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The Side Effects of Ativan: How Does It Feel?
Taking Ativan
The medication Ativan (Lorazepam) is used to treat a medically (by an MD) diagnosed health disorder such as anxiety disorders, anxiety from depression and panic disorder. Ativan is a type of benzodiazepine, which are medications that can be classified as tranquilizers or sedatives, because of the calming effects and feelings that they cause.
Ativan medications are available in different forms and doses:
- Intramuscular injection: 2 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml
- Oral tablet: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg
- Intravenously: 2 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml
It’s approved in the U.S. for the following treatments:
- Management of anxiety disorders
- Short-term relief of symptoms from anxiety and anxiety-associated depression
Ativan Withdrawal Symptoms and Signs
As with other drugs and medications, Ativan does cause some side effects, signs and symptoms to occur. Ativan is a quick-acting medication, and usually takes effect within 20-30 minutes of taking it. This means that someone can feel side effects rather quickly, within one hour to 3 hours of taking it.
Generally, side effects from Ativan decrease as the medication’s effect lessens, somewhere between six to eight hours. However, if people are experiencing severe symptoms that do not go away within a few hours, you should seek medical attention and visit a doctor or MD to view your options. They can provide you with resources and help educate you on the best practices while taking Ativan medication.
What is Ativan Used For?
You may ask what is Ativan used for? If someone suffers from any sort of anxiety or panic disorder they have most likely heard of Ativan. Ativan has also been known to be used for insomnia and can help decrease symptoms of nausea during medical treatments for things such as epilepticus seizures and chemotherapy.
Ativan is typically prescribed to treat anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, but there are circumstances in which it is prescribed in medical situations that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Ativan for Anxiety
Treating anxiety with Ativan can take a long time to begin working and has the best results if it is used in combination with other therapy and treatments. When you are taking Ativan for anxiety it will help relieve the symptoms and side effects that are associated with your disorder such as feeling on edge, nervous, restless, and tense.
Ativan medication should not be taken long-term due to its habit forming properties and chance for substance abuse and addiction. It is important for you to be reviewed by a medical doctor to determine the best form of treatment for you.
Ativan for Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are a type of anxiety disorder that can cause severe side effects such as reactions that are sudden and intense, that potentially cause physical health symptoms. By depressing the central nervous system (CNS), Ativan is also able to lessen the intensity of anxiety and panic attacks. Ativan works quickly for panic attacks, making it an effective solution for you to temporarily manage symptoms and side effects.
Ativan for Alcohol or Drug Abuse and Addiction
Ativan medication can be used to treat certain substance abuse problems such as alcohol addiction or addiction to other drugs. It works in a similar way to treating other health disorders by blocking opioid receptors, making it easier to decrease doses of certain drugs and alcohol which result in an easier time cutting back or quitting to remain sober.
How Does Ativan Make You Feel?
Despite Ativan being a medically controlled substance, it is not considered a narcotic. Benzo medications cause a calming effect, rather than a pain reducing effect if taken in certain doses. Like other medications, the higher the dose, the more you will feel the side effects. Typical health side effects and signs for Ativan use include:
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- Unsteadiness
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Decreased ability to concentrate
- Sedation
- Lightheadedness
Ativan Addiction Treatment
Addiction and abuse can happen quicker than someone might think, even within one time of taking small doses of a drug or drinking alcohol. When you are taking a drug regularly, your body develops a tolerance. Addiction can happen shortly after tolerance occurs, causing your body to begin to need the drug or substance in order to function at a normal level.
If you are struggling with an addiction to any drug, whether it is Ativan abuse or something else, you will typically display the same behavioral changes including seeking drugs, compulsively ingesting the substance (even if they are trying to stop), and becoming defensive or lying when questioned about the substance abuse or addiction.
At AToN Center we monitor the symptoms associated with addiction and provide drug and alcohol abuse detox and treatment at our rehab facility so that you can move into a full recovery. There is help available for you, and it is never too late to ask for support for addiction.
Ativan Withdrawal and Detox
How Long Does Ativan (Lorazepam) Stay in Your System? Continued Ativan use can cause dependency to happen, which means that a higher dose will need to be taken until the desired effects are reached. When someone stops taking a drug, it can cause withdrawals to occur. The best environment to detox from any drug is to be in a medically monitored environment, such as AToN Center, so that you can have help and resources available in order to safely detox from the medication.
Detox from Ativan
Like most drugs, withdrawal from Ativan medication causes symptoms like anxiety, nausea and irritability depending on doses. Medical detox and treatment at AToN Center can help to reduce these symptoms and allow the process to be safer and more comfortable. If you are taking large doses of Ativan it will be essential to seek medical help, to ensure that the withdrawal does not cause any potential health problems.
Drug Abuse in the US
Addiction and abuse with a substance is a serious health problem in the U.S. killing thousands of people each year and impacting millions of people’s lives. Addiction is a mental disorder which can cause someone to continually engage in behaviors that involve substances and cause harmful consequences.
Although drug and alcohol addiction is a growing problem in the US, there are substance abuse treatment and recovery programs available at AToN Center that can help address the problem. People who are looking for drug addiction treatment can visit our website for more information on our exclusive programs.
Finding Help at AToN
AToN Center is a luxury, alcohol and drug rehab recovery center that treats people who struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol problems. Abuse of these drugs warrants a dedicated staff that is available all day to support and help someone through the difficulties of addiction.
The staff at AToN Center and rehab are impeccable, including first-class chefs and doctoral level clinicians. Not to mention the incredible view that you can enjoy just by looking out your window! The addiction treatments are top notch, with your care being the number one priority.
We are proud to use the correct professional medical addiction specialists for corresponding treatment and recovery tasks, a family psychologist for family work, a health psychologist for biofeedback, a trauma psychologist for EMDR, and chemical dependency counselors for relapse prevention help.
If you are interested in resources and learning more about how AToN Center’s San Diego rehab and recovery center (holistic treatment, drug or alcohol detox programs, non-12 Step rehab programs, SMART Recovery rehab, other resources, etc.) can facilitate your recovery from addiction, please call one of us or visit or view our facility.