Location
Our Washington Location
Our inpatient facility is located in Washington, and will serve Washington state. It will provide a safe & therapeutic environment for both our staff and patients.
- Edmonds
7416 212th St SW,
Edmonds, WA 98026
Ativan Abuse and Addiction: Are Detox and Rehab Needed to Recover?
Ativan addiction and abuse continue to be growing problems in our country. People often do not realize that they need to go to treatment in order to get off this drug safely. Otherwise, stopping it can result in significant withdrawal symptoms that can even become life-threatening.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
- More than 30% of all drug overdoses that involve opioids also involve benzodiazepine drugs.
- In 1996, there were 8.1 million people who filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine medication.
- By 2013, that number had jumped by 67% to 13.5 million.
- The amount per prescription also increased.
- In 2015, 23% of people who died from opioid drug overdoses tested positive for benzodiazepines.
- Between 2001 and 2013, the number of people receiving prescriptions for opioids and benzos increased to 17%.
- Research shows that using both puts people at a higher risk for ER visits and drug-related emergencies.
Ativan is an extremely potent benzodiazepine drug. It is important to know the risks of taking it as well as the effects it can have on the body. But we also want people to know that treatment is available for those who want to get off it.
What is Ativan?
Ativan’s clinical name is Lorazepam. It is a medication that is often prescribed for people with severe anxiety and panic disorder, as we mentioned earlier. It acts very quickly, and it should only ever be used for a short period of time.
Most of the time, this drug is prescribed for use as needed only. It is rarely prescribed for use on a regular basis. But there are doctors who will keep their patients on it for years, which easily results in an addiction.
Ativan is a known drug of abuse, and it has several street names, such as:
- Downers
- Chill Pills
- Benzos
- Tranks
- French Fries
- Planks
- Totem Poles
People can get addicted to Ativan when they use it every day, even with a doctor’s prescription. One of the first signs of addiction is to form a tolerance. When this occurs, the person typically increases how much they take on their own. For those who are using the drug recreationally, they also have a risk of becoming addicted to it.
The Effects of Ativan
The Ativan half-life is approximately 12 hours, which means that about 12 hours after the last Ativan use, withdrawal symptoms can start if addiction has occurred.
However, before Ativan addiction takes place, there are certain effects that are usually experienced as a result of taking this drug. These include:
- Being able to feel reduced anxiety, worry and tension
- Feelings of euphoria
- An increase in well-being
- Feelings of drowsiness
- A lessening of physical tension in the body
Ativan addicts crave these feelings, and they are what keeps them taking it for such a long period of time. However, an Ativan addiction can be very dangerous, and only Ativan treatment programs are able to provide the right kind of professional help to avoid overdosing, which is very likely to occur.
What is an Ativan Addiction?
An Ativan addiction is what happens when a person has been taking their medication for a long period of time, and they’re unable to stop it.
The Ativan addict usually feels both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to quit, which causes them to go back to using again. Quite often, people don’t realize they’re addicted to Ativan, or that they need to go to Ativan rehabs. However, this type of addiction can be identified by the following Ativan addiction symptoms:
- A report of an Ativan high
- Feeling the need to take more of the drug at a time
- “Doctor shopping” to obtain additional prescriptions
- Hiding Ativan use from family and friends
- Obtaining Ativan illegally, such as by stealing it
Any one of these Ativan addiction signs indicates a need for help from one of the many Ativan addiction treatment centers that are available to help.
What are the Side Effects of Ativan?
Ativan is a drug that carries a long list of side effects, and these can vary in severity based on a number of factors, including how much of the drug is being used at a time, how long the drug has been used, and how often and individual is taking it.
Some Ativan side effects include:
- Feeling disoriented or confused
- Constantly feeling sleepy or fatigued
- Bouts of dizziness
- Becoming depressed
- Having vivid auditory or visual hallucinations
- Becoming exceedingly hyperactive
- Exhibiting poor hand-eye or motor coordination
- Becoming weak in the body
Increases in these Ativan side effects can also be warning signs of an Ativan overdose, and if this occurs, it’s important to get immediate medical attention.
What is Ativan Abuse?
The Ativan abuse definition involves what happens when someone begins to use Ativan outside of it’s prescribed parameters. For example, there are those who will attempt to combine Ativan and alcohol to see what happens, and how the effects change. Some people will visit multiple doctors to get different prescriptions for various medications and take them to see which one is better, or which combination produces the best high. An example of this would be someone who is considering adding Xanax to their Ativan regimen, which is another type of anxiety medication.
An Ativan addiction always begins with Ativan abuse, but someone does not need to be taking Ativan for an extended period of time before becoming addicted to it. Tolerance levels can increase very rapidly with Ativan use, and eventually, the drug is no loner effective. This puts people at a very high risk of overdosing. In most cases, Ativan should be given on an as-needed basis, or for a time period of no longer than one week. People are often completely unaware that their Ativan abuse has transitioned into an addiction, but once the signs of Ativan addiction are present, professional help is required to stop the medication safely.
Symptoms of Withdrawal from Ativan
Some common symptoms of withdrawal from Adderall might include:
- Rebound symptoms of depression or anxiety
- Derealization or depersonalization
- Chronic headaches
- Becoming very restless
- Excessive sweating
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities
It’s best to stop using Ativan in the care of professionals who know the type of treatment you need to do so safely.
Ativan Withdrawal Symptoms You May Experience
The severity of your Ativan addiction is going to depend on a variety of factors, including how long you’ve been taking it, the amount you currently take, and your overall physical health. Even so, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, and these may include:
- Cravings for Ativan, even long after it’s stopped
- Insomnia or other sleep disturbances
- Mood swings coupled with agitation
- Feelings of confusion or brain fog
- Changes in your blood pressure
- Stomach issues, such as cramps, nausea or vomiting
- Panic attacks and an increase in general anxiety
You may also experience more severe side effects, such as heart palpitations, changes in your heart rate, weight loss or seizures.
When you stop taking Ativan on your own, the risk of developing any one of these symptoms increases. However, a drug detox center can help to lessen their severity, and how long they last.
Choosing to Quit on Your Own: The Ativan Withdrawal Timeline
The question that’s most frequently asked about Ativan withdrawal is, how long does Ativan withdrawal last? This is a great question, and the answer is that it’s different for everyone. It depends on how much of the medication you were taking it, how long, and a lot of other factors. However, you can expect the Ativan withdrawal timeline to look something like this:
- During the first three days: This is the onset of acute withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and nausea. You could also experience insomnia and an increase in your anxiety levels during this time, but what you feel might be relatively mild.
- During days four through seven: This is the time period when Ativan withdrawal symptoms tend to peak for most people. They often develop tremors, more intense cravings and mood swings during this time.
- During days eight through fourteen: During the second week, Ativan withdrawal can lessen, but it’s not uncommon for rebound symptoms to still be present, and even severe in some cases.
- During days 15 through 30: There may be some lingering symptoms you still experience, but acute withdrawal has probably subsided.
- After day 30: Protracted withdrawal symptoms can lead to psychological disturbances that can last for quite some time.
The Risks Associated with At Home Detox and Detox Kits
At home detox remedies and detox kits are easy to find when you do an online search. However, these methods are not recommended at all. In fact, they can be very dangerous because you’re not being supervised while you stop the drug. An Ativan addiction can lead to severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, and if that occurs, you want to be in very close proximity to medical personnel. Some people have seizures, heart problems, or even become suicidal when they stop taking Ativan.
Also, at home detox methods and detox kits are usually very expensive, as well as being ineffective. You need the assistance of drug detox centers in order to help you get the right follow up care after your Ativan detox has been completed.
Ativan Rehab in WA State: Getting Help for an Addiction
An Ativan addiction can take over your life very quickly. Ativan, which goes by the generic name Lorazepam, is an anti-anxiety medication that is prescribed by doctors for the purpose of calming severe anxiety or panic attacks. It is only intended to be used for a short period of time, and preferably, it should only be used on an as-needed basis.
Even so, short-term use of Ativan can lead to an addiction, and unfortunately, there are many people who are addicted to this drug without realizing it. If you believe you may have an Ativan addiction, Ativan rehab can provide you with the help you need to stop using it safely.
425.437.3298
Ativan Rehab Cost in WA State: Will Insurance Help Pay for it?
There was a time when Ativan rehab was not covered by health insurance policies at all. Over time, some health insurance providers began to offer some coverage for this type of drug rehab, but it often wasn’t enough to help people who needed to recover. As a result, there were a lot of people who weren’t able to get professional help for their addictions. Many of them just continued to suffer with them, and some of them chose to try to quit on their own instead.
Today, our healthcare industry has changed dramatically, and it’s different from what it was even just a few short years ago. People are now able to go to Ativan rehab to get help for their addictions, and health insurance companies are required to provide benefits to help offset the costs. In some cases, Ativan rehab programs are even covered completely.
Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware that they won’t have to pay for Ativan rehab centers completely on their own, and as a result, they remain stuck in their addictions. Talking with a representative from an Ativan rehab can help you understand the specific type of treatment you need for your addiction, and it can also allow them to inform you about what your health insurance company will cover.
Choosing Inpatient Ativan Rehab in Washington State
An inpatient Ativan rehab provides you with the support you need during this critical time. Without getting Ativan addiction help, many people have found that they become stuck in an addiction cycle, and this puts them at great risk. The right Ativan rehabilitation program can provide you with the assistance you need to overcome your addiction. You’ll also have a better chance of avoiding dangerous Ativan withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient Ativan rehabs are designed to address your needs specifically, so there’s no need to be concerned about not receiving the proper level of care. You’ll be able to participate in:
- Ativan addiction counseling sessions
- Family therapy sessions
- Ativan relapse prevention counseling
- Group therapy and counseling sessions
- Holistic wellness and nutrition therapy
In addition, your treatment plan will be designed according to your specific addiction history, and in this way, your Ativan addiction treatment will be targeted and more effective.
What to Expect During Treatment for Ativan Addiction
The withdrawal symptoms that can occur with benzodiazepines are extremely dangerous, as we have discussed. Stopping them on one’s own is not recommended. But in a professional setting, addicts can get the support and help they need to stop them safely. They also learn how to avoid relapsing in the future.
Many people put off getting information about their treatment options because they are afraid. They have no idea what to expect when they go to rehab, so they just continue to use. We want to provide some more insight and clarity into what happens during treatment. We hope that this will persuade more people to get the help they need to recover.
People who are addicted to benzodiazepine drugs like Ativan often need medical detox to stop using. This form of withdrawal treatment allows people to take medications to help with their symptoms.
Every person is different as far as what types of medications they will need. The decision is based on their symptoms, or those that doctors expect them to experience. There may also be a time of tapering off Ativan as a way to minimize the effects of withdrawal.
Holistic detox refers to the use of any form of non-medical treatment during withdrawal. There are many things that fall under this category, such as:
- Nutritional therapy
- Yoga
- Physical exercise
- Meditation
- Counseling
Holistic detox is important because it improves a person’s overall physical and mental health. It should always be included in every patient’s treatment plan.
The next step is to begin drug rehab. During this time, the patient goes through many types of therapy. They will work with a counselor in a one-on-one setting. They will also participate in other forms of treatment, such as group therapy and family therapy.
Northpoint Washington Offers Drug Rehab for Ativan Addiction
At Northpoint Washington, we provide the best drug treatment for people who are addicted to Ativan. We know how serious this addiction is, and we are equipped to help people with their withdrawal symptoms. Our staff is also very aware of the types of therapy people typically need when they are battling this addiction. But, every patient receives their own, individual treatment plan.
Our inpatient treatment program is known to be among the best in the State of Washington. We are located in the City of Edmonds, and we offer both detox and rehab services. For someone with an Ativan addiction, they might spend about a week to ten days in detox. Afterwards, they are ready to move on to rehab, where they will receive therapy.
We also know the importance of adequate follow-up care. Our staff is very careful about making the appropriate aftercare referrals for our patients. Continuing to get treatment will help them stay on track. Also, there is no cure for an addiction, so getting ongoing support is critical for long-term success.
Our 28-day program has helped so many people reach their goals of getting clean. Ativan may be a powerful drug, but for those who are determined to recover, they can be successful.
We offer treatment for both cross addictions and co-occurring disorders. The vast majority of the patients we work with present with one or the other, or even both. Addressing these issues is so important because otherwise, people are very unlikely to reach their recovery goals.
Get More Information About Ativan Abuse, Addiction and Rehab
At Northpoint Washington, we have worked with many people who battled Ativan addictions. We know how hard it can be to recover, which is why our program is designed to offer the highest level of support.
People get addicted to Ativan for many reasons. Some form addictions to it because they abuse it recreationally. But the majority of people get addicted because they have simply taken the drug for too long. In either scenario, professional treatment can help.
Would you like to learn more about Ativan addiction and abuse? Do you have questions about going to rehab and what you can expect during treatment? Please contact us today.
Talk to a Rehab Specialist
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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