What is Lorazepam?
Lorazepam, or Ativan, is a commonly abused prescription drug known as benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepine abuse is a common addiction due to how regularly they are prescribed. This substance is usually prescribed to help treat anxiety disorders and sleep issues caused by anxiety. It can also be used to help calm and soothe patients before surgeries and other procedures by targeting the central nervous system. Lorazepam helps these conditions by slowing the receptors in the brain, resulting in a tranquil state to help soothe symptoms of mental illness. Lorazepam can be taken in a pill or liquid form; it can also be injected in certain circumstances.
Brand names of other benzodiazepines are:
- Xanax, or Alprazolam
- Valium, or Diazepam
- Librium, or Chlordiazepoxide
- Estazolam
- Trilam
- Oxazepam
Lorazepam Effects
Just like any other prescription drug, there are side effects associated with taking lorazepam. According to The National Health Service, more common symptoms may include extreme fatigue, muscle weakness and problems with coordination. More severe side effects of lorazepam use may include:
- your breathing becomes very slow or shallow
- your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow; this could be a sign of liver problems
- you find it difficult to remember things (amnesia)
- you see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)
- you think things that are not true (delusions)
- you keep falling over
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Signs of Lorazepam Abuse and Addiction
Developing an Ativan addiction is easier than one might think and can easily lead to abuse and addiction. Mistakenly misusing or mistaking a substance is a big factor in how an addiction can develop. Someone who is abusing benzodiazepines and has developed a psychological dependence may start to act differently. A substance abuse disorder may be present if two or more of the following symptoms are experienced:
- Needing to take more to achieve the same effects
- Impaired performance at work, school, or home
- Spending a considerable amount of time trying to get the drug, use, and recover from it
- Cutting themselves off from friends or family in order to use Benzos
- Craving the drug
- Intentionally misusing Benzos for intoxication or pleasure
- Decreased motivation or productivity
Prolonged drug abuse can affect the body physically as well. Physical dependence may cause the following abuse symptoms to develop:
- Physical weakness
- Slurred speech
- Loss of coordination
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Tremors
- Coma
Lorazepam Withdrawal Symptoms
Once you choose to begin drug addiction rehab at this addiction treatment center, detox is your first step. Drug detox fully cleanses the body of lorazepam. Medically assisted detox may use various drugs to help soothe withdrawal symptoms for a more comfortable transition. Each substance affects the body differently, but symptoms of withdrawal may include:
- Sleeplessness
- Irritability
- Anxiousness
- Sweating
- Muscle cramps
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Abdominal pain
- Changes in thoughts and behaviors
- Seizures
Long-Term Side Effects of Lorazepam Abuse
Prolonged substance abuse causes the body to develop a tolerance toward drugs or alcohol. When a tolerance is developed, users must take more and more to achieve the desired effect. Over time, drug abuse chemically alters the brain and neurological pathways, and, because of this, it struggles to function normally without lorazepam.
Long-term use can cause both physical and psychological dependence, resulting in difficult drug withdrawal symptoms that could be life-threatening. Because of this, it is highly recommended that patients seek out drug and alcohol detox at a rehab center to help treat the symptoms caused by long-term Ativan addiction and abuse.
Lorazepam Addiction Treatment
When starting a lorazepam addiction treatment program, a medically assisted drug and alcohol detox at a recovery center is the first step. Cleansing drugs from the system under the watchful eye of physicians and doctors makes symptoms of withdrawal easier to manage. Once detox and a total evaluation is complete at the rehab center, a personalized plan of treatment can begin.
There are two different branches of drug addiction treatment programs: inpatient rehab programs and outpatient rehab programs. Inpatient drug rehab programs require patients to stay in a treatment center long-term. Residential treatment is the most attentive and structured means of dealing with severe drug and alcohol addictions and is usually more successful because of it. Intensive outpatient rehab treatment programs allow for more flexible, more relaxed drug addiction treatments. Patients are allowed to participate in everyday life while checking into therapy when available. Both forms of drug rehab treatments may include individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, twelve step programs, art therapy and more.
Regardless of the substance abuse treatment program, addiction therapy is a big part of substance abuse treatments. Different forms of addiction therapy, like family therapy, individual therapy, behavioral therapy, twelve step programs, trauma-focused therapy and more, will provide the tools needed to understand mental illness, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders and daily triggers. Regardless of your choice of drug rehabs, addiction recovery from lorazepam abuse is possible.
Our lorazepam addiction treatment center provides comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction treatment through a multitude of lorazepam addiction treatment programs and addiction therapy services. Upon your admission into a lorazepam addiction treatment center, our addiction treatment professionals will determine the unique underlying mental health conditions that cause your addiction to lorazepam. Our addiction therapy services and addiction treatment programs in California include: