In this article, I’m going to discuss Ativan and alcohol information and tips. People who cross the line from heavy drinking to alcoholism are often shocked at how difficult it can be to quit drinking. Quitting cold turkey is painful and dangerous, and the process can be made much easier by taking a benzodiazepine like Ativan for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
I remember vividly how over the span of about a year, quitting drinking after a binge went from merely annoying to psychologically exhausting and painful. Because I hated going to the doctor, I had no idea that I could have used a drug like Ativan for alcohol withdrawal. Usually I endured prolonged periods of nervous exhaustion on my couch. Of course, it was only a matter of time before I drank and the process started all over again.
It’s important to understand that alcohol withdrawal is not all in your head. Symptoms like rapid heart beat, panic attacks, or a profound sense of impending doom can get worse and lead to fatal seizures. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms become more severe with repeated episodes because of a phenomenon known as kindling.
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Ativan And Alcohol Info
When I finally quit drinking, I was prescribed Ativan for alcohol withdrawal. I was first given a shot of Ativan in the arm and then doctors tapered my oral doses slowly over the course of about 10 days.
Ativan Overview
Ativan is in a family of anti-anxiety drugs called benzodiazepines. Ativan is a brand and its generic name is lorazepam. Other benzodiazepine brands include Librium, Valium, Klonopin, and Xanax.
All of these drugs can be effective for alcohol withdrawal symptoms because they reduce anxiety, prevent convulsions, and help with sleep. Because they vary in terms of strength and their length of effects, doctors choose between them depending on the patient’s symptoms.
Ativan is effective at alleviating or preventing the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Headache
- Restlessness
- Panic attacks
- Tremors
- High blood pressure
- Delirium Tremens
Benzodiazepines work by activating GABA receptors in the brain, which are also stimulated by alcohol. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter associated with feelings of calm. Alcohol intoxication causes a spike in GABA and withdrawal involves a plunge in GABA. Many alcohol withdrawal symptoms (including panic and even seizures) are caused by insufficient levels of GABA in the brain.
Using Ativan for alcohol withdrawal can provide temporary peace of mind and prevent severe symptoms from manifesting. Because of the effectiveness of Ativan for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, hospitals often prescribe this drug to alcoholics and then gradually reduce the dose to taper them off of it.
Here are some things to consider before obtaining a prescription of Ativan for alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
- Because everyone is biochemically different, another benzodiazepine may work better for you than Ativan for alcohol withdrawal.
- Depending on the severity of your alcoholism, your doctor may recommend inpatient detox or prescribe you with Ativan that you can taper off of while you quit drinking at home. If you quit drinking at home, make sure you have support and that you repair your body proactively!
- All benzodiazepines including Ativan can be addictive, which is why they should only be used for a short period of time and in the lowest effective dose. When I quit drinking years ago, I tapered off of Ativan in less than two weeks.
- All benzodiazepines including Ativan can cause overdose if too much is taken at once. Mixing these drugs with alcohol can be very dangerous and lead to blackouts.
- Even if you take Ativan for alcohol withdrawal, you will still need to repair nutrient deficiencies caused by excessive drinking. You may also have other symptoms such as low motivation and depression that benzodiazepines cannot resolve.
- Using Ativan for alcohol withdrawal is a great strategy for the short term, but in the longer term, it’s important to have external support and to renew your sense of purpose in life. When I quit drinking, I began a personal transformation that permanently altered my view of drinking culture while making me a much happier person.
Avitan And Alcohol: How To Take Avitan For Withdrawal
Here are some things to consider as you take Ativan for alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
- Only take Ativan with a prescription and under the supervision of a doctor.
- Ativan tablets are typically 0.5, 1, or 2 mg.
- The first dose of Ativan for alcohol withdrawal is usually 2-10 mg.
- Doses are often divided throughout the day. I took one dose in the morning and one before bed.
- There is no standard dosage of Ativan for alcohol withdrawal; a doctor can determine this depending on your situation.
- Most people do not need to take Ativan for alcohol withdrawal for more than a few days or a week.
- To avoid dependence, do not use Ativan for longer than you need it.
Further Considerations
By preventing complications caused by low levels of GABA in the brain, using Ativan for alcohol withdrawal can help you have a much safer and more pleasant detox. Even if your symptoms aren’t severe, envisioning life without alcohol is hard enough. Nervous exhaustion and insomnia can make the task of quitting drinking seem nearly impossible.
But while Ativan can help with getting off of alcohol, it is not a cure-all for the physical damage caused by alcoholism. Many people who use benzodiazepines like Ativan end up relapsing because they feel tortured by depression or alcohol cravings after their taper ends. These other symptoms are often caused by the following problems that are NOT resolved by benzodiazepines:
- Low dopamine
- Low serotonin
- Magnesium deficiency (my life changed when I began taking magnesium!)
- B-vitamin deficiencies
- Other vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Poor liver health
Fortunately, there is a way to address all of these problems at once. Calm Support (read my review here) is an organic nutritional supplement designed specifically for rebalancing your mood. I wish it had been available when I quit drinking, because in my opinion it is by far the best supplement for repairing your body and brain after you quit drinking.
If I had to quit drinking all over again, I would take Calm Support as soon as I tapered off of Valium (or another benzodiazepine) for alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol addiction is a complex brain disorder and GABA is not the only neurotransmitter that needs to be addressed when you quit drinking.
The bottom line is that using Valium for alcohol withdrawal can be very effective, but it’s just the first part of a long process. Give your body what it needs during this time, and your mind will be sure to follow!
Ativan And Alcohol: Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on Avitan and alcohol info and tips. If you’re in the position that I was once in before I quit drinking, I feel your pain. Subscribe to my email list to stay posted on future articles that can help you down the road.
If you have any questions about Ativan and alcohol, please leave them in the comment box below.
When I was drinking and on ativan ….my doc put me on kept a which is a anti convuscent. And librium.. I started walking as soon as my legs worked again and I could function. I also took super complex vitamins. God bless you
Awesome Christie, thanks for sharing this and keep it up!!
Hello
I am trying to quit and it’s day 1. I have my friends Ativan-about 25 1mg pills. I usually drink atleast 10-15 drinks a day. What do you recommend for me, in terms of dosing these first few days? Thanks for everything
Hi, the safest bet is to consult a doctor who can determine your individual dosage. There is no set dosage because tolerance to benzodiazepines varies. Most people take the minimum dosage required to keep alcohol withdrawal symptoms under control, and then taper down slowly over the course of a week or two. A correct initial dose will make you feel calm and able to rest, but not high or euphoric. With all supplements and drugs, I prefer to err on the side of caution and too low of a dosage – you can always add a little more, but you… Read more »
What dosages were you on for each 3-days. On your last dose was it one pill or 1 every other day?
Hi Terry, I don’t know exactly because I was so out of it. But I would guess my first shot was up to 10 mg, and I’m pretty sure that during the last 3 days, my dose was 0.5 mg. A doctor has to take a number of variables into account when determining dosages – e.g., I was a 240 pound male with a very severe addiction to alcohol.
When you say “severe addiction,” how much alcohol consumption are you referring?
Severe addiction would correspond to severe withdrawal, which involves hallucinations, seizures, and DTs. Some people have experienced these symptoms with only 5-10 drinks per day, while others drink much more. I drank up to 30 units of alcohol per day before I quit. You can learn more about this subject in this article.
Thank you for this article. Insightful and positive.
You’re very welcome Catherine!
I’ve been on Ativan for anxiety for 1 year 3 mg a day. I am now having issues quiting drinking. I think I have become amuned to them. My doctor doesn’t know. I am very ready to walk away but I get the shakes and anxiety. I guess I need to tell my doctor so I can get off Ativan after an increase.
That’s a tricky situation Angie but that sounds like a great plan. Your doctor should be able to help you with the Ativan dosage. Best of luck to you.
I have already been prescribed ativan for anxiety. Is there any dosage of Ativan that makes the craving for alcohol go away?
Hi Elle, benzodiazepines are good at relieving anxiety from alcohol withdrawal, but often not enough to alleviate cravings. For that, you’ll want to check out supplements for recovery – especially L-glutamine, which can be placed under the tongue to help with cravings. Best of luck to you!
Thanks so much!