How Long Does Ativan Last? Understanding Its Duration in Your System
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Giordano, DO
How long does Ativan last? It usually acts for approximately 6-8 hours, but traces can be detected in a person's system for different amounts of time based on the type of test.
Ativan, more scientifically known as lorazepam, is one of the ultra-fast-acting benzodiazepines that are applied to cure anxiety, panic, seizures, and sleep disorders.
Understanding how long lorazepam lasts is essential for individuals managing side effects, potential dependency or planning a safe tapering process with medical guidance.
One-on-one time with Dr. Giordano focuses on assisting people in transitioning off of prescription drugs, not because they have an addiction problem but because they are interested in achieving an optimal state of wellness without medication. For a holistic approach to the treatment of mental health disorders while promoting personal wellness, contact us for a consultation via phone call or email.
What is Ativan?
Ativan (also known chemically as lorazepam) is a powerful member of the benzodiazepine drug family of sedatives.
It is commonly prescribed to treat various anxiety disorders, epilepsy, and insomnia.
As a prescription medication, it must be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Here's a deeper look at its uses and functions:
Mechanism of Action:
Ativan is a drug with anxiolytic activity.
It heightens the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system and throughout the entire body.
GABA is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
It reduces neuronal excitability and regulates muscle tone, lending to its use as an anxiolytic, hypnotic, and antiepileptic agent.
Uses:
Treat Anxiety Disorders: Ativan is often used for treating anxiety symptoms. It is also prescribed for panic attacks and muscle spasms.
Seizures: It is most valuable in status epilepticus, that is, continuing seizures where consciousness is not restored between the convulsions.
Insomnia: People with difficulty sleeping may use a medication like Ativan to help them fall asleep.
Administration and Dosage:
Ativan comes in different formulations and forms: tablet, oral solution, intramuscular injection, and intravenous injection.
Depending on the patient's particular situation, one can choose which method of administration to use.
Higher doses and frequency of use should be monitored closely by a medical professional to avoid potential physical dependence or substance abuse.
How Long Does Ativan Stay in Your System?
Duration in Blood: Up to 3 days
Duration in Urine: Up to 6 days
Duration in Saliva: Up to 8 hours
Duration in Hair: Up to 30 days or longer
Generally, knowing how long Ativan (lorazepam) remains in the system is essential in medical and safety concerns.
The detection of Ativan in one's system depends on the dosage, frequency of use, metabolism, age, state of health, and other aspects like the type of drug test used.
Here's a breakdown of how long Ativan can be detected in different parts of your body:
Duration in Blood
Ativan is measurable in the bloodstream for about three days after the last dose.
Drug screening done via blood tests is used in clinics to measure the presence of the drug if abuse is suspected.
It does not stay in the blood for a long time, so use prior to a few days would not be detected.
Duration in Urine
Urine tests are the most common Ativan detection tests because they can detect Ativan for longer.
The substance can be identified in urine samples within 24 to 72 hours of consumption and persist for up to 6 days if ingested.
This makes urine screening tests beneficial, especially when checking compliance with therapeutic drug use, employment, or legal cases.
Duration in Saliva
Ativan is medium to long-term detectable in saliva (oral fluid) and has been established to be detectable for about 8 hours after use.
Unlike blood tests, saliva tests are noninvasive; they could, therefore, be used for rapid detection, though the ability to detect the drug may be for only a short duration.
This method is usually applied at times when drug administration requires immediate affirmation of the drug's presence.
Duration in Hair
Hair tests yield the most extended detection of Ativan with traces found in hair follicles for anywhere between 30 days to months after the last use.
The method is utilized when a person's drug use is for extended periods since drugs are deposited within the hair strand as it develops.
Analysis of hair samples may show levels of drug use over extended periods, and it is used in most forensic analyses and other programs.
Factors Influencing Detection Time
Several individual factors influence how long Ativan stays in your system:
Dosage and Frequency: Higher doses of Ativan and increased frequency of use also increase detection time.
Metabolism: People with higher metabolic rates will expel the drug out of their body faster, while those with slower metabolism, such as older individuals, may retain it longer.
Age and Health: Patients with hepatic (liver function) or renal (kidney function) impairments and older adults may metabolize Ativan slowly.
Body Mass: Those with higher body weight, particularly higher levels of body fat, will retain the drug for a longer period because benzodiazepines are fat-soluble.
Knowledge of factors such as high doses, large doses, and differences between older and younger people can assist in making informed decisions regarding the proper use of Ativan.
This understanding helps maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing risks of dependency and toxicity.
How Long Does It Take to Feel Ativan's Effects?
Oral Administration: Peak effects seen in about 2 hours
Injection: Effects begin within 15 minutes and last for 6-8 hours
It's important to note that Ativan produces different effects depending on the method of administration.
If ingested orally, the time frame for maximum impact is within about 2 hours of ingesting the drug.
After injecting Ativan, the impact emerges in a much shorter time, approximately 15 minutes.
The rapid onset is attributed to the fact that the medication is administered through intravenous injection, hence avoiding the liver first.
As for injected Ativan, its impact lasts about 6-8 hours since it quickly relieves symptoms compared to oral administration.
This fast-acting drug is commonly used for its calming effects in emergencies.
How Long Does Ativan Last?
Ativan has a half-life of about 12 hours.
This is the time required to decrease the drug's concentration by half in the body's circulation.
It means that within 12 hours, half of the drug will be reduced.
Ativan's half-life affects both the length of the therapeutic effect and the time it takes for the drug to be expelled from the system.
Presence in the Body
Ativan is fifty times more potent than Valium and remains in the body up to nine days after the last use.
This duration depends on critical factors such as metabolism rate, the consumer’s age, liver health, kidney function, overall health, and the quantity of the substance consumed.
The positive impact of Ativan, including its calming effect and sedation, may last for only a couple of hours, but the presence of Ativan in the blood, urine, saliva, and hair can take 2 to 5 days or longer.
Ativan Withdrawal Symptoms
After regular, daily use, an individual may experience withdrawal from Ativan if he/she stops or reduces his/her dose abruptly. The symptoms are noted below:
Common Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms can start within hours to days or even weeks after the last dose:
Anxiety: Increased symptoms of anxiety are a common first symptom.
Insomnia: Poor sleep quality whereby it takes a lot of time to get to sleep, and/or the individual wakes up during the night, which results in fatigue and irritability.
Tremors: Tremors, particularly in the extremities such as the hand.
Nausea: Nausea may, at times, cause vomiting.
Muscle Pain: Muscle pain all over the body.
Sweating: Night sweating or the production of sweat more than usual.
Read our article on How To Stop Anxiety Chills provides valuable strategies to manage.
Acute Stage Symptoms
During the acute stage of withdrawal, symptoms can be intense and include:
Headache: From mild to severe.
Heart Palpitations: Rapid or irregular heart rate.
Increased Blood Pressure: Above normal blood pressure can be life-threatening.
Difficulty Sleeping: Sleep disruption is a common early symptom.
Prolonged Stage Symptoms
Certain symptoms may persist for a long time for weeks or even months:
Lingering Anxiety: Persistent worry that interferes with normal activities of life.
Depression: Depressed mood, which may need further intervention for consolation.
Difficulty Concentrating: Difficulty concentrating and sustained attention as well as work and household productivity.
How to Get Ativan Out of Your System
Medical Detox: Most importantly, please be sure to have the help of a medical professional who understands benzodiazepine withdrawal and the safe approach to tapering. Your provider should be familiar with the Ashton Manual and have a safe plan to help you taper and avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. For more guidance on this process, read our article Your Journey to Freedom from Psych Meds. Be aware that many detox programs do an abrupt cessation or "cold turkey" of Ativan while providing 'supportive care.' This approach can precipitate severe withdrawal symptoms that last some people for months or longer. Be sure to find medical support that clearly understands the need to do a slow, gentle taper at a rate your body and nervous system can tolerate.
Hydration: Increased fluid consumption can support your body so it can clear Ativan.
Healthy Diet: Incorporating fresh, raw vegetables, fruit, and other nutrient-dense food enhances general health and boosts recovery.
Exercise: Physical exertion should be approached conservatively so as not to overwhelm your system while coming off of Ativan. Best to be gentle with walking and/or stretching for their physical and mental benefits. This is not the best time to start an intense workout regimen as this can sometimes cause a flare of withdrawal symptoms.
Important Information to Know About Ativan
Potential for Dependence:
Ativan has a high potential for causing physical dependence in which the body becomes tolerant of the drug, and in order to get the same impact, one is forced to use more of it.
Long-term use can make this medication difficult to stop.
Check out our article Is Lexapro Addictive?
Risks of Abrupt Discontinuation:
Stopping the use of Ativan abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms.
These include anxiety, insomnia, tremors, rarely seizures, and perhaps even more rarely, psychotic reactions.
Such severe withdrawal symptoms make it important to wean off the medication slowly with a clear plan rather than stop the medication abruptly.
Precautions:
Those taking Ativan should steer clear of other depressants and alcohol products.
Ativan and alcohol are both depressants of the central nervous system, and combining the two can result in increased sedation, mental status changes, or even fatal respiratory depression.
Avoid Alcohol: Ativan can interact with alcohol causing very dangerous effects and even respiratory depression.
Inform Healthcare Providers: Consult your doctor for all prescription drugs you may be taking to help prevent contra-indications.
Do Not Take More than Prescribed: Do not take more than your doctor has prescribed and meet with your doctor regularly to be supervised while on this medication.
Getting Help for Stopping Ativan
Consult a Doctor:
Stopping Ativan abruptly could result in withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, shaking, and, in severe cases, seizures.
Work with your doctor to create a treatment plan to safely reduce the dose to avoid potential withdrawal symptoms.
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Support Groups:
Support groups can be helpful by creating connections with others going through similar issues in coming off their medication.
Be it in-person or online, support group meetings are very effective in lessening loneliness, serving as a motivation and reminder of hope.
Support from others who understand makes the generally overwhelming process less intimidating.
Additional Considerations
Nutritional Support: Focusing on consuming highly nutrient-dense food is a great way to give your body the building blocks to regulate itself.
Exercise: Physical exertion reduces stress and improves mood, benefiting any healing process.
Hydration: Staying hydrated is important because it kick-starts our body’s detoxification system.
All these steps offer additional support essential to guarantee ultimate and sustainable healing.
