How Long Does It Take to Detox from Ativan?
Detox is an important first step in the recovery process for anyone struggling with addiction. During detox people have the opportunity to rid themselves of drug toxins and get sober, perhaps for the very first time. As the drugs leave the body process mental clarity sets in followed by a deep-seated resolve to fight back against the addiction.
Unfortunately, the withdrawal process for people who have an Ativan (lorazepam) addiction isn’t straightforward.1 People like this can’t simply give up the drug cold turkey and then work on maintaining their sobriety for the rest of their lives. Ativan addiction detox and recovery can take months, and only then might those who struggle be ready to move to the maintenance stage of the treatment process.
Ativan Addiction Treatment
Rather than asking addicted people to leave all Ativan pills behind, it’s common for providers to develop a tapering schedule for their clients. In the early stages, these people might take the same dosage level of lorazepam that they’ve always taken, but over subsequent weeks, that dosage might get smaller and smaller. As tapering moves forward, clients work closely with their doctors and report any symptoms they might be feeling or struggling with. If those symptoms become too severe, the tapering process might pause to allow the brain time to adjust, and then continue at a slower pace.
Taking more of the same drug that caused the addiction for a longer period of time may seem counterproductive. But the symptoms of Ativan withdrawal can be so severe that many addiction professionals choose to proceed with caution. Conditions like insomnia where Ativan was used to treat symptoms often return or are made worse during drug withdrawal. Ativan withdrawal has also been associated with other symptoms like anxiety, nervousness, muscle pain, and hostility. The tapering method can help reduce these types of side effects and make them easier to deal with when they appear.
Ativan withdrawal has also been known to cause seizures. In these cases, without proper treatment withdrawal can be fatal. That’s why medically supervised detox is so important. The proper medical attention during the process can keep dangerous withdrawal symptoms from growing worse.
Importance of Treatment
Reading about Ativan withdrawal symptoms can be frightening. In some cases, the details can inspire those who struggle with addiction to keep on using drugs. But the people who continue to abuse Ativan are still at risk of serious consequences. Not addressing the addiction can increase the risk of death from overdose or a number of other complications. The continued abuse of Ativan to avoid withdrawal symptoms is never a wise choice. Through medically-supervised detox, the process happens slowly and safely. Trained medical staff provide 24-hour medical monitoring, medications to ease symptoms when appropriate and a calm environment. Those who struggle with Ativan addiction enjoy the peace of mind knowing that withdrawal is happening in a safe way.2
Finding Help for Ativan Abuse
At Black Bear Lodge, we provide a comprehensive detox program for people who have Ativan addictions. When that process is complete, we provide in-depth educational therapies that can help you to prevent addiction relapse. We also address any underlying mental health conditions contributing to or causing the addiction. Call our toll-free helpline 24 hours a day at 706-909-9811 to speak to an admissions coordinator about available treatment options.
How to Detox or Get Off Ativan. Is It Deadly?
During detox, the brain has the opportunity to learn how to function, even when Ativan isn’t present. It’s a time for healing, to be sure, but it can also be a slightly dangerous time, as the drug causes intense damage to the cells of the brain. In fact, Ativan detox can be so dangerous that medical supervision is an absolute necessity.
Serious Symptoms
Ativan slows electrical activity inside the cells of the brain, and when it is removed, those sleeping cells can begin trading impulses at a fast and frenetic rate. Sometimes, people feel just a little jumpy and nervous, but there are times when the symptoms grow more serious and harder to ignore. For example, in an article in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, researchers report on the case of an older woman who developed symptoms of mania while she was attempting to leave a benzodiazepine habit behind.
During an episode like this, people might:
- Jump from thought to thought
- Make rash decisions regarding money or relationships
- Become violent
- Hallucinate
A manic episode like this could have all sorts of serious consequences, but Ativan detox can also lead to much more severe complications. For example, in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers outline the case of a woman who took very small doses of Ativan for a long period of time. When this woman tried a rapid form of detox, she developed a series of seizures. People can lose their lives during a seizure like this, or they could develop subtle forms of brain damage that are slow to abate.
Better Options
Typically, serious symptoms like this take hold when people take a fast-and-furious approach to detox. Rather than allowing their bodies to adjust in a slow and steady manner, they force their brain cells into a whole new reality that they’re just unprepared for. It’s not safe, and it’s not really healthy either. Instead, it’s best to allow a professional to design a detox program that can bring relief without causing physical pain or life-threatening complications.
In an Ativan detox program, professionals work hard to determine how much the person has been taking on a daily basis. Then the team might provide a replacement medication at a similar dose. The brain might need a day or two to adjust to the new medication, and then, a slow and steady tapering schedule begins. Each day, the person takes just a little bit less of the medication until the person isn’t taking any drugs at all.
It can take months for some people to complete an Ativan detox program, as each little step down in dose might fill them with pain and distress. It’s perfectly acceptable for people to take their time with this process and move slowly. In fact, most experts want their clients to move slowly through Ativan detox, under the qualified supervision of a medical professional, so the person emerges from the process both healthy and ready to work on long-term sobriety.
If you’re ready to get started, please call us at Black Bear Lodge. We provide a comprehensive detox program for Ativan addiction that can help you to get back on track, and we’re accepting patients now. Call 706-909-9811 to schedule your intake appointment.
Sources
- 1 “Lorazepam Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing.” WebMD. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
- 2 “Drug addiction: Ending drug dependence is possible with support.” Mayo Clinic. 5 Dec. 2014. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
