Ativan is the brand name for lorazepam, a benzodiazepine medication. Doctors prescribe it for a variety of sleeping and anxiety disorders. Ativan is also habit forming. Do you know what Ativan withdrawal feels like?

How Does Ativan Work?

Man with head against the wall experiencing anxious symptoms of Ativan withdrawal.

Benzodiazepines such as Ativan offer excellent treatment options for a short-term need. If someone experiences a traumatic event, lorazepam-containing drugs can assist with initial insomnia and panic attacks. Some report having good results by taking Ativan for PTSD. By affecting the central nervous system, the drug’s dose quickly reaches effectiveness.

The downside of the medication is the speed with which the body develops a dosage tolerance. This requires an increase in the dose to get the same effect. Others report sudden erratic actions that make no sense. Patients noticing these changes try to get off the medication only to realize that they suffer from Ativan withdrawal symptoms.

Abuse Potential of Ativan

Some suffer from Ativan withdrawal when they’re ready to stop using the drug recreationally. The high the drug offers includes physical relaxation, euphoria, and lowering of inhibitions. Although it’s dangerous to do so, people will seek to enhance the effects of alcohol, which is another depressant drug. Because of the quick tolerance buildup, the drug has a high abuse potential.

Ativan Withdrawal Symptoms

It’s important to remember that you can suffer withdrawal symptoms if you have a benzodiazepine addiction and want to quit. But you can also experience them if you’re just trying to wean yourself off the drug because your prescription ends. Doctors don’t always mention the severity of symptoms you may experience. Examples include insomnia, panic attacks, muscle stiffness, psychosis, and hallucinations.

Typically, you’ll experience the first withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours after taking the last dose. They might appear relatively mild, which easily fools people into thinking that it’s not going to be too bad. On day three after the last dose, however, you’ll possibly encounter a sudden worsening of symptoms. It brings on the conditions that the benzodiazepine treated in the first place – only stronger.

For the last reason alone, attending a medically supervised detox program is imperative. Professionals at the center assist with treating the anxiety, and other conditions Ativan suppressed before. Moreover, experts also help you to weather the other symptoms that make a relapse to using the drug so likely. After the initial detox and bodily stabilization, transferring to a rehab facility greatly heightens your chances of recovery.

Rehab for a Benzodiazepine Habit

Detoxification is only the first step. It helps your body to regain equilibrium. It also allows medical professionals to stabilize your condition to prevent physical or mental harm. As you continue to experience Ativan withdrawal symptoms, a rehab stay significantly improves your odds of staying clean.

At high-quality facilities, you will experience several therapeutic approaches that play a fundamental role in keeping your resolve. Examples of the methods include:

  • PTSD and trauma therapy, which tackles the issues that led you to the Ativan habit, to begin with
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is another option for handling trauma and related drug use
  • Anger management treatment appeals to the recreational user of depressants who tried to self-medicate to maintain control of emotions
  • Mindfulness training treatment that encourages the development of a rational awareness that nips many types of anxieties in the bud
  • Group therapy, which fosters empathy and an out for a previously isolation-rich lifestyle.

If you’re suffering from Ativan withdrawal symptoms or worry about undertaking the weaning off process, there’s addiction help. The therapists at Beaches Recovery work with recreational lorazepam users and patients who used the prescription exactly as instructed. Call 8666050532 now. Beaches Recovery will follow you from intake, detox and through treatment that will lead you to long lasting recovery!