Because of Ativan’s calming and tranquilizing effects, it has a potential for abuse and addiction. The DEA has classified lorazepam as a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, indicating medicinal uses but risk for substance abuse and dependence.
So, how long does Ativan stay in your system? Ativan is a long-acting benzodiazepine that can remain in your system for several days. In fact, Ativan can be detected by a urine test for 3-6 days after the last dose.
Understanding the Effects of Ativan and How Long They Last
Ativan is usually taken orally. Ativan pills are designed to have an intermediate onset of action, producing effects in as little as 15-30 minutes. Effects reach their peak within about two hours and stay in your system for 12-24 hours.
Common effects of Ativan use include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Lack of coordination
- Memory problems
- Headache
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in libido
- Skin rash
- Fatal respiratory depression
- Paradoxical reactions (such as increased anxiety or aggression)
Ativan Metabolism and Half-Life
The half-life of a drug is a term that refers to the time it takes for the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream to decrease by half. It is an important measure because it helps determine how long a drug remains active in the body and how frequently the prescription drugs need to be administered to maintain therapeutic levels.
For example, if a drug has a half-life of 8 hours, it means that after 8 hours, half of the initial dose has been metabolized and eliminated from the body. After another 8 hours (a total of 16 hours), half of the remaining drug will have been eliminated, and so on. The half-life can vary widely between different drugs and even between different formulations of the same drug.
For Ativan, it takes between four and five half-lives for the substance to leave the body completely. Ativan’s half-life is about 12 hours, so it can take up to 60 hours for Ativan to leave your system, which is an intermediate length of time compared to other benzodiazepines. However, as Ativan is metabolized, it is broken down into metabolites that can remain in the body longer and be detected by a drug test.
Ativan is primarily metabolized in the liver, where it is broken down into a metabolite called lorazepam glucuronide, which has an even longer half-life of 18 hours. As a result, lorazepam glucuronide can stay in your system for up to 90 hours.
Ativan and its metabolites are eliminated from the body through urine and feces.
Factors that Affect How Long Ativan Stays in Your System
Does Ativan stay in your system longer if you take it regularly? Yes, it can stay in your system longer if you take it regularly. This is because regular use can lead to the accumulation of the drug in your body, especially if your dosing intervals are shorter than the drug’s half-life. There are many variables that may influence how long misusing Ativan stays in the body, such as:
Dose
Taking larger doses of Ativan or more than prescribed can cause it to build up in your system and be detectable on drug tests for longer amounts of time.
Frequency of Use
Using Ativan more frequently may cause your body to eliminate it more slowly.
Duration of Use
Using Ativan consistently for longer periods of time will cause it to build up in your system, increasing the amount of time it takes to leave your body completely.
Method of Administration
Ativan is usually taken orally in tablet form, but smoking, snorting, or injecting the drug can affect how long it stays in the body.
Kidney Health
Research has shown that kidney problems are associated with a longer Ativan half-life, causing it to stay in the body longer.
Age, Weight, and Metabolism
Older individuals, people with higher amounts of body fat, and individuals with slower metabolism may require more time to eliminate Ativan from their bodies
A person’s overall health, including liver enzymes and function, and whether or not they have mixed Ativan with alcohol or other drugs can also impact how long the drug stays in the body.
Ativan Detection Times on Drug Tests
If you need to pass a drug screening, how long does Ativan stay in your system and show up in tests? Several different types of drug tests can detect Ativan in the body. Each drug test has a different detection window, and results may vary based on the individual factors listed above.
Urine Tests
The most popular type of drug test is a urinalysis. Test subjects pee into a cup and the urine sample is tested using a screening panel. Ativan can show up on a urine test two hours after taking it and can continue being detected for 3-6 days before being cleared from a person’s system.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are invasive and must be administered by a healthcare professional, so they are generally only used in healthcare settings. Ativan can show up on a blood test one to six hours after taking it and for up to two days.
Saliva Tests
Ativan can show up on a saliva test about 15 minutes after taking it and can continue being detected for about 8-12 hours, depending on the dose.
Hair Tests
Hair testing looks for drug metabolites present in the hair follicle. Ativan can show up on hair samples for up to 90 days after the last dose; however, it doesn’t always show up in the hair follicle.
Some medications, such as an HIV drug called efavirenz or an antidepressant called sertraline, can cause false positive test results for Ativan or benzodiazepines. If you are taking one of these medications, be sure to let the test administrator know.
How to Get Ativan Out of Your System
The only way to eliminate Ativan from your body is to stop taking it.
Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and drinking enough water can help speed up your metabolism, which may speed up the elimination timeline. However, if you have been taking Ativan for a long time, you may be physically dependent on it. As a result, you may experience withdrawal when you suddenly stop taking Ativan.
Ativan withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and even life-threatening. The best way to stop taking the medication is to slowly taper off it under the guidance of a healthcare professional or drug detox program. A gradual taper will reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Ativan Overdose
While Ativan overdose is not as common as overdoses from some other benzodiazepines, it can and does occur, particularly under certain conditions. Here are some factors that influence the risk of Ativan overdose:
- Prescription Volume: As a widely prescribed benzodiazepine for anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions, the sheer volume of Ativan prescriptions increases the likelihood of overdose incidents.
- Polydrug Use: The risk of overdose is significantly higher when Ativan is combined with other substances, especially alcohol, opioids, or other central nervous system depressants. This combination can lead to severe respiratory depression and increase the risk of fatal overdose.
- Misuse and Abuse: While generally safe when used as prescribed, Ativan abuse can lead to overdose. This includes taking higher doses than prescribed, using the medication without a prescription, or recreational use.
- Chronic Use and Tolerance: Long-term use can lead to tolerance, where individuals may take increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effect, raising the risk of overdose.
- Mental Health Conditions: Individuals with severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues may be at higher risk if they self-medicate or take larger doses to alleviate their symptoms.
- Age and Health Conditions: Elderly patients and those with impaired liver or kidney function may metabolize Ativan more slowly, increasing the risk of accumulation and overdose.
Statistics and Prevalence
While specific statistics on Ativan overdoses alone are not always detailed, benzodiazepines as a class are involved in a significant number of drug overdoses. According to various health reports, benzodiazepines are frequently implicated in drug overdose deaths, often in combination with opioids or alcohol.
Get Help for Ativan Addiction and Abuse Today
If you or someone you love are struggling with Ativan addiction, please reach out to our team of medical professionals at Elevate Recovery Center today.
Our mission is to enable each and every patient to heal fully with an individualized addiction treatment program tailored to meet their specific needs. We know there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to addiction treatment, which is why every patient gets specialized and undivided attention while in our care. We even go the extra mile by staying connected with our patients after they leave our rehab facility. No matter what obstacles are in your way in recovery, we’ll be there to lend a hand.
To learn more about our benzodiazepine addiction treatment programs or to discuss your options with an addiction specialist, call us now.
