Navigation: Is Ativan a Narcotic?, What Does Ativan Do to You?, Is Ativan Addictive?, Can You Drive on Ativan?, Can You Take Ativan Every Day?, Can I Drink Coffee While Taking Ativan?, When Should You Not Take Lorazepam?, What Should You Not Take With Ativan?, How Long Can You Stay on Ativan?, How Long Does It Take for Ativan to Wear Off?, What are the Most Common Side Effects of Lorazepam?, Can Lorazepam Cause Dementia?, What are the Dangers of Taking Ativan?, What is Ativan Rehab?
Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam, a medication that is used to treat conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, and epilepsy. This long-acting benzodiazepine is also prescribed during the process of alcohol detox as a way to keep withdrawal symptoms under control. It is a highly potent substance, meaning it has a high potential for drug abuse and addiction. Because of how potent it is, Ativan is rarely prescribed for longer than four months.
Although it is used as a prescription medication, it is also abused as a recreational drug. In fact, it has street names including Goofballs, Stupefy, and Heavenly Blues. It goes without saying that abusing Ativan is very dangerous and can lead to addiction as well as other adverse health effects.
Taking this drug for any period of time can easily cause drug dependence, especially for those exposed to risk factors like family history of substance abuse or certain mental health disorders.
A person who has become addicted to Ativan will keep on taking the drug even when it is already negatively impacting their life. Addiction is characterized by the compulsive use of a certain substance. The person will keep taking Ativan even if it is affecting their health, their relationships, their career, their finances, etc.
At first the person begins to develop tolerance for the benzodiazepine, requiring more of the substance just to feel the same effects. Then it reaches a point where they can’t quit even if they want to because they will experience intense cravings and serious withdrawal symptoms. At this point, the person has become drug dependent.
Here we will talk about Ativan abuse, its effects, as well as how treatment works. We will also answer some common questions regarding Lorazepam.
Is Ativan a Narcotic?
Ativan is considered a narcotic. A narcotic is any drug or substance that affects the user’s mood and behavior. Typically, the term ‘narcotic’ refers to a substance that is consumed for non-medical use or one that is sold illegally. But in this case, Ativan is a prescription drug that is obtained legally via prescription.
With that in mind, Lorazepam is classified by the US Drug Enforcement Agency as a Schedule IV narcotic. This means it is illegal to take this drug without a prescription. Abusing Ativan may lead to jail time, fines, or even loss of child custody.
As a benzodiazepine, Ativan is most commonly prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. It is used on patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, which occurs when someone is excessively anxious or worried for a certain period of time. Symptoms of GAD include fatigue, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, sleeping difficulties, and irritability.
Ativan is also sometimes given before anesthesia to reduce stress. In some cases, Ativan or other benzos are used to help with the treatment of alcohol withdrawal.
It is worth noting that Lorazepam’s long-term effectiveness has not been confirmed. Ativan is usually sold as a tablet, but it is sometimes taken orally or intravenously.
What Does Ativan Do to You?
Ativan can be used with a doctor’s prescription. But because of its status as a prescription medication, some people fail to recognize when they have been abusing the drug. They may even take larger amounts than prescribed. That said, some people take Ativan just to get high. Either way, it is considered drug abuse when you take Ativan in ways not prescribed by your doctor.
Ativan works by blocking the GABA neurotransmitter in the brain, allowing it to slow down brain activity. This process reduces stress and anxiety while making the user feel sleepy.
When you take Ativan, you feel more relaxed and calm. The muscles relax and the body feels drowsy. Taken in larger doses, it can provide the user with a euphoric high, which may get them hooked on the substance.
Is Ativan Addictive?
It should be noted that Ativan is a highly addictive drug. This is why doctors typically talk to their patients about their condition and their history with drug abuse before prescribing this medication. Doctors will assess these risk factors to tell if Ativan is the right solution to their patient’s condition or if an alternative solution is necessary.
Ativan abuse can affect people in different ways, but addiction is a very common outcome, especially for those who take the drug for a prolonged period of time. Those who take larger doses or take Ativan more often than they are supposed to are at greater risk of developing an addiction. Taking it recreationally to get high is also likely to lead to an addiction because of the euphoric and calm feelings caused by the medication. It is very easy to get hooked on Ativan.
If you think someone you care about may be abusing Ativan, watch out for warning signs of drug abuse such as drowsiness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, muscle pain, muscle stiffness, confusion, and constipation. In some of the worst cases, Ativan abuse can lead to seizures, coma, or even a fatal overdose.
The risk of overdose is significantly higher if Ativan is taken with alcohol or other drugs since it already slows down brain activity and essential functions like breathing.
Some people who abuse Lorazepam may attempt to visit multiple doctors to get the same prescription repeatedly. This is called doctor shopping. They may even ask their friends, neighbors, family members, and coworkers for Ativan tablets if they know there is a prescription for it.
Can You Drive on Ativan?
Taking Lorazepam impairs your ability to drive, so this is highly discouraged. Ativan makes a person feel dizzy, forgetful, and sleepy—all of which hinder their ability to navigate the road. Not only does this put the Ativan user in danger, but it also endangers everyone sharing the road.
When under the effects of Ativan, do not drive or operate heavy machinery, especially if you are feeling sleepy or lightheaded. Avoid using dangerous equipment while under the influence of Ativan. Do not ride a bike or drive any vehicle. Doing so only puts you at risk of getting into an accident. You can also be arrested if you drive dangerously after taking Lorazepam.
Can You Take Ativan Every Day?
It is important that you stick with your doctor’s prescription when taking Ativan. This medication is so potent that users may begin to develop dependence and addiction even when taking the right dosages. This is why it is only prescribed for short term use. In any case, you need to follow your doctor’s prescription carefully to minimize this risk.
Depending on your prescription, Lorazepam may be taken every day at regular times. In some cases, it is taken on an “as needed” basis. Healthcare providers usually limit the number of doses taken by their patients per day. They will determine how much the patient is supposed to take based on their current condition and their response to Lorazepam.
Lorazepam comes in a liquid form that may be taken orally or administered intravenously
If you have been prescribed Ativan, make sure you use a calendar, an alarm clock, a pillbox, or a cell phone alert so that you can take the medication on time. You can also ask your friends or family members to remind you of your next dosage so that you don’t miss it.
Ativan may be taken with or without food. If you experience an upset stomach after taking Ativan, take it with food.
Can I Drink Coffee While Taking Ativan?
Avoid drinking coffee or any drink with caffeine such as cola or energy drinks when taking Ativan. Caffeine can interfere with the way the medication interacts with the body. While Ativan is supposed to slow down brain activity, caffeine has the opposite effect, making the medication less effective.
Although caffeine can energize a person, it can also cause anxiety and sleep loss. Patients who take Ativan typically struggle with these symptoms already, so taking caffeine will only make things worse. Avoiding these drinks may help patients overcome their symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, especially when they pair it with healthy changes to their bedtime routine.
Changing your sleeping pattern may help your body get enough rest or sleep better throughout the night. The body needs enough sleep in order to function well. Try to avoid naps after 3:00 pm if you struggle to fall asleep at night. Go to bed and wake up at the same time throughout the week to establish a bedtime routine. This will condition your body to get tired at the right time so that it is easier to sleep.
Do not spend more than 20 minutes lying in bed awake. Your body and mind need to associate the bed and the darkness with sleep. With that in mind, avoid bright lights—including the light from your phone, computer, or television—if you are trying to sleep. Do not drink caffeine or alcohol if it is already late in the day. Also avoid having large meals before going to bed.
Your body also needs enough exercise throughout the day, but not before bedtime. Cleaning your bedroom and making sure it is comfortable should improve the quality of your sleep. If you still cannot sleep after making all of these changes, consider asking your doctor for advice. Some may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or less potent medications.
When Should You Not Take Lorazepam?
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that is used for the treatment of sleeping problems and anxiety. It is also used in some cases to help a patient relax before an operation, as a “pre-med”. Because it has a high potential for abuse and addiction, Lorazepam is only available via prescription.
Lorazepam is sometimes administered intravenously in hospital settings for patients who are having a seizure.
This medication can only be taken by adults and children aged 13 years and up for anxiety. As a pre-med, it can only be taken by adults and children aged 5 years or older. Keep in mind that Ativan is not suitable for everyone. Make sure to inform your doctor about allergies, liver or kidney problems, breathing problems, chest problems, sleep apnea, depression, substance use disorder, pregnancy, or any co-occurring disorder before taking Lorazepam.
The effects of Lorazepam begin to occur at around 20 to 30 minutes, but the full sedating effects can last up to 8 hours. Users may feel sleepy after taking this medication, even in the middle of daytime. It is recommended that you do not take this drug for more than 4 weeks. Your doctor should inform you of this.
Avoid alcoholic drinks while taking Ativan. This puts you at risk of a fatal overdose. Remember that Ativan is a highly potent drug.
What Should You Not Take With Ativan?
As mentioned earlier, do not drink caffeine or alcohol while taking Ativan. These drinks may increase or interfere with the effects of Ativan. Just because it is a prescription drug doesn’t mean it is completely harmless. There is a misconception that prescription medications are “safe” to abuse just because it is given by doctors. This is one of the reasons why it is taken recreationally by some people, not realizing its potential dangers. Ativan is a good example of a prescription drug that seems harmless but is actually dangerous if abused or misused. It can even cause an accidental overdose. Overdose most commonly occurs when Ativan is taken with another substance.
Watch out for the warning signs of overdose and seek medical assistance immediately if a person taking Ativan displays any of these: slurred speech, mental confusion, muscle weakness, lack of energy, loss of control of body movements, slow breathing, low blood pressure, unconsciousness, and coma. Severe cases of Ativan overdose can be fatal.
How Long Can You Stay on Ativan?
A lot of doctors will only prescribe Ativan as a short-term treatment. The definition of short-term may vary depending on the doctor as well as the patient in question, but this can range from a few weeks to no more than 4 months. Keeping it as a short-term solution to anxiety and insomnia will help reduce the chances of developing physical or mental dependence.
Like many other drugs, Lorazepam can cause dependence. This is when a person feels like they can no longer function normally without having the drug in their system. This occurs after prolonged use of a certain substance. The body adjusts to the constant presence of the medication and produces withdrawal symptoms if the patient stops taking it.
If the person does quit taking Ativan after becoming dependent, they will go through a period of intense withdrawal and cravings. Dependence is a component of addiction. This is why proper addiction treatment is necessary for those who have become dependent or addicted.
When it comes to Ativan, tolerance builds quickly, especially when it is taken recreationally or in larger doses.
How Long Does It Take for Ativan to Wear Off?
Although it usually takes just around 20 to 30 minutes to feel the effects of Lorazepam, sometimes it takes 45 minutes to 2 hours. It may take 20 to 100 hours for Ativan to leave a person’s system.
With input from the patient, the doctor will determine how long they need to take Ativan. It will only be prescribed for short-term use because of the drug’s addictive potential.
As a side note, if you are going to quit taking Lorazepam, talk to your healthcare provider first. You may experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability, nausea, dizziness, rapid heart rate, insomnia, and even seizures. These withdrawal symptoms can happen when dosage is reduced for any reason.
What are the Most Common Side Effects of Lorazepam?
People taking Ativan may experience some mild or serious side effects. The effects may vary from one person to another. Take note that this is not a complete list of all possible side effects from Ativan.
Common side effects include: dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, depression, headache, fatigue, restlessness, lack of coordination, and weakness. For those who were injected with Ativan, it is common to experience some pain and redness at the injection site.
These side effects may go away after a few days, but some of them last for a couple of weeks. If you experience severe side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
Experiencing serious side effects from Ativan is not that common, but they are still possible. Serious side effects include slowed breathing and respiratory failure. These breathing effects may be life-threatening, so seek medical assistance right away.
Slowed breathing is more likely to happen for people who are: receiving large doses of Ativan, taking other medications like opioids, senior citizens, and those who are severely ill.
Ativan use may also lead to some psychological effects like anxiety, depression, nightmares, and suicidal thoughts. Other potential side effects of Ativan use include weight changes, memory loss, constipation, vertigo, and hallucinations—all of which are uncommon.
When a person abuses Ativan, they risk developing dependence. A drug dependent person may experience effects like muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and body aches. It is also possible to have serious allergic reactions to Lorazepam, including rapid heartbeat, severe rashes or hives, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the lips, tongue, or face.
For seniors, Ativan should either be used cautiously or avoided entirely. Older adults are more likely to experience the severe side effects such as slowed breathing. The drowsiness and dizziness can also increase their risk of falls, which may lead to bone fractures.
Although Ativan is sometimes used on children under 12 years, this has not been confirmed safe. Children are more likely to experience the side effects of Ativan compared to adults.
Finally, Ativan use also has long-term side effects including physical dependence and rebound anxiety. When a person takes Ativan for their anxiety or insomnia, the body quickly adapts to the drug. When they stop taking it, it is possible for rebound effects to occur. When the symptoms of anxiety rebound, it usually comes back worse than when the medication was first taken.
Talk to your doctor about properly quitting Ativan if you have been taking it regularly for a long time.
Can Lorazepam Cause Dementia?
Taking anti-anxiety pills such as Ativan, Xanax, or Valium for a short period of time does not increase risk of dementia for older adults like seniors. However, long-term use of these benzodiazepines could still increase a person’s risk of developing the condition.
Although there are conflicting studies about the relationship between benzodiazepines like Ativan and the risk of developing dementia, it is generally understood that short-term use does not cause problems while long-term exposure to these medications may lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the Dangers of Taking Ativan?
Long-term abuse of taking Ativan may lead to drug dependence and addiction. On top of its potential adverse effects, Ativan use may also lead to overdose, which may be fatal in some cases. A person who is dependent on Ativan will experience withdrawal symptoms like confusion, vertigo, depression, panic attacks, insomnia, hallucinations, delirium, seizures, short-term memory loss, and rebound anxiety.
Long-term users are encouraged to go through proper addiction treatment because withdrawal can be dangerous especially if this potent drug is involved.
Medically supervised detox is necessary for someone who is dependent on Lorazepam. This is a tapering process that makes it safer for the individual to quit the benzodiazepine.
What is Ativan Rehab?
Just like with any other type of addiction, beating an Ativan addiction is not a walk in the park. This is a very potent and highly addictive prescription medication that quickly gets people hooked. It can also cause severe physical and psychological effects that make the experience even more difficult for those addicted.
Not to mention that addiction is a chronic disease, meaning there is currently no cure for it. But with a proper treatment plan, addiction can be managed. An addicted individual can regain their sobriety and live a long and healthy life without the influence of Ativan.
Medical detox is an important part of the rehab process. Detox addresses the physical effects of Ativan addiction. It involves gradually lowering the patient’s intake while managing their withdrawal symptoms and cravings. They will be under the supervision of medical experts during this process.
Healthcare professionals will keep the patient safe and administer medications when necessary. Medically-assisted detox reduces the withdrawal symptoms of Ativan so that it is easier for the patient to concentrate on getting better. Detox can help reduce the influence of Ativan so that the patient is no longer dependent on the medication.
Behavioral therapy and counseling is another important aspect of rehab. This stage of treatment tackles the root causes of addictive behavior. Therapists and counselors can teach patients healthy coping mechanisms that will help them stay sober even after treatment is done. So if detox is all about regaining sobriety, therapy is all about maintaining sobriety.
During this stage of treatment, the patient may go through group counseling, one-on-one counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, holistic therapy, etc. There are also alternative treatment options that complement these more traditional methods such as art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, equine therapy, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, etc.
Since everyone is affected by addiction in different ways, a personalized treatment plan is important. The first phase of rehab typically involves an intake procedure wherein the patient’s condition is assessed so that a suitable treatment plan can be developed for them. The strategies used during treatment may change depending on the patient’s response and progress.
For example, there are inpatient and outpatient treatment options for rehab. Inpatient treatment involves staying in a rehab facility for the duration of the program. This works wonders for those with moderate to severe addictions because they can focus on their recovery without their usual distractions. It is an intensive and structured program that helps addicted people regain their sobriety. On the other hand, outpatient treatment options are for those with more manageable conditions and have responsibilities that they cannot leave behind. Although it is less intensive, outpatient rehab works well for people who need to attend school, go to work, or take care of their children while receiving treatment for their addiction. It involves frequent visits to the treatment facility, but the patient can stay at home after each session.
There are also Ativan-specific treatment programs for those suffering from this particular type of addiction.
If you or someone you love is struggling with Ativan addiction, look for an addiction treatment center near you today and learn more about the process of treatment. Find out what treatment programs they offer. The journey to recovery begins today.
Ativan Rehab Treatment Centers near You https://t.co/FBWkvjptca #rehabnearme 855-339-1112
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