Ativan is a benzodiazepine medication prescribed for anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and to manage certain seizure conditions. Ativan is an addictive medication that many people abuse and get physically hooked on. Benzodiazepines are one of the country’s leading prescription drug addictions. Ativan and other benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that act on GABA. The function of this chemical (GABA) is to suppress norepinephrine responses. Norepinephrine makes a person feel anxious and afraid and is activated for fight or flight reactions. Ativan calms and sedates. It can also cause physical dependency when used regularly in a few weeks. Ativan is the brand name for the pharmaceutical drug Lorazepam, available in .5 to 2.0 mg doses.
What Addictions Does Ativan Treat?
Ativan is most regularly prescribed to help someone get through alcohol withdrawal syndrome. When a person is abusing alcohol and drinking every day, their bodies become adapted to alcohol in their blood. When they stop drinking, their bodies are flooded with norepinephrine, and they will endure severe levels of anxiety and panic. Ativan calms these symptoms down. It is also the first line of medications when anyone has experienced a traumatic event that causes shock. Ativan is the preferred benzodiazepine for treating medical conditions inside the emergency room or ambulance because it metabolizes more gently on the visceral organs than other benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium.
Can Ativan Help Heroin Detox Symptoms?
Ativan is not typically prescribed to help minimize heroin detox symptoms. It can be highly beneficial for curing insomnia related to heroin withdrawals, but it is not safe to combine it with heroin. Most addiction doctors will be reluctant to prescribe Ativan because it can cause respiratory failure if combined with another opioid. However, people struggling with an addiction are in a difficult predicament. They need to feel better fast and often require more drugs to help them. Since heroin is a potent opioid that causes extreme detox symptoms, many people relapse to get relief. Accidental overdose after partial detox from heroin is common. Ativan can ease withdrawal symptoms as long as the person is monitored for their medication intake and is not currently using heroin. It is never safe to take Ativan and Heroin together as this will cause an accidental overdose.
What Do The Experts Suggest as Medication for Heroin Detox?
Overall, the medical experts who treat heroin addiction will rely on buprenorphine and methadone and not prescribe benzodiazepines. However, the use of Clonidine and trazodone to promote sleep and restfulness is standard. The medications a person will receive that are most safe and to help them get through heroin detox easily are noted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and include:
Medications developed to treat opioid use disorders include (1) agonists, which activate opioid receptors; Methadone or Methadose. (2) partial agonists also activate opioid receptors but produce a smaller response; Buprenorphine (Suboxone, or Subutex). (3) antagonists, that block the receptor and interfere with the rewarding effects of opioids; Naltrexone, Vivitrol. (NIDA)
What is Heroin Detox?
Evoke Wellness offers medically supervised heroin detox, and treatment programs that provide personalized services from the moment they enter—all patients are medicated upon arrival. We prescribe medication-assisted treatment that includes effective medications to minimize heroin detox symptoms. Medications are required to support anyone who is addicted to heroin, prescription pain killers, or other opioids because of their physical dependency. Patients cannot tolerate withdrawal symptoms without medication. We allow our patients to rest and recover for as long as it takes for them to feel healthy. We start counseling and therapy in the detox unit to support their state of mind and their emotions.
Evoke Wellness in Massachusetts Allows Same Day Admission To Heroin Detox
We believe that the sooner a person enters detox, the more likely they will remain at the detox. Do not let hours or days go by without medications and emotional support. Quitting heroin is physically hard, but it is also mentally challenging. We have the experience and expertise on how to make detox comfortable and promote long-term recovery beginning in detox. Call now for immediate access to medications and help. Heroin addiction can last a lifetime and end in death. We offer advanced heroin treatment methods and medications to help you right now.
