Ativan Withdrawal and Detoxification

Once physical or psychological dependence has been developed for Ativan, withdrawal symptoms will appear when the drug is quit. The symptoms can be both physical and psychological which indicate that body has become accustomed to function in the presence of the drug so its absence is making it hard for the body to function. Withdrawal symptoms keep appearing as the body learns to function in the absence of the drug.  People who have taken it exactly as prescribed may also experience withdrawal symptoms after quitting it. There have been incidents of people becoming addicted to it even after using it for as long as one week. However, the severity of symptoms appearing depends upon the time drug was abused fro, amount it was taken in and personal factors such as genetic disposition of the user.

Table of Contents:

• Withdrawal symptoms for Ativan
• Rebound symptoms in case of Ativan
• Duration of Ativan withdrawal
• Ativan withdrawal timeline
• Detoxification process for Ativan addiction

Withdrawal Symptoms for Ativan:

It is recommended to quit Ativan by gradually tapering off the drug rather than going cold turkey. The symptoms may be much more severe when it is quit cold turkey. Seizures, hallucinations and psychotic symptoms may be experienced by the user.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal duration can be divided into two phases:

Acute Withdrawal:

During the acute withdrawal or simply withdrawal, most of the symptoms appearing are physical. They start appearing as soon as the drug is quit. Commonly experienced symptoms during acute withdrawal may include:

Protracted Withdrawal:

Protracted withdrawal or Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is mostly characterized by the appearance of psychological symptoms. It starts after the acute withdrawal is over and may last for extended periods of time. Proper psychological care may be needed to recover from these symptoms. Some common protracted withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Excessive cravings
• Insomnia or disturbed sleep
• Difficulty concentrating

• Inability to feel pleasure from anything
• Memory impairment
• Loss of interest in any activities
• Excessive tiredness
• Obsessive compulsive symptoms

Some people may not experience protracted withdrawal symptoms and may recover after acute withdrawal is over.

Rebound Symptoms in case of Ativan:

Duration of Ativan Withdrawal:

The time duration taken for Ativan withdrawal may greatly vary from one user to the other. There are a number of factors that influence withdrawal period and withdrawal symptoms. Taking it for longer periods of time in high amounts increases the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

Ativan is an intermediate duration drug so it usually stays in the system of the user for up to 12 hours.  The duration of acute withdrawal may last up to 12-24 hours of last drug dose. However, it may vary from one person to the other depending upon the time and amount of abuse and personal factors.

Ativan Withdrawal Timeline:

The duration of withdrawal may vary from one user to the other. However, a general plan can be established to help the patients have an idea:

• Days 1 to 3:
  Acute withdrawal symptoms start to appear within the hours of quitting the drug. Symptoms like headache, nausea and vomiting set in within first 24 hours of withdrawal. Rebound symptoms also start to appear within the first few days. In most of the cases, symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and restlessness start to appear on the 3rd day. These symptoms persist for a few days before they finally start to fade.
• Days 4 to 7:
  Withdrawal symptoms reach to their peak value during this period. The severity may differ from person to person. Some may even experience tremors and irritability. Excessive cravings start to kick in.
• Days 8 to 14:
  Withdrawal symptoms usually start to settle down by this time. Also, most of the rebound symptoms disappear by this time while some may still persist.
• Day 15 and on:
  By this time, severe, if not all acute withdrawal symptoms should disappear. After this time, protracted withdrawal symptoms may start to appear for some users while the others do not experience them.

Detoxification Process for Ativan Addiction:

Detoxification is a natural process carried out by the body to clean itself of chemicals accumulated due to drug abuse. It is possible to go through detox at home but it is not recommended due to physical and psychological symptoms associated with the process. A professionally supervised and medically aided detoxification process may increase the chances of recovery a great deal. During detox, there is a great chance of relapse due to painful symptoms appearing. A supervised detox program can help to make the process bearable.

Sometimes, a withdrawal symptom may worsen to such a level that it proves to be fatal. This is the reason a supervised detox program is highly recommended. The doctor may help to gradually taper off the drug and may also prescribe a less potent benzodiazepine to ease the process.