What Is Lorazepam?

Lorazepam (brand name Ativan) is a short-term prescription medication doctors recommend for anxiety and, sometimes, insomnia. Some doctors also prescribe lorazepam for chemotherapy-related nausea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Lorazepam is in the benzodiazepine (“benzo”) class of prescription drugs, which also includes Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin.

Lorazepam and Its Effects on Your Body

Understanding Ativan and its effects on your body requires knowing how central nervous system (CNS) depressants work. Depressants reduce activity in the CNS, limiting messages to and from nerves in the brain and the body.

Lorazepam and other benzodiazepines carry out this action by increasing the effects of an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA. GABA is naturally responsible for reducing brain activity, offering a relaxing effect.

Is Lorazepam Addictive?

Yes, lorazepam can be highly addictive when used without a valid prescription. Lorazepam can also cause addictions in people with a valid prescription who don’t use their medicine according to a doctor’s recommendations.

Taking lorazepam and other benzos for a long time may increase tolerance, even when following a doctor’s guidelines. For this reason, doctors will only recommend lorazepam for a maximum duration of two to four weeks.

How Lorazepam Addiction Develops

Addictive substances impact the brain in many different ways. However, they all share one mechanism in common. These substances increase CNS levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter.

When the brain releases dopamine, a pleasurable effect occurs. This pleasurable effect acts as a reward.

The brain craves that rewarding effect. In other words, the brain starts to crave the drug that caused the dopamine surge. Over time, these drug cravings can become impossible to ignore, leading to addiction.

Signs and Symptoms of Lorazepam Addiction

One of the first signs of a lorazepam addiction is tolerance. Tolerance is a phenomenon where the brain becomes accustomed to a certain dose. When this happens, that dose no longer provides the same effects.

To reach the same feel-good effects as when the user first started taking lorazepam, they need increasingly higher doses. Unfortunately, tolerance can occur even when using a medication as prescribed.

Other signs of a lorazepam addiction mimic those of other benzos. Potential symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction include but are not limited to:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Anorexia
• Headaches
• Weakness

Loved ones can look out for addictive behaviours like becoming more secretive and hostile to questioning about substance use. Other potential signs of addiction are not eating, poor hygiene, and sudden mood changes.

Myth: If Lorazepam Was Prescribed, It Must Be Safe

In 2020, Health Canada released advice to manufacturers of lorazepam and other benzos. They requested that these companies update benzo labelling to better inform people of these drugs’ potential harms.

Health Canada’s efforts show how medications with valid prescriptions can still present health and safety risks.

Am I Addicted to Lorazepam?

Knowing the answer to the question, ‘Am I addicted to lorazepam,’ requires understanding the signs of a SUD (substance use disorder). There are 11 criteria experts use to diagnose SUDs:

1. Tolerance: Needing increasingly larger doses to feel the same effects
2. Cravings: Having an intense urge to use the substance
3. Loss of Control: Using the substance for longer or using more of the substance than intended
4. Unsuccessful Abstinence: Wanting or attempting to quit using the substance without success
5. Time: Spending significant amounts of time obtaining, using, or getting over the effects of the substance
6. Changing Habits: No longer participating in once-enjoyed activities due to substance use
7. Social Consequences: Failing to fulfill work, school, or home obligations due to substance use
8. Interpersonal Consequences: Experiencing interpersonal conflicts due to substance use
9. Safety Consequences: Putting oneself in unsafe or dangerous situations to use the substance
10. Health Consequences: Continuing to use the substance despite negative impacts on physical or mental health
11. Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing adverse side effects upon cessation of use of the substance

Individuals can have a mild, moderate, or severe benzo addiction.

Mild addictions feature two to three of the above criteria. Meeting four or five criteria is sufficient for a moderate benzo addiction diagnosis. Meeting six or more of these criteria indicates a severe addiction to lorazepam.

Lorazepam Side Effects

Like most medications, lorazepam comes with the potential for side effects. Abusing this prescription may increase the risk of these uncomfortable symptoms, which may include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Unsteadiness
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Appetite changes
• Excitement
• Restlessness
• Constipation
• Blurry vision
• Low libido

These symptoms are non-life threatening. However, lorazepam may also lead to more serious side effects. Individuals experiencing the following severe lorazepam side effects should consult a health professional:

• Shuffling walk
• Persistent tremors
• ADHD-like symptoms
• Difficulty speaking
• Rashes, hives, or itching
• Swelling of the face, eyes, or mouth
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Jaundice of the skin or eyes
• Irregular heartbeat

Other potential side effects of lorazepam include addiction and overdose. We will discuss lorazepam overdose and other dangers of becoming addicted to benzos next.

Dangers of Lorazepam Addiction

Addiction to any substance is dangerous, and lorazepam is no exception. These risks may threaten the user’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and social health and safety.

Learn more about each of these risks below.

Physical Risks

Can you overdose on lorazepam? Unfortunately, severe lorazepam addictions can result in fatalities, as can people with mild to moderate addictions and first-time users of lorazepam. Symptoms of lorazepam overdose to watch for include:

• Extreme agitation or restlessness
• Sudden changes to speech pattern, including slurred speech and difficulty speaking
• Intense confusion
• Sudden and unusual excitement or talkativeness
• Excessive sweating
• Severe irritability
• Unusual lethargy or sudden weakness
• Nightmares
• Shakiness or trembling
• Unsteady walk
• Difficulty with muscle coordination
• Pale skin
• Trouble breathing
• Coma or loss of consciousness

Studies show that lorazepam overdose fatalities are relatively rare. They occur in about three to eight people per million prescriptions. Fatalities are more common in people who abuse other substances alongside lorazepam (more on this in a moment).

Another potential physical health effect is an increased risk of poor outcomes and even death in people with COPD. COPD is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Interestingly, the risk seems to be highest in people with COPD who are short-term users of benzos.

Emotional and Mental Health Risks

Experts believe that benzos like lorazepam may increase the risk for certain mental health disorders. For example, multiple studies have found a link between depression onset and using Xanax, another type of benzo.

Depression may also be a symptom of benzo withdrawal. More commonly, people experience rebound mental health effects during withdrawals. Rebound anxiety and insomnia are some of the top withdrawal symptoms after quitting benzos.

Using benzos like lorazepam can also increase someone’s risk of certain neurodegenerative disorders. Neurodegenerative disorders are not mental illnesses, but they similarly impact the brain. Specifically, benzo use is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Social Consequences

Sadly, addiction to lorazepam does not just affect the user. Addictions can also damage relationships with loved ones.

When someone develops an addiction, they feel like the substance of abuse is necessary for their survival. They may lie or steal to support their addiction. Though these behaviours do not mean the addict no longer cares for their loved ones, it can look like that from the outset.

Additionally, many people with addictions isolate themselves. They may do so to make more time for substance abuse or to avoid questions and concerns about their addictive behaviours.

Failing a drug test may also result in job loss or problems at school. Concerns about passing drug tests may be why so many people wonder, “How long does Ativan stay in your system?”

Polysubstance Abuse

As we mentioned, lorazepam overdoses are relatively rare. They more commonly occur in the presence of other substances. Benzo abuse, in general, is more common in people who are already addicted to other drugs.

Abusing or being addicted to multiple drugs simultaneously is known as polysubstance abuse. The most common drugs abused with benzos are opioids and alcohol. However, these are not the only drugs benzo addicts co-abuse.

Mixing Lorazepam and Xanax

Xanax is another benzo prescribed to treat anxiety. Lorazepam and Xanax are considered to be less addictive than benzos like diazepam. However, when abused together, the risk for addiction, withdrawal, and overdose is higher.

Mixing Lorazepam and Alcohol

Studies show that as many as one in five people with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) also abuse benzos. Since both substances are CNS suppressants, they have a high risk of respiratory depression and death.

Mixing Lorazepam and Opiates

In 2020, 46% of people in Ontario who died from an opioid-related overdose also had benzodiazepines in their systems. Moreover, a recent study found that polysubstance abuse of benzos and opioids presents a 2x higher risk of death.

Mixing Lorazepam and Antihistamines

Antihistamines with sedative activities may increase the risk of Ativan side effects, including overdose. Avoid using Benadryl and antihistamines containing promethazine, dimenhydrinate, or chlorpheniramine with lorazepam to reduce this risk.

Mixing Lorazepam and Cough Syrup

Lorazepam and dextromethorphan do not mix. Doctors recommend avoiding cough syrups that contain this ingredient (e.g., Robitussin) while using lorazepam to reduce the risk of side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and trouble concentrating.

Lorazepam Withdrawal and Detox

Detoxing from lorazepam is the first step toward overcoming addiction. It involves stopping substance use, which may bring about withdrawals. People with severe lorazepam SUDs should consider undergoing medically assisted detox to undergo withdrawal symptoms safely and more comfortably.

It can be dangerous to quit Ativan without medical supervision. Suddenly quitting lorazepam can lead to uncomfortable and even fatal symptoms like:

• Rebound anxiety or insomnia
• Irritability and restlessness
• Tremors and muscle spasms
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Increased heart rate
• Hyperventilating
• Panic attacks
• Bodily aches and pains
• Extreme sensitivity to light or touch
• Skin crawling, chills, or excessive goosebumps
• Visual disruptions
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
• Hallucinations
• Derealization
• Delirium
• Seizures

People who use lorazepam for anxiety may experience a return of symptoms until they are prescribed another anxiolytic.

Coming Off Lorazepam

How quickly the above withdrawal symptoms arise depends on many factors. These factors include how long the person has used lorazepam, the dose, and lorazepam’s half-life.

Half-life can help answer the question, “How long does lorazepam stay in your system?” In other words, how long does lorazepam last or how long does Ativan last? Ativan can stay in your system for up to nine days due to its 12 to 18-hour half-life.

It also depends on whether or not someone goes “cold turkey.” Cold turkey is the term for stopping the use of a substance suddenly. This may not be the best strategy for everyone, especially people with severe Ativan addictions.

Instead, people with severe addictions should consider medication tapering. Tapering is when someone stops using an addictive substance gradually over time. This type of treatment is available at detox centres in Ontario.

Seeking Treatment for a Lorazepam Addiction

The good news about lorazepam addiction is that treatment can help. As we mentioned, benzo addiction programs start with detoxification. Once the drugs are out of the patient’s system, inpatient treatment can begin.

Inpatient treatment is the gold standard in addiction management. Inpatient programs allow patients to live at the facility where they receive care. The goal is to provide a robust support system and keep patients from “real world” temptations.

If you are searching for an inpatient program in Ontario, Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health is here. We specialize in treating many types of addiction, including prescription benzodiazepine SUDs.

Get Help for Prescription Benzodiazepine Addiction

In this guide, we hope we have answered all your questions related to: “Is lorazepam addictive?” This prescription medication can be beneficial for anxiety and insomnia in the short term. However, it should not be prescribed for long-term use since it presents the risk of addiction and overdose.

Do you or a loved one need help for a benzo addiction? Simcoe is a full-service inpatient rehab serving Ontario. Contact us today to learn more about our admissions process.