If you take medication for anxiety, you’re not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States. Physicians often write prescriptions for benzodiazepines to help patients with their anxiety. However, benzos, such as Ativan, are a Schedule IV controlled substance. That means that there is a risk for abuse and addiction. Some doctors will continue to write prescriptions for Ativan for an extended period, which means addiction is possible. When this happens, you have to deal with Ativan withdrawal symptoms. However, with the help of an Ativan detox center in Florida, you can go through the process comfortably.
What is Ativan?
Ativan, also known as lorazepam, is an antianxiety medicine. It belongs to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which means it works on the brain and the central nervous system to calm a person down. Doctors prescribe Ativan to treat anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, and some types of seizures.
Ativan may be prescribed as a tablet or a solution. The tablets come in .5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. The solution comes in 2 mg per ml and 4 mg per ml.
How Does Ativan Work?
Ativan works on the brain to help calm down your nerves. Your brain already has neurotransmitters called GABA that works to reduce the nerve activity in the brain. When your neurotransmitters reduce nerve activity in the brain, it also causes the whole body to calm down.
So, how does Ativan work? Ativan enhances those GABA neurotransmitters and causes the body to relax. However, over time the brain’s natural ability to promote GABA is not as effective because it adjusts to the artificial way.
What Are the Effects of Ativan?
Ativan makes the user feel calm and relaxed. It can even make you feel a bit sleepy, meaning a dependency can develop in order to help you sleep. Some people feel restless though as it has the opposite effect on them. Other side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headache
While some of these effects may fade over the course of time, other effects remain and are longer lasting. It is important to know what symptoms fade and which persist.
What Are Ativan Withdrawal Symptoms?
When quitting Ativan, it’s best to seek treatment from a rehab center. People experience a range of withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Anxiety, racing heart, and panic attacks
- Moodiness, restlessness, and tremors
- Stomach upset and aches and pains
- Depression
- Potential for seizures
Treatment for Ativan Addiction
Welcome to Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida where our staff is ready to help you detox from Ativan. We specialize in a broad range of addiction treatment options including:
- Alcohol detox treatment
- Opioid detox treatment and benzos detox treatment
- Meth detox treatment
- Cocaine detox treatment
- Prescription painkiller detox treatment
- Heroin detox treatment
Overcome your addiction and discover peace once again. There is no reason to wait or try and recover on your own. Now that you know the Ativan withdrawal symptoms, you can discover that bright tomorrow. Reach out to 866.294.5306, and we’ll get you on the pathway of light.
