 |
 |
Oxycontin Withdrawal
Percocet Abuse
Xanax Withdrawal
Methamphetamine Detox
Cocaine Addiction
You don't have to be a slave to prescription drugs. You don't have to plan your day around getting Ativan or other drugs. Recovery Connection coordinators are ready to help you now, call . Our helpline is open 24/7, our staff is experienced and trained and understands addiction. You are not alone. Help is available. Calls are free and confidential.
Ativan is a widely prescribed medication in the benzodiazepine class of medications. Benzodiazepines such as Valium, Xanax, and Ativan are sedative-hypnotics that are used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, acute stress reactions, anxiety with depression and seizures. They are considered to be controlled substances by the DEA because of their addictive properties. For this reason, Ativan is typically only used for short periods of time. You should never increase your dosage nor abruptly stop taking your medication without first consulting your prescribing physician.
Ativan is a controlled substance and legally obtainable only through a valid prescription. Despite this, it is fairly easy to obtain Ativan through illicit trafficking. Like many central nervous system depressants, Ativan comes in tablet and liquid form and has become a popular, albeit dangerous, recreational drug.
Ativan dependence can occur rapidly even if one takes the drug as prescribed. Tolerance develops as the number and function of GABA receptors in the brain is decreased. These receptors are the body’s natural way to control brain stimulation that normally occurs in response to various external stimuli. Once tolerance occurs, the need for more of the drug increases, and a drug detox will be necessary to end the use of the drug and prevent the consequence of addiction.
Ativan can cause both psychological and physical dependence. As the daily dosage and total length of time increase, the risk of developing tolerance and an addiction increase. Sadly, while the addiction is developing, the initial relief experienced while taking the drug will gradually disappear, and other consequences will begin to emerge. The patient is left suffering from the original symptoms, such as anxiety, as well as new symptoms that develop due to the addiction. Ativan addiction is the benzodiazepine that is most commonly abused and is associated with the highest addiction rates in this class of drugs.
Some people begin using Ativan as directed, but eventually start increasing the dosage or taking it more often than prescribed. In other cases, people use it recreationally in order to have fun, relax, decrease the high caused by stimulants, or in combination with opiates to enhance their effects. When Ativan is mixed with alcohol, an extremely dangerous central nervous system depression can occur, which can lead to respiratory and cardiac collapse.
Symptoms vary in severity based on the amount of the drug taken, the duration of the Ativan abuse, and the method of abuse. Ativan can be abused by snorting, ingesting by mouth, or injecting the drug.
Not taking care of one's health, home, or family obligations is also a symptom of Ativan abuse. Compulsive drug seeking leads those with this addiction to take risks out of the norm. Drug arrests for possession, doctor shopping, stealing, not paying bills, and missing work are all symptoms of addiction. An Ativan addict will become defensive and either deny or rationalize the drug seeking behavior. A person with addiction that is displaying denial or rationalization such as, "My doctor told me to take these", or "You don't understand", may need to have a substance abuse intervention in order to be convinced that he/she needs help. Those addicted may resort to taking pills from family, friends, and neighbors, lying to physicians and buying Ativan on the street.
Abruptly stopping the use of Ativan can be dangerous. These types of drugs require a slow, methodical detox and medication treatment for benzodiazepine addiction. Ativan withdrawal symptoms should be closely monitored in a medically staffed detox unit. Symptoms include nervousness, anxiety, racing thoughts and seizures which can be life threatening depending on the original amounts that were taken during the addiction. Any pre-existing psychiatric or psychological symptoms must be addressed at the same time the addiction is treated. Ativan addiction treatment can provide the addict with relief for the original problem, as well as the knowledge and tools to avoid a relapse in the future.
 |
 |
 |
