Ativan Addiction Treatment - How To Overcome The Problem

Ativan is a drug that is also known as lorazepam and it is generally prescribed to people as a mild sedative as well as to help counteract the effects of anxiety. The problem with this drug is that it is very addictive and people can easily become reliant on the drug in order to live some kind of a normal life. What follows is information on ativan addiction treatment because it is possible to break the habit of taking the drug with the correct medical help from qualified professionals.

Ativan itself is classed as being a benzodiazepin drug and it works by altering the chemicals produced in the brain that result in someone suffering from anxiety. It is not recommended for use in the long-term, but instead is aimed at helping to get the anxiety under control before other medication replaces it in order to avoid the possibility of the person becoming addicted. Within the United States it is seen as being one of the top three most commonly abused drugs of its type so the addiction treatments have been used to treat a number of people over the years.

Ativan Addiction Treatment.

Prior to discussing the actual treatment it is perhaps best to describe the symptoms that may indicate that the person is indeed addicted to the drug. This will allow people to help prompt them into seeking medical help before it starts to cause various health problems both medical as well as mental.

One of the main signs of there being a potential problem is an increase in anxiety when the person either has to take it or has to find a source for the drug. This may lead to people shopping around between doctors in order to obtain more and they may also show signs of withdrawal due to the rise in anxiety at the fear of no longer being able to take the medication. There is also a problem in that as the body grows accustomed to the level of the drug in the system, then there is a tendency to require more of it on a daily basis for it to have any kind of an effect and this is something that has to be addressed when treating the addiction.

Actual treatment has to take the form of handling both the withdrawal symptoms as well as dealing with the psychological effects that will occur as the person comes off the drug. One particular method is to gradually reduce the amount of the drug that is taken daily as suddenly stopping it may lead to the person suffering from pretty severe withdrawal symptoms that can make them very ill. This detox part of the process should be done under the supervision of a qualified health professional as people can suffer from seizures and other potentially life threatening conditions as the amount of the drug is reduced.

As the level is reduced it is normal for the person to suffer from anxiety, depression, and tension and this issue has to be addressed in order to prevent the person from suffering a relapse. It is, therefore, common for the treatment to involve exchanging ativan for another drug that helps with these issues, but is not as addictive, but again this has to be done under medical supervision.

It is also important for the psychological side to be handled correctly so there will often be therapy to tackle the anxiety and depression issues that initially resulted in the person taking ativan in the first place. This psychological side of the addiction will have a tendency to follow the same guides as those used to beat other addiction issues such as alcohol and other drug dependencies and it has been very successful for a number of people.

In conclusion it has to be said that ativan addiction treatment is successful and indeed the vast majority of people will be able to overcome the problem with the correct help both medically and psychologically. It is not advised to try to use the cold turkey method due to the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms especially if the drug has been taken for a prolonged period of time as this may lead to a series of complications. People may have to go to a rehab center for a number of weeks until the addiction is under control, but after this period they will be able to resume a normal life with few long-term effects caused by their addiction.