Ativan Withdrawal

Ativan withdrawal is one of the many consequences of an addiction to this drug. Withdrawal symptoms are experienced when Ativan use is discontinued by the addict. Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety agent. It is a benzodiazepine and mild tranquilizer, sedative, and central nervous system (CNS) depressant.

Ativan is known to be very addictive. It can cause psychological and physical addiction because it produces feelings of well-being in those who use it. Once an individual has developed an addiction to Ativan, they will often get multiple prescriptions from different doctors to support their habit.

Long-term users of Ativan often develop a tolerance to the drug. This requires them to take larger doses to achieve the desired effects. This often brings on severe Ativan withdrawal symptoms once the medication is discontinued. Some individuals who abuse prescription medication such as Ativan take it to bring them down after using stimulants such as ecstasy or cocaine. Others take benzodiazepines such as Ativan to enhance the effects of alcohol. Benzodiazepines are also commonly used as replacement drugs when an user's first drug of choice is not available.

This drug works by activating the brain's reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave more Ativan and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of Ativan to strongly activate brain reward mechanisms and its ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems is what produces an addiction to Ativan. Ativan also reduce a person's level of consciousness, harming the ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.

Ativan withdrawal symptoms, similar in character to those noted with barbiturates and alcohol have occurred following abrupt discontinuance of Ativan. The more severe Ativan withdrawal symptoms have usually been limited to those patients who received excessive doses over an extended period of time.

Ativan Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• abdominal and muscle cramps
• convulsions
• insomnia
• nausea
• ringing in the ears
• shaking
• sweating
• tremors
• vomiting

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