Ativan Withdrawal Timeline
For who used Ativan lightly, acute withdrawal symptoms last for several days to about one week. Prolonged symptoms can persist for another two weeks or more. For moderate to heavy Ativan users, acute symptoms generally occur over the course of two weeks to a month or more. Prolonged symptoms (PAWS) can last for months, even years.
The withdrawal timeline is only partly related to how long Ativan stays in your system; the half-life of Ativan is relatively short (12 to 18 hours), so even heavy users will metabolize Ativan within a few days. Ativan use causes substantial chemical changes in the brain that underlie persistent withdrawal symptoms.
Undergoing Ativan detox and withdrawal is at best uncomfortable and can be incredibly debilitating physically and mentally. To reduce symptoms and maximize successful outcomes, Ativan is generally tapered to prevent overwhelming acute symptoms. For long-term users, tapering may be essential for preventing potentially lethal symptoms. Pharmacological intervention is generally not considered to be significantly beneficial in the treatment of Ativan withdrawal.
Medical Detox
Ativan detox is best conducted under the supervision of medical professionals in a quality rehab facility. In some cases, medically assisted detox may be appropriate. Medical detox often includes a tapering program or supplementation with other benzodiazepines that have longer half-lives than Ativan.
- What to Take for Ativan Withdrawal? It is important to understand that Ativan detox and withdrawal should be done under the care of medical professionals. There are no over-the-counter remedies for Ativan withdrawal symptoms.
- Alternative Treatments for Ativan Withdrawal. In some cases, benzodiazepines with longer half-lives than Ativan can be helpful for someone going through withdrawal. All benzodiazepines require a prescription and should only be used as directed. There are no medically approved alternative treatments for Ativan withdrawal. Although some anecdotal reports may suggest that there are herbal remedies or supplements that can provide shortcuts, these reports have not been proven.
Outpatient Detox
Clients with mild dependency issues are potential candidates for outpatient detox. The first step in any detox program is to undergo an initial evaluation with a medical professional who will generally prescribe an Ativan taper. The goals of the evaluation are to ensure that the client has a solid understanding of what to expect as they undergo detox and withdrawal, and to identify goals for immediate and long term recovery. The client should also feel confident that they can contact the rehab facility at any time if they encounter unexpected challenges or complications.