow the central nervous system. They attach to receptors in the body and make the neurotransmitter GABA more effective. GABA is in charge of reducing neuron excitability.

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry3 explains that people with anxiety disorders, “have reduced numbers of benzodiazepine receptors in key brain areas that regulate anxiety responses.” When Ativan makes GABA more effective, it calms anxiety symptoms. It also causes sedation and other wanted and unwanted side effects.

Ativan can be a useful tool in managing mental health, but it can also cause problems such as dependence or addiction. People who self-medicate or use Ativan for non-medical purposes typically become addicted faster than those who use the medication as prescribed. However, there isn’t a set timeline for addiction development.

How Does Ativan Addiction Begin?

Ativan works quickly. American Family Physician4 shares, “Benzodiazepines generally produce almost immediate effects, and thus may be prescribed for short-term, intermittent, ‘as-needed’ use. Because many of the anxiety disorders wax and wane over time, patients with these disorders often prefer benzodiazepines because these agents can be taken intermittently, when patients feel the need to take them.” While this can aid in symptom management, “as-needed” can become more and more often as tolerance increases.

When you take a drug like Ativan regularly, the body becomes used to its presence. You need to take more of the drug more often to continue feeling its effects.

You will also begin to experience more unwanted side effects. Your addiction risk increases. However, when you don’t take Ativan, you may experience rebound or withdrawal symptoms that make you think you feel worse without it. You take regular and increasing amounts of the drug. You begin to depend on it for more than symptom management or a pleasurable “high.” You begin to need it just to feel “normal.”

This is the first sign of addiction. Tolerance and dependence can occur over weeks, months, or even years. It can begin gradually, or it can begin quickly.

What Factors Influence Ativan Addiction? What Factors Influence Recovery?

Your physical health changes how quickly Ativan affects your mind and body. Your mental health influences it as well. Genetics play a role in addiction development. Your personal history does too. So many factors influence if and when addiction develops. So many factors influence how your addiction should be treated.

Recovery professionals at Black Bear Lodge ensure you get the personalized care you need for complete wellness. Treatment should include medical support for conditions such as chronic pain or health issues related to substance abuse. Treatment should include mental health care to address co-occurring anxiety and addiction issues. Some mental health issues may have existed before your addiction and influenced how quickly it developed. Others may be a result of Ativan use.

The International Journal of Geriatric Psychology5 found that benzodiazepine users, “were 1.6-fold more likely to develop new depressive symptoms in 1 year when compared to non-users…The use of benzodiazepines may precede the development of depressive symptoms.”

No matter which came first, addiction and other mental health concerns need to be treated at the same time. Mental health issues can mask addiction and vice versa. Untreated symptoms can trigger relapse. Learn more about integrated services and long-term recovery support. Call Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811 and talk with us about your individual recovery needs and treatment timeline.

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How Much Is Too Much? Ativan (Lorazepam) Overdose

How do you know how much Ativan is safe to take? The therapeutic dosage range for Ativan, or lorazepam, must be determined by a physician or other health care provider with prescriptive authority.

The right dose for you will depend on a number of factors:

  • The condition being treated (anxiety, insomnia, seizures or muscle spasms)
  • Your age and health history
  • Your prior experience with drugs in the benzodiazepine group
  • Your response to the drug

If you follow your provider’s instructions on how much Ativan to take, when to take the drug, and how long you should use it, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience any severe side effects. But users who take lorazepam for nonmedical reasons are in danger of over-sedation, nausea and vomiting, respiratory complications, unconsciousness, amnesia, and other adverse reactions. All of these symptoms could indicate that the user has overdosed on Ativan.

Preventing an Ativan Overdose

Preventing an Ativan overdose isn’t difficult if you stick with your doctor’s guidelines. If you have a history of drug abuse or alcoholism, or you’re being treated for a psychiatric condition like anxiety, it’s important to check in with your doctor or therapist on a regular basis to monitor your response to the medication.

If the medication seems to have lost its effect, you may have developed a tolerance to the drug, or the need for a higher dose to achieve the same results. Taking large doses of Ativan for a euphoric high can impair your judgment, making it easier to take risks with this psychoactive drug.

The most effective way to prevent an overdose of lorazepam is to avoid using the drug for recreational reasons.

How to React to an Overdose

What should you do if you’re with someone who has taken too much lorazepam? Unless you know how much of the drug the user has ingested, and whether he or she has taken other substances at the same time, it will be very hard to predict the effects.

Signs of a possible overdose include:

  • A sudden lack of physical coordination
  • Disorientation to person, place or time
  • Severe drowsiness or passing out
  • Very slow, delayed movements and reflex responses
  • Extremely slow breathing

In Danger? Call 911

If you believe that your friend or loved one is in danger, call 911 for help. A person who’s having difficulty breathing, who collapses, or who becomes severely confused is in serious trouble and requires emergency medical attention.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an Ativan overdose may be treated with flumazenil, a medication that can counteract the effects of lorazepam. Flumazenil can only be given under a doctor’s orders in a medically supervised setting.

Who Is at Risk of Overdosing?

Users who take Ativan without a doctor’s prescription, people with a history of drug or alcohol addiction, and individuals with a habit of combining addictive substances have the highest risk of an overdose. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry states that most individuals who abuse benzodiazepines for recreational purposes are polydrug users, who habitually take alcohol, opioids or tranquilizers at the same time. In a state of extreme intoxication, it’s difficult — or impossible — to know how much Ativan is too much.

If you or a loved one is abusing Ativan recreationally, you shouldn’t feel alone. The nonmedical use of benzodiazepines has increased dramatically in recent years, partly because they are so widely prescribed.

If you’re afraid that your prescription drug use has gotten out of control, call the admissions coordinators at Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811 for a confidential discussion of your needs. Located in a secluded setting in northern Georgia, we offer personalized rehab treatment in an inspiring natural setting. Contact us to begin the healing process today.

Lorazepam Abuse Has Permanent Side Effects

Lorazepam, the generic drug found in products such as Ativan, is a psychotropic depressant that sedates the central nervous system to help with anxiety and seizures. Patients with a pre-existing tendency toward addiction or who struggle with significant personality disorders are the most likely to become addicted, especially if they take more than the recommended dose.

If anyone who abuses Lorazepam believes there won’t be significant damage to one’s health, mind or loved ones, think again. The effects of Lorazepam are devastating and pervasive, so it’s important to know the facts and take action immediately.

Lorazepam Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms reinforce the Lorazepam addiction and can include the following:

  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Mild depression
  • Sleeplessness
  • Irritability
  • Vertigo
  • Nausea and vomiting

Once the body becomes accustomed to lorazepam, quitting is no longer something that be pursued alone. Not only is it difficult to kick on your own, but it’s not safe to detox without enlisting professional help.

What to Know About Lorazepam

Due to the body’s eventual tolerance for lorazepam, users must take higher and higher doses to achieve the following effects:

  • Dreaminess
  • Sedation
  • Possible hallucination

By increasing your dosage without consulting a physician, overdose becomes more likely.

The following are a few of the effects of lorazepam overdose:

  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Hypotension (blood pressure below a healthy level)
  • Hypnotic status
  • Amnesia
  • Coma
  • Death

Even if someone survives an overdose and endures detox, the long-term effects can still be damaging.

Long-term Effects of Lorazepam Abuse

Whether by a one-time overdose or a prolonged period of abuse, lorazepam can permanently damage a patient’s body and mind.

Lorazepam abuse has long-term effects such as the following issues:

Not only does the body suffer, but the person struggling with addiction’s way of life suffers as well.

Abusing lorazepam can drive away loved ones and present or future employers because of the following effects:

  • The addict may begin to act self-important
  • He may forget his friends and acquaintances due to the amnesiac effects of the drug
  • He will seem restless and unsatisfied when not under the influence of lorazepam

The seemingly desirable effects of recreational Lorazepam abuse are not worth the risk.

Help for Those Struggling With Lorazepam Addiction

Our toll-free helpline, 706-909-9811, is available 24 hours a day and can help you escape the devastation of lorazepam abuse. Call us today to find caring, professional recovery help for yourself or your loved one. Let us lead you toward recovery and a reclaimed life.

By Christa Banister, Contributing Writer

The Prescribed Uses for Ativan (Lorazepam)

Anxiety is a common but serious mental health concern. According to Womenshealth.gov: “Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults every year. Anxiety disorders also affect children and teens. About 8% of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder, with symptoms starting around age 6.”6

Because many American struggle with anxiety disorders, pharmaceutical companies developed products to help mental health professionals and patients. One of these products is Ativan. Ativan is a brand name for lorazepam. It is a benzodiazepine drug. It can help relieve mental and physical health symptoms caused by extra or unusual brain activity. It can also contribute to substance abuse or addiction problems.

Who Needs Ativan?

Benzodiazepines have been prescribed since the 1970s. Psychology Today explains, “Benzodiazepines were widely touted as a wonder drug for anything from chronic anxiety to mild stress.”7 Millions of people received prescriptions. Not all of these patients needed a medication as powerful as Ativan. Ativan may be prescribed for a variety of reasons, but it should never be used without a prescription.

It shouldn’t be used as a long-term strategy for managing mental or physical health. Tolerance and dependence can develop after just a few weeks of regular use or misuse. Ativan can also cause the same symptoms it is intended to treat. It can worsen original problems or create new ones.

Ativan works by slowing down the central nervous system. It makes GABA more effective. GABA is a neurotransmitter that makes neurons less excitable. Ativan is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine. It takes effect more quickly than Valium and lasts longer than Xanax.

Ativan and Anxiety Symptoms

It can provide relief for people who struggle with episodes of panic, intense worry, or agitation.

U.S. News reports: “They’re extremely effective for patients…who have crippling anxiety. Benzodiazepines work almost immediately. They can also be good for treating chronic anxiety in patients who have adverse reactions to SSRIs and similar medicines.”8

An Ativan prescription can provide real benefits if the drug is needed and used as prescribed. However, it is a temporary fix, as continued use leads to tolerance. This means the drug becomes less and less effective. It will not continue to manage anxiety or panic disorders over a long period of time. Patients will find their symptoms return even if they take larger or more frequent doses.

Insomnia and Alcohol Recovery

Doctors may prescribe Ativan for insomnia. The drug can make users feel calm and sleepy. Despite these potential effects, Ativan is not a first choice for treating insomnia. Potential side effects include rebound insomnia and daytime anxiety. Ativan should not be used for chronic insomnia. The risks of dependence and addiction outweigh the potential benefits.

Ativan suppresses brain and nervous system activity. This means it can treat seizure disorders. However, it can also cause seizures particularly if it is misused or if individuals stop use abruptly and without medical supervision.

Ativan may be prescribed during addiction recovery. It can be a useful tool for those going through alcohol withdrawal. However because it is highly addictive, patients with a history of addiction should be even more careful when using this drug.

Who Shouldn’t Use Ativan?

If you have an unhealthy relationship with Ativan, reach out to an addiction treatment center like Black Bear Lodge. It doesn’t matter if you do or not have a prescription. You can find real health and healing. We offer detox services, personalized therapy, and long-term aftercare support. We understand the struggles of combating addiction and co-occurring anxiety or physical health concerns. We provide in-depth assessments and integrated, comprehensive care.

Our lodge is a safe, supportive refuge from the stress of daily life and addiction. Focus on yourself and your health. Call our toll-free helpline, 706-909-9811, and learn more about our individualized addiction treatment plans.

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Recreational Ativan Use

Life is stressful. People develop many ways to cope with this stress. Some are healthy. Others are not. One unhealthy coping method is recreational Ativan use. Doctors prescribe Ativan for anxiety and panic disorders. This makes the drug seem safe or harmless, especially if you’re taking the drug to self-medicate symptoms like these. However even well-intentioned recreational use leads to issues like addiction.

What Is Recreational Drug Use?

Recreational drug use takes many shapes. Merriam-Webster defines a recreational drug as, “a drug (such as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive.”9 This definition is problematic, as it only lists commonly illegal substances. It does not reference the fact that prescription drugs can be and often are more commonly misused than illegal ones.

In fact as early as 2007 the Office of National Drug Control Policy recognized, “Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs teens are using to get high are prescription medications.”10 Recreational drug use includes misuse of prescription drugs like Ativan. Drug misuse and abuse includes taking a drug for its intended purpose but without medical approval or supervision.

What Does Ativan Look Like?

Ativan is available as an oral tablet, an intravenous solution, an injectable drug, or an oral concentrate.

Most recreational users have access to the oral tablets, which can be taken by mouth or snorted in the form of a powder.

What Is Ativan?

Ativan is a brand name for lorazepam. It is one of many benzodiazepine drugs. This class of drugs has calming effects on brain, nerves, and body. It slows mental and physical processes and can produce pleasurable or euphoric effects. It has valuable medical properties. It also has the potential to cause mental and physical health issues.

What Happens When You Take Ativan Recreationally?

Any Ativan use comes with side effects. The National Alliance on Mental Illness lists the following common side effects:

  • Feeling dizzy, drowsy, fatigued, or lightheaded
  • Impaired coordination, decreased ability to concentrate11

Side effects interrupt daily life. They affect how you feel physically and mentally. They can get in the way of experiencing the world around you. They can get in the way of doing what you enjoy. You are more likely to experience these side effects if you are using the drug recreationally. You are more likely to experience them to a greater degree. Dizziness and coordination issues can lead to accidents and injury.

Less common but more dangerous side effects can include the following:

  • Allergic reaction
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble speaking
  • Feeling very tired or passing out
  • Increased heart rate
  • Memory impairment

As with common side effects, less common ones are more likely and more serious when you use Ativan recreationally. If you use Ativan with other drugs or alcohol, even more issues can arise. You increase your risk for dependence, addiction, and overdose.

Other Issues Related to Ativan Use

Recreational Ativan use does more than put your health and safety at risk. It can also jeopardize your personal freedom and your future. When you use Ativan recreationally, you do not get it legally from a doctor. You may get it from friends or family. You may turn to in-person or online dealers. Users who do have a prescription can get more of the drug by requesting prescriptions from multiple doctors (a practice known as doctor shopping) or by pretending to lose medication. All of these methods of getting Ativan are illegal. They can result in fines or even jail time.

Addiction Causing

Using Ativan in unsafe ways can easily lead to addiction.

Lorazepam exerts powerful effects on the brain cells that respond to GABA, a neurotransmitter that can make you feel calm, sleepy and serene.

Ativan Use and Withdrawal Issues

If you use Ativan recreationally, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug or try to take less of it. These symptoms include the following:

  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Upset stomach
  • Muscle pain

If you’ve been taking high doses of the drug, you may even be at risk for seizures during withdrawal. Medical supervision for detox and recovery ensures you stay safe and are as comfortable as possible.

Ending Ativan Use Issues

Take the complications of Ativan use out of your life. End the issues of recreational drug use. Call Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811 and learn more about effective, compassionate addiction treatment. We offer an integrated array of recovery services. You can get the care you need. You can find a drug-free life.

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The Immediate, Short- and Long-term Health Risks of Abusing Ativan (Lorazepam)

Ativan (lorazepam) is a prescription benzodiazepine drug that is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Because Ativan is manufactured by a major pharmaceutical company and prescribed by doctors, it is often believed to be safer than illicit drugs like marijuana or cocaine.

Ativan can be addictive even when used as prescribed and it is always dangerous when it is used for nonmedical reasons. Recreational users are more likely to lose track of how much lorazepam they’ve taken, especially if they are also abusing alcohol or illicit drugs. Misuse or overuse of psychoactive drugs like Ativan can put you at risk for addiction, overdose, and accidental death.

What Happens Right After Using Ativan?

As an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine, Ativan reaches its peak effect within two hours after it is taken. In prescribed doses, Ativan can make you feel calmer, less anxious, and sleepier. The drug works by activating receptor cells in the central nervous system that react to GABA, a naturally produced brain chemical that promotes restfulness and sleep.

When you take too much Ativan or use this drug incorrectly, you expose yourself to the following health risks:

  • Cognitive impairment and forgetfulness
  • Poor judgment
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Extreme drowsiness
  • Respiratory suppression
  • Risk of falls and accidents12

If you keep abusing Ativan, it won’t be long before you see its negative effects on your health. Prolonged Ativan abuse can make you feel tired, weak, depressed, or irritable. It can even have the paradoxical effect of making you more anxious and interfering with your sleep. Some recreational users report that they have abnormal muscle movements, changes in appetite, constipation, difficulty urinating, and sexual dysfunction.

Overdose is a big risk with almost any drug. An Ativan overdose can be fatal. Unfortunately, many people who misuse Ativan also take other drugs at the same time, such as narcotic pain relievers, sleeping pills, marijuana, or alcohol. Multidrug use compounds the sedative effects of Ativan, making it more likely that you will lose consciousness, be involved in an accident, overdose, or die.

Accidental Drug-related Deaths

Benzodiazepines like Ativan have been found in over 30% of all prescription drug deaths. Nearly all of other 70% of prescription drug deaths involve prescription opioid painkillers. Often, Ativan leads to death after it is combined with other drugs or alcohol. Between the years 1999 and 2010, benzodiazepine overdose deaths more than quadrupled in the US.13

Jessica’s Story

“My old psychiatrist added Ativan to help with panic attacks. I was so empty, but the drugs masked it for a while. I never got out of the house or off the couch, unless it was extremely necessary. Showers were not a priority, and I gained a massive amount of weight.

As I was in and out of withdrawal symptoms constantly, I drank alcohol to try to relieve the tremors…Today, recovery has given me freedom and joy and allowed me to be the person I was to be from the start. Today I am blown away at how my life has turned around.” —Jessica, Heroes in Recovery

Tolerance

Tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, and addiction are three of the most serious short-term effects of Ativan abuse. The U.S. Department of Justice warns that even at medically appropriate doses, tolerance to benzodiazepines starts quickly.

Once you start taking Ativan, especially in recreational doses, it only takes a week or two for your brain to adapt to the changes in neurotransmitter levels. As your system becomes tolerant to the effects of lorazepam, you’ll need to raise the dose in order to get the sensations of drowsiness or contentment that you’re looking for.

Withdrawing from Ativan can be an uncomfortable and even dangerous experience for the recreational user. If your brain is accustomed to high doses of benzodiazepines, you may experience seizures if you try to quit too abruptly.

Other withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Agitation
  • Irritability
  • Cravings
  • Nausea
  • Muscle cramps
  • Anxiety
  • Sleeplessness

How Long Will Ativan Affect Me?

Ativan abuse can have a long-term effect on your mental and physical health. Long-term users may have tremors, dizziness, a staggering gait, and cognitive impairment. Depression, suicidal thinking, and rebound anxiety affect many users. As you continue to abuse Ativan, the risk of withdrawal-induced seizures increases.

How Can I Stop Abusing Ativan?

Black Bear’s luxury rehab facility offers peace, solace, and healing in the foothills of northern Georgia. Our experienced, licensed, and compassionate addiction treatment specialists are here to help you recover safely from Ativan abuse. At Black Bear Lodge, we provide the supportive atmosphere you need to regain your emotional and physical health. Please call our admissions coordinators at 706-909-9811 for more information about our individualized treatment plans.

What Are the Symptoms of Ativan (Lorazepam) Addiction?

Families dealing with an illicit drug use problem, such as an addiction to heroin or cocaine, might know that there’s no therapeutic value in the substance the person is taking. As a result, they might feel comfortable discussing the problem right away, as soon as they suspect a problem. On the other hand, since Ativan is a prescription medication often given to people with serious mental health concerns, there may be times when a family member is taking the drug appropriately, under the guidance of a doctor, and families might not know when to step in and suspect an addiction.

Spotting the difference between Ativan use and Ativan addiction can be difficult, but these warning signs may help. People who exhibit these behaviors tend to be abusing the drug, and they might need assistance in order to change their ways.

Sudden Changes

In a study in the journal Substance Use and Misuse, researchers report that Ativan produces a sense of euphoria. When people are given this drug, they feel happy and at peace, and those feelings are larger than those experienced by people who are given a placebo form of the drug. People who are addicted to Ativan are often hooked on this feeling of pleasure, and they might take remarkably high doses of the drug in unusual ways in order to bring that feeling about. At one moment, these people might seem low and sad, but in the next, they might switch to being happy and buoyant. Snorting the drug or injecting it can bring these sudden changes about, and that’s common among people who abuse this drug.

Very high doses of Ativan can also bring about brain changes that impact performance.

A person under the influence might:

  • Display blunted emotional responses
  • Forget details
  • Seem distracted
  • Show signs of aggression

As the brain damage continues, these symptoms might grow more and more severe, until the person just doesn’t seem the same at all. It’s a sad progression to watch, and often addiction is to blame.

Other Considerations

People who are addicted to Ativan might do their best to keep their habits hidden, but they might abuse other drugs at the same time, and they might abuse those drugs publically. For example, in a study in the British Journal of Addiction, researchers found that 44 percent of people who abused benzodiazepines took other drugs at the same time. People like this might snort Ativan pills in private, but they might drink heavily in front of their families, or they might light up marijuana pipes in public places. Families might not be able to spot the Ativan addiction in these people, but their other habits might certainly merit an open discussion and perhaps entrance into a treatment program that could help.

Taking Action

Seeing the signs and symptoms of Ativan addiction is important but it’s also vital for families to take action when they see something amiss. Assisting in the search for a treatment facility is one great way to help. By finding treatment programs, and explaining how therapy works, families can help addicted people to understand that Ativan addictions can be conquered, and that life really can improve.

If you’re looking for help for someone you love, please contact us at 706-909-9811. We can even schedule a tour for you, so you can see our facility firsthand. Please call us to find out more.

Using Ativan for Pain Management

Ativan is a popular brand name for the prescription drug lorazepam. It’s primarily used for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and seizures, but this drug can also be used for pain management. Ativan is a benzodiazepine. These drugs suppress the central nervous system and slow normal brain function.

This is why they can temporarily provide pain management and produce the following types of effects:

  • Sedative
  • Hypnotic
  • Amnesic
  • Muscle-relaxant

How to Use Ativan for Pain Management

Some medical professionals hesitate to prescribe Ativan for pain management because they feel that the potential negative side effects outweigh the benefits.

The Cochrane Library found that medical trials involving Ativan, “failed to find evidence of a beneficial effect of muscle relaxants over placebo, alone or in addition to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), on pain intensity, function, or quality of life…

Participants who received a muscle relaxant had significantly more adverse events compared with those who received placebo.”14

In other words Ativan can create more harm than help when it comes to pain management. You can use Ativan as part of your medically supervised treatment plan, but you may not want to take the risk.

Risks Associated With Ativan for Pain Management

If you have been prescribed some form of lorazepam by a medical professional for pain management, you may be wondering about the potential risks. The Cochrane Library explains that early side effects are mostly, “central nervous system side effects, including dizziness and drowsiness.”

Continued use can lead to more unwanted side effects like tolerance, dependence and addiction. It’s possible to use Ativan responsibly if the potential risks are taken into consideration, but make sure you pay attention to symptoms and side effects.

How Ativan Tolerance Develops

Tolerance is one of the primary risks when using any kind of prescription substance for pain management. When you develop drug tolerance, the substance you’re using becomes less effective. Your body begins to counteract its effects. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences explains that this is the result of neuroplasticity.15 Your brain can adapt and find new ways to function, communicate and maintain balance. It adjusts to Ativan being present and makes that the new “balanced.”

If you began developing a tolerance to Ativan, you might notice that your normal dosage begins to have a diminished effect.

You may even begin to take more frequent or higher doses to achieve the desired level of symptom management. Drug tolerance is especially dangerous because of the ways in which it opens the user up to dependency and addiction. You can be tolerant to Ativan without being dependent or addicted, but it is the first step in both of these serious health issues. If you are using Ativan for pain management, make a conscious effort to stick to your prescribed dose and dosing schedule. Communicate with your healthcare provider and take action at any sign of addiction development.

Ativan Dependence and Addiction After Pain Management

When you are dependent on a drug like Ativan, you begin to want and need regular (and increasingly frequent or large) doses of Ativan. You begin to use the drug to maintain function and feel normal throughout the day rather than to manage pain or feel good. Drug dependency can be difficult to diagnose because it can mimic the symptoms for which the drug was originally prescribed. Medical professionals can accurately assess the situation and help you take the next steps towards managing both pain and medication.

If you have questions regarding your use of the drug, we can help. We are available 24 hours a day at 706-909-9811, to connect you to the quality options for rehab that you need. We can even help you find insurance coverage. The call is free and confidential. You can manage pain and move forward after addiction. Please call today.

Ativan Overdose

Ativan, the brand name version of lorazepam, is a benzodiazepine drug that is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, panic disorders, seizures, and/or temporary sleeplessness. Ativan is usually prescribed on an as-needed basis, meaning that patients are advised to take the pills only when they are in crisis or experiencing high levels of stress that feel unmanageable.

Unfortunately, however, because this drug has a calming effect and patients are in crisis when they take the medication, they may be apt to take more than prescribed – or to take the drug in situations where other methods of stress management may be a better option. Abuse of this drug can be exceptionally dangerous because it significantly slows central nervous system function and respiration (breathing) if taken incorrectly. This drug impacts each person differently. Taking too much Ativan can easily result in illness or death by overdose.

What an Ativan Overdose Looks Like

When someone takes too much Ativan, he or she may still be conscious but have difficulty standing or speaking. That person may seem confused, speak incoherently, and lack coordination. When you address a person in overdose, he or she may not seem to hear you or respond, or that person may respond with words that don’t make sense. If the person is still awake, contact poison control and ask for how best to handle the situation.

If the person is unconscious and you are unable to rouse him, call 911 immediately. It is clear that the person is in a state of overdose and not simply asleep if:

  • He has slowed or shallow breathing.
  • He has a slow heart rate.
  • There is a bluish tint to his skin, nails, or lips.
  • He is not breathing at all.

If this is the case, do not attempt any home remedies, remain on the line with the 911 operator, and answer any questions that emergency responders ask to the best of your ability. You may be asked, for example, about the age, weight, and gender of the person, about the drug that he took and in what dose, or if he took other substances as well. This information will be relayed to the emergency medical personnel who are dispatched to the site so they can quickly and effectively handle the situation.

After an Overdose

Some Ativan overdose situations are deadly – but not all. If your loved one is lucky enough to survive an Ativan overdose, the next step is to connect him or her with immediate detox assistance and treatment. Your loved one may not be lucky enough to survive a second overdose, and the only way to ensure that the incident does not repeat itself is total abstinence from Ativan use. The best way to accomplish assured recovery is through professional treatment.

But what if your loved one is not interested in getting help for substance abuse and addiction? This is not an uncommon response from someone who lives with an active benzodiazepine abuse or addiction disorder, even after surviving a near-death experience.

The best response is to stage a formal intervention with the goal of:

  • Making it clear that your loved one is, in fact, living with a problem that requires immediate help
  • Communicating that benzodiazepine abuse and addiction are medical issues and will only be helped by medical treatment
  • Emphasizing that you will love and support your loved one through recovery
  • Offering the immediate opportunity of treatment – with no delay in entry

Learn more about how you can help your loved one move past an Ativan overdose and avoid experiencing the problem again. Black Bear’s confidential helpline is staffed by experienced recovery professionals. We are here to help you and your loved one find addiction treatment, overdose prevention, and intervention solutions that meet the needs of your family.

Sources

Mood Disorders Caused by Benzodiazepines

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