What is Lorazepam?
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorder, panic attacks, borderline personality disorder and other mood disorders. Taking lorazepam is also known to have benefits for individuals that experience seizures or convulsions or those who have trouble sleeping. Lorazepam is also used as a method of relapse prevention for treating alcohol abuse. Lorazepam can be taken orally through a tablet form or can be injected in a liquid form for individuals taking lorazepam for status epilepticus.
Lorazepam Effects
Lorazepam, also known as ativan, works by enhancing the effects of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is responsible for the nerves in the brain that sends messages to one another to reduce activity within the brain. This reduction in activity helps to reduce the onset of anxiety and provides a calming, sedative effect on the person. Individuals may feel relaxed mentally and physically, slowed response time, a sense of well being, and a sense of euphoria.
Signs of Lorazepam Abuse and Addiction
Your use of Lorazepam began as a genuine method of treating anxiety disorder or other co-occurring disorders. If you find that your use of prescription drugs has progressed over time and your drug abuse has changed from treating a co-occurring disorder to seeking euphoria or escape through drug abuse, it is time to seek treatment within an addiction treatment center. Common signs and indicators of Lorazepam addiction are:
- Taking lorazepam in higher doses or more often than what the doctor prescribes
- Taking lorazepam in ways other than prescribed including crushing the tablets and snorting them, or dissolving them in a liquid so they can be injected
- Taking lorazepam for other reasons than prescribed in order to get high
- Combining lorazepam with other substances
- Taking lorazepam without having a prescription for it
- Doctor shopping to obtain multiple prescriptions
- Developing a tolerance to lorazepam where you need to take more to reach the same desired effects
- A decline in work and school performances due to substance abuse
- Continued use of lorazepam even after experiencing negative consequences
- Expressing a desire to stop using lorazepam but experiencing failed attempts at doing so
Lorazepam Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have been using lorazepam for an extended period of time or at a high dose, your body will have developed a physical dependence on lorazepam ativan. If you attempt to quit your use of lorazepam ativan abruptly, your body could experience serious side effects and ativan withdrawal symptoms including:
- Headache
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Difficulty concentrating,
- Confusion
- Increased blood pressure,
- Heart palpitations
- Rapid heart rate
- Nausea,
- Abdominal pains
- Vomiting/nausea
- Weight loss
- Onset of anxiety or panic attacks
- Mood swings
- In rare cases some will experience seizures
Long Term Side Effects of Lorazepam Abuse
When you are taking lorazepam as prescribed, there is the ability for it to be a long term prescribed medication. However, when you begin abusing ativan lorazepam and develop an ativan addiction, it increases the risk of serious side effects occurring. Long term benzodiazepines dependence drugs affect your physical and mental health functioning. Common long term effects and adverse effects for benzodiazepine addicts are:
- Sedation
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Anxiety disorder
- Confusion
- Loss of memory
- Learning challenges
- Mouth sores
- Abdominal bleeding
- Kidney functioning concerns
- Headaches
- Respiratory depression
- Liver function damage
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- Difficulties within your relationships with friends and families
- Financial disparities
- Withdrawal symptoms
Lorazepam Addiction Treatment
At Novo Detox, we provide our patients with an opportunity to heal from your ativan addiction while also providing you with the tools and treatment plans to learn how to effectively manage your co-occurring disorders. Patients will be invited to participate in a dual diagnosis treatment program that will support you in removing the physical dependence on prescription drugs within our medical detox program which is closely monitored by our team of medical professionals throughout your withdrawal and detox process. After completing your benzodiazepines detox, you will be able to address the underlying causes of your ativan addiction through evidence based therapy methods. Dual diagnosis treatment will allow you to learn different coping skills and methods for managing your anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or other mood disorders through natural, alternative methods of treatment that will help you remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol as a method of self medicating. Call us today to hear more about the individualized treatment plans that we develop for our patients and begin your healing journey with us today.
