How Does Ativan Addiction Begin
Ativan works quickly. American Family Physician2 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.
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What Is Samhsas National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Also visit the online treatment locators.
Are You Addicted To Ativan
Many people who start using medications like Ativan legitimately are often in denial that they are suffering from addiction. How do you know if youre still using Ativan to treat a medical symptom or if you already have a sedative use disorder?
While every person and situation is different, here are some tell-tale signs that can clue you in that you already have a disorder or an addiction.
If you are suffering from two or more of these symptoms, you may have Ativan sedative use disorder or addiction. It is important to seek the help of a professional treatment provider.
- You take more pills than prescribed by a doctor.
- You take Ativan longer than the period of time directed by a doctor.
- You spend a disproportionate amount of time using, acquiring and recovering from using Ativan.
- You experience cravings to use Ativan even if youre not feeling anxiety or medically-related symptoms.
- You are unable to perform your daily tasks at work or at home because of using Ativan.
- You are unable to socialize, go to family gatherings, and other community functions because of your Ativan use.
- You would rather use Ativan than do other productive activities.
- You continue to use Ativan even if its causing you physical, emotional, psychological, and financial troubles.
- You have tried to stop taking the drug but you are unable to stop on your own.
- You experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping Ativan use.
What are the dangers associated with Ativan abuse?
Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.
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Rehabilitation For Ativan Addiction
It’s so important to get help when you are addicted to Ativan. This is a powerful medication, and it’s not one you should just quit cold turkey. You should consider finding a solid prescription drug rehab that can help you. At this point, inpatient drug treatment is probably going to be your best option. However, some people may benefit from outpatient drug rehab as well.
Detoxing from Lorazepam is going to help you through your withdrawal symptoms. In rehab, you’re going to be focusing more on the psychological part of the addiction. You probably don’t realize it, but your mind is convinced that you need this medication. Without it, you may not be sure you can deal with your life. During your Ativan rehab, you’ll learn that you can, and you’ll learn how as well.
You may have a lot of questions about Ativan rehab, and we’d like to answer a few of them for you here.
Q. What can I expect from rehab?
Seeking Treatment For An Ativan Addiction
Many treatment centers specialize in Ativan and other Benzodiazepine addiction and can help you get back to the life you deserve. Detoxing from the substance followed by inpatient rehabilitation can help to treat the root cause of an Ativan addiction. Successful treatment can decrease the risk for relapse. If you want to end your dependency on Ativan, take the first step to recovery by seeking help. Contact a treatment provider today.
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How Can You Get Addicted To Ativan
There are different ways you can develop an Ativan addiction. Some addiction may start while taking Ativan as a legitimate form of treatment, while some may also stem from recreational use. Here are some situations wherein a person could possibly get addicted to Ativan:
- Abusing a legitimate Ativan prescription by using it longer than the period prescribed by a doctor.
- Using Ativan as a go-to calming medication to relieve yourself from stress.
- Using the drug to self-medicate even if it is not prescribed to you.
- Using Ativan as a recreational drug.
- Abusing Ativan thinking that it is a safer choice of drug as compared to other illegal narcotics.
- Using Ativan in combination with other substances like alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and other benzos.
Possible Complications In Lorazepam Rehab
Because of the danger associated with detoxification from benzodiazepines, it is vital that you are completely candid with the doctors at any rehab facility you may be considering visiting about your medical history, physical condition, and the severity of your lorazepam abuse, in order to minimise the risk of any potentially deadly complications during your stay at that facility.
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Ativan Addiction Treatment Options
Recovery from Ativan addiction is a long-term process that typically consists of several different Ativan treatment programs, including detox, rehab, sober living, and aftercare.
After Ativan detox, its often recommended that people in recovery continue their addiction treatment with inpatient or outpatient rehab. The primary benefits of going to Ativan rehab after detox are to:
- Learn more about the disease of addiction
- Implement relapse prevention strategies
- Address the root issues of the addiction
- Identify and change harmful behaviors that contribute to the addiction
- Participate in individual, group, and family therapy
- Establish a firm foundation in sobriety with 12-step work
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, research shows long-term addiction treatment of 90 days or longer provides the best results, therefore long-term addiction treatment may be the best way to overcome Ativan addiction and maintain your sobriety.
Clients who enroll in a residential program at an addiction treatment center can expect the following things in Ativan rehab:
- A safe, sober and supportive group living environment
- Individual, group, and family counseling sessions
- Focus on relapse prevention skills/life skills
- Educational lectures
- Structured daily schedule
- Gender-specific treatment and living arrangements
Clients who enroll in an outpatient rehab program for Ativan addiction can expect the following things in rehab:
What Is Lorazepam Used For
Lorazepam is most commonly used in the short-term management of severe anxiety. It is also frequently prescribed to treat conditions resulting in seizures, including epilepsy and alcoholwithdrawal syndrome as a sedative for people receiving mechanical ventilation or who are extremely agitated and/or delirious and as a pre-medication prior to surgery. Less frequently, lorazepam may be used to treat catatonia, and to reduce nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
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True Stories Of Addiction: Ambers Story
Amber found a drug like Lorazepam that took her out of reality and put her into her own little world. She didnt realize how much harm this drug was causing because she wasnt living in the reality of life. Even though she was absolutely miserable, she still had friends and kept using this substance every day. The substance stopped giving Amber the effect she wanted and she decided the world would be a better place without her. Her attempt to end it all was not successful but she did find recovery shortly after. Amber is now a mother, wife and daughter who insists on enjoying and living life to the fullest degree. Watch her story of hope.
Seeking help for a loved one.
- Will Inpatient Rehab Help Me Stop Thinking of Lorazepam?Most likely. It will help you stop thinking of Lorazepam by taking you out of the negative environment you were living in and shift your focus elsewhere.
- How Will I Stop Thinking of Lorazepam After Inpatient Rehab?It is a great idea to get involved in local support groups such as the 12-step program after you graduate from your Lorazepam treatment program.
The Side Effects Of Withdrawal
When you stop taking this medicine you experience Ativan addiction withdrawal symptoms. Ativan addiction and withdrawal go hand in hand, and the symptoms can be hard to deal with.
Sometimes people choose to stop using this medication because they didn’t realize they were addicted. Other times, people have a strong desire to recover, and they just stop. Either way, withdrawal is going to result.
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How Long Does Lorazepam Stay In Your System
Lorazepam is the generic name for a benzodiazepine medication sold under the brand name Ativan. This medication is prescribed to treat anxiety, including anxiety associated with depression and panic disorders. It is sometimes prescribed to treat irritable bowel syndrome , nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatments, insomnia, epilepsy and seizure disorders, and withdrawal symptoms from alcohol.
Behavioral Symptoms Of Ativan Abuse
When an individual develops an Ativan addiction, there are going to be concurrent behaviors that are uncharacteristic for this person. If a person is misusing a substance, they are going to have less time and energy as a result.
Because Ativan is a prescription drug, doctor shopping may be a main behavioral symptom. Doctor shopping refers to when an individual will go to one or more doctor to get more than one prescription within the same time frame. The person will then have to fill the prescriptions at different pharmacies. In the past, there was no definitive prescription monitoring system in the United States. Many states are working on implementing these systems, and some have already done so.
Additional behavioral signs include uncharacteristic run-ins with law enforcement. For example, if individuals misuse Ativan and drive, they can face a DUI charge if they are pulled over by the police. In some individuals, Ativan may cause aggressive behavior, and this risk is amplified if alcohol or other substances are simultaneously misused. Assaults, fights or altercations can lead to legal troubles as well.
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What Are The Signs Of Addiction
When someone takes lorazepam, it causes certain changes in that persons behavior and health. The effects of certain types of medications, particularly psychiatric medication, can compound these changes.
Signs of abuse include:
- Dizziness.
- Tremors and confusion.
Abusers of Ativan often feel varying levels of drowsiness and relaxation, which can lead to an addiction. The patient eventually feels like he or she cannot handle daily tasks without using the medication.
You Can’t Be Addictedyou’re Only Taking A Low Dose
An addictions specialist once told me that nobody could become addicted to Ativan unless they had been taking it for more than a couple of years. This is a complete myth.
Some people can start having symptoms of between-dose withdrawal after taking a benzo for only a few weeks. For others, addiction takes place over a period of weeks or months. Sooner or later everyone will become addicted.
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Sign #6 Your Life Revolves Around Your Ativan
If you constantly obsess over when and where you can get more Ativan or when you can take your next dose, it may be because you are hooked on the drugs pleasurable rather than therapeutic effects.
You may withdraw from family and friends and miss get-togethers because you have yet another doctors appointment. or another trip to the pharmacy.
If you are obtaining your Ativan illicitly, you are spending even more time on your habit, because the supply and the source arent as reliable as your local drugstore. Sometimes, your whole day will be spent driving around to see which of your contacts is holding.
And even when you have finally received your drug legitimately or not you still have to allow time to recover from its use. If you are taking high or excessive doses of any benzodiazepine medication, their sedating effects are going to put you out of commission for a while.
Detox Times Affect Lorazepam Withdrawal
During detox, the body will experience symptoms from lorazepam for 2.75 days on average. This average is affected by how long addiction to lorazepam lasted months versus years, for example and how much of the drug was consumed. The elimination half-life is averaged to 15.7 hours to 3.59 days. In comparison, long-acting benzodiazepines, like Valium , can take up to 30 days to be mostly eliminated from the body.
Symptoms of lorazepam withdrawal include:
- Irritability
- Depression
- Seizures
The amount of time needed for the body to fully metabolize the drug out depends on how it is taken.
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Treatment For Lorazepam Addiction
For those who suffer from an addiction to lorazepam, it is crucial to get help to surmount this disorder. Long-term use can result in adverse physical effects and poor health, and changes in behavior can result in loss of social support and a number of adverse consequences.
The best treatment to address a lorazepam addiction is to taper the dose under medical supervision until the brain and body are no longer dependent upon the drug. This process should also include enrollment in a comprehensive addiction treatment program.
Harmony Treatment and Wellness employs a well-rounded approach to addiction treatment that considers how factors such as lifestyle, environment, and physical and emotional health play vital roles in a persons addiction to drugs or alcohol. By collaborating with you and your loved ones throughout the treatment process, we can equip you for recovery by customizing a program that includes a complete continuum of care.
Our programs include both partial-hospitalization and outpatient options and features evidence-based behavioral therapies, individualized treatment, and aftercare planning services designed to predict the challenges you may encounter on your journey to long-term sobriety and wellness. Our team of compassionate addiction specialists is dedicated to providing people with the resources, tools, and support they desperately need to take back their lives, free from addiction.
If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, contact us today!
Popular Drug Combinations With Ativan
Ativans effects may wear off if its use is prolonged. Typically, those addicted to this substance want to feel its effects from the first time they tried it and may mix other drugs in order to bring back the feelings Ativan promotes.
Some popular drugs mixed with Ativan include:
Alcohol
Mixing alcohol and Ativan can be very dangerous. It can cause impaired memory and coordination leading to irrational choices one may be unable to remember. The combination causes slow and difficult breathing, potentially leading to overdose and death. Effects of mixing Ativan and alcohol include:
- Reduced coordination
- Slurred speech
Antihistamines
Mixing Antihistamines and Ativan can bring about the depressant activity of Ativan and induce sleep much more rapidly. Combining this substance with antihistamines results in increased dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.
Cough Syrups
Cough syrup, specifically ones that contain the chemical dextromethorphan, mixed with Ativan can cause severe drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. The elderly are also at greater risk or impaired thinking, judgement and motor coordination
Cocaine
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Is It Ever Okay For An Older Adult To Take Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines, like all drugs and medical interventions, need to be considered by balancing their likely benefits with their burdens and harms.
There are some older patients often with severe chronic anxiety who seem to overall benefit from a low dose of these drugs.
Ideally, benzodiazepines should be used as a last resort, after making a serious attempt to treat insomnia and anxiety with non-drug approaches. These can include techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, regular exercise, and stress-reduction techniques. For people with dementia, providing caregivers with coaching on managing difficult behaviors can also help.
I do have some older patients who are on benzodiazepines. I dont like it, but usually weve tried other things, discussed the risks with the family, and concluded that this balance of benefits versus risks is acceptable. We also usually work to find the lowest possible dose.
What Is Lorazepam And What Is It Used For
Lorazepam is primarily prescribed for those who struggle with anxiety. It is often prescribed for patients to take on a regular basis. Some may even take it long-term. This raises its addictive potential.
Ideally, this drug should only be prescribed short-term and on an as-needed basis. This decreases the risk of abuse. If additional help is needed for anxiety, there are other options that are better suited for long-term use.
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What Is Lorazepam Dependence
There is a slight difference between being dependent and being an addict. When you are dependent upon this medication, you most likely have a physical need for it. You may not have formed a tolerance for it yet, but you might go through withdrawal without it.
You can become dependent upon this drug when you have taken it for a long time. With continued use, it can develop into an addiction.
Why Do So Many People Use Benzodiazepines
In 2011, over 127 million benzodiazepine prescriptions were filled in the United States.
Benzodiazepine medications like Ativan are so popular in America because the need is so prevalent. Consider just two conditions that typically call for a benzo prescriptionanxiety and insomnia.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million American adults struggle with an anxiety disorder approximately 18% of the entire US population. This makes anxiety disorders the most common type of mental illness in the country.
The National Institutes of Health reports that roughly 30% of the general population in America struggles with sleep disruption. Interestingly, there are significant differences in how common insomnia is among the various age demographics:
- 18-29: 68%
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