Dependence on Ativan can feel impossible to beat, but Ativan detox represents the first sign of hope for many people. Through careful tapering, and medical intervention, you can withdraw from Ativan safely, whenever you’re ready.
If you’re not sure where to start, that’s why we’re here! Call OK Rehab on 0800 326 5559 for a chat about your next steps.
What is Ativan?
Ativan is a prescription benzodiazepine drug that’s sold under the brand name Lorazepam.
It’s often used for acute, short-term relief, treating conditions such as panic attacks, anxiety disorders, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, insomnia, and severe agitation. It’s also been known to help with sedation during surgery.
There are side effects of taking Ativan, which include low blood pressure, weakness, poor memory, dizziness, and sleepiness. Such symptoms can affect anyone, but they’re more likely to affect elderly patients and those with physical or mental health conditions.
Ativan has the unique effect of lasting longer than some other fast-acting benzodiazepines, including Xanax. This is a key reason it’s so useful for alcohol withdrawal, where symptoms must be controlled throughout the detox.
Despite Ativan being a fast-acting benzodiazepine, many people still become dependent on the drug.
Ativan Dependence
Interestingly, Ativan is used in certain drug detoxes, yet it’s also a drug that can itself lead to dependence and addiction.
As a benzodiazepine, Ativan is a central nervous system depressant that boosts the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA, altering the brain’s natural state.
When someone is suffering from anxiety, panic attacks or insomnia, this is what reduces their symptoms, and helps them access the calm feelings that the average person is already experiencing.
However, too much Ativan, or Ativan that’s used when it’s not needed, can result in dangerous changes to brain activity, and instead of simply feeling calmer, the Ativan user experiences an array of difficult symptoms.
Quitting Ativan isn’t as easy as it may sound. If someone is dependent on the drug, meaning their brain has adapted to it, they will go through a drug withdrawal when they stop taking Ativan. Withdrawal symptoms can be so intense, especially without medical intervention, that many people continue to take Ativan to avoid short-term suffering.
There is light at the end of the tunnel after withdrawal, if it’s done safely, and in a medical setting. Withdrawal symptoms can be treated to make patients more comfortable, and they very rarely last forever.
What Leads to Someone Needing an Ativan Detox?
Detox is necessary when someone is physically dependent on Ativan.
They may or may not be also addicted to the benzodiazepine, which means they also experience psychological symptoms, but the purpose of the detox is a physical one. It is to induce a safe withdrawal of Ativan.
In terms of what causes dependence, the answer is complex.
Users don’t necessarily have to misuse Ativan to become dependent on it, although misuse absolutely increases the likelihood of dependence. Taking the right precautions means there’s a low chance you will experience dependence or addiction.
A crucial precaution is to only take Ativan for as long as you need it, and in the UK, this tends to be a maximum of 2-4 weeks, as recommended by the NHS (1).
In the majority of cases, this story ends positively, and people benefit from the short period in which they took Ativan.
Unfortunately, dependence does happen, and it’s very often linked to misuse, such as:
- Obtaining Ativan illegally
- Taking Ativan for too long
- Using Ativan when you don’t need it
- Taking higher doses than prescribed
- Self-medicating with Ativan for stress
- Continuing to take Ativan despite negative consequences
It’s also much more common for someone to develop an Ativan dependence if they’ve previously had dependence or addiction issues.
This is why it’s so important to be open and honest with your GP, in order for them to safely assess whether Ativan is the right drug for you.
Ativan Detox: Overview
The withdrawal of Ativan from the body is commonly known as Ativan detox.
It happens in inpatient and outpatient rehabs, detox centres, hospitals and homes around the UK.
Often, it’s the start of a full treatment programme for Ativan dependence or addiction.
This means the detox isn’t the end of the clinical treatment, and patients go on to learn more about their substance use disorder, and practise how to live out a sober lifestyle even when triggers show up.
This isn’t always the case, as Ativan detox can occur as a single treatment, even if it takes place within an Ativan rehab facility.
Whichever route the patient goes down, the detox will be their introduction to Ativan dependence treatment. It’s a way for them to get sober safely, whilst their withdrawal symptoms and general health are monitored.
Gradual dose reductions are at the heart of Ativan detox UK. Withdrawing suddenly can cause serious complications, so patients detox gradually, using the highly-regarded tapering method.
Medical detoxes are commonly used for Ativan dependence, as it allows doctors to treat withdrawal symptoms effectively by giving medication for insomnia, anxiety, nausea, or anything else that’s negatively impacting the patient.
What Withdrawal Symptoms Does Ativan Cause?
Withdrawing from Lorazepam can cause symptoms that affect both the body and brain, such as:
- Abdominal cramps
- Concentration issues
- Hallucinations
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Weight loss
- Panic attacks
- Elevated heart rate
- Agitation
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Mood swings
- Headache
How Does Tapering Work?
Tapering is a controlled way to withdraw from Lorazepam that reduces the risks associated with detox. Withdrawal symptoms can be less severe if tapering is used, compared to “cold turkey” Ativan withdrawal.
As the brain gets used to the effects of Ativan, tapering allows the withdrawal to happen slowly, and brain activity can adapt to this gradually, instead of dramatically shifting.
Tapering is also a great way to keep a patient’s anxiety lower. They may struggle to accept a total withdrawal from Ativan, whereas detoxing over a longer period feels possible.
There are various types of tapering used in Ativan detox. The two main types are direct tapering and substitute tapering.
1. Direct tapering
With direct tapering, patients slowly come off Ativan. This usually starts with reducing Ativan by around 25%, and then continuing to reduce by 5-10% each day or week.
Thanks to the flexibility of direct tapering, the timeline is the patient’s. If they’re experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms at any stage, doctors can slow the taper further or stop it entirely while the patient adjusts, and only continue the detox when it’s safe to do so.
2. Substitute tapering
Instead of simply reducing the dose of Ativan, another drug is introduced to control withdrawal. This is often a long-acting benzodiazepine, such as diazepam (Valium).
Long-acting benzodiazepines stay in our system for a longer period of time, which helps the body to gradually adjust, whereas direct withdrawal from Ativan can sometimes lead to sudden spikes in withdrawal symptoms.
Before substitute tapering can begin, an equivalent dose must be calculated.
Then, patients gradually withdraw from the second drug, following a similar tapering method to direct tapering.
3. Which type of tapering is the best?
Of these two forms of tapering, direct and substitute, there isn’t one that’s superior in all ways. Both assist with safe detoxing, and can be selected for different reasons.
Direct tapering avoids the risks associated with introducing a new medication to an already precarious situation. In this sense, it’s a smoother way to taper from Ativan.
However, substitute tapering could also be seen as smoother, in a different sense. It’s effective at creating a more predictable, stable withdrawal from Ativan, which prevents severe fluctuations in withdrawal symptoms.
Overall, the best option depends on the patient’s situation.
As Ativan is a short-acting benzodiazepine, it’s often most effective to use substitute tapering, in which a long-acting benzodiazepine can help with a smoother, safer adjustment to sobriety.
This style of tapering is also very useful for people who’ve experienced direct tapering in the past, and dealt with severe withdrawal symptoms.
Where Can I Go For a Safe Ativan Detox?
To withdraw from Ativan safely, there are many options for you. Not all of these options are safe for every individual, so it’s important to reach out to OK Rehab or speak to your GP before pursuing one of these:
- Inpatient rehab (also known as residential rehab)
- Outpatient rehab
- Detox centre
- Home detox
Whilst most Ativan detoxes in the UK are similar, the finer details vary. Your choice of detox provider and detox type could affect:
- Which withdrawal symptoms you experience
- Whether your emotional wellbeing is carefully considered
- Which type of tapering plan you follow
- If aftercare will be provided
- Whether your detox will be followed by psychological treatments
Detox is never predictable, so we aren’t implying that enrolling on an outpatient rehab programme means you will definitely experience fewer withdrawal symptoms than if you signed up to a home detox programme.
However, choosing the most suitable option for your situation means there’s a much higher chance that your detox will be effective.
If you chose a home detox whilst battling a severe, long-standing Ativan addiction, 24/7 medical supervision wouldn’t be available, and this would increase the likelihood of a larger number of withdrawal symptoms, or symptoms that are more intense or dangerous.
How Can OK Rehab Help?
If you’ve never heard of us before, let us introduce ourselves.
We’re OK Rehab, specialists in local drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Our aim is to help individuals break free from the shackles of addiction through high-quality treatments that are tailored to the individual.
We do this by assessing your needs, listening to your concerns, and relying on existing contacts with successful treatment providers in your area. To start your OK Rehab journey, please give us a call on 0800 326 5559.
FAQs
Below, we outline some frequently asked questions around this interesting topic:
1. What’s titration tapering?
Titration tapering is a form of drug tapering that can be used in an Ativan detox, but it’s potentially very dangerous, and therefore not recommended.
The patient consumes Ativan that’s been combined with water, and follows a tapering process, slowly consuming less of the mixture over time.
The reason it’s more dangerous is that Ativan is an almost water insoluble substance (2). As it doesn’t fully dissolve in water, the patient is never getting an accurate dose of Ativan, so tapering is unpredictable, which can lead to an unstable withdrawal.
2. Isn’t it easier to quit Ativan in one go?
It may sound “easier”, but it carries significant risks.
Stopping Ativan cold turkey means the brain doesn’t have an opportunity to adapt, and this can result in serious withdrawal symptoms, including seizures.
It’s particularly dangerous for people who have been using Ativan for a long time, taking high doses of the drug, or using it with other addictive drugs. However, for anyone, it’s much safer to get a professional Ativan detox.
3. How long does Ativan detox last?
We can’t predict how long your Ativan detox will last.
The average withdrawal lasts up to a couple of weeks, but particular factors can make it a shorter or longer experience, including the type of tapering used, the patient’s health, age, severity of dependence, and individual physiology.
Many patients deal with protracted withdrawal, which means certain symptoms stay for months or years after the main detox phase.
It’s something to be prepared for, but please be reassured that this doesn’t mean patients are in acute withdrawal for months or years.
It generally refers to one or multiple persisting symptoms, such as insomnia, whilst the patient’s health is otherwise vastly improved.
References
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lorazepam/common-questions-about-lorazepam/
