How Long Does Ativan (Lorazepam) Stay In Your System?

Ativan (lorazepam) is a medication often prescribed to treat anxiety, but it can affect your body for a long time after you take it. Whether you’re using the medication for the first time or have been on it for a while, it’s helpful to understand how long Ativan stays in your system. Knowing this can help you avoid dangerous interactions with other drugs or alcohol and ensure you’re using it safely.  

This guide will explain what Ativan is, how it works, how long Ativan lasts, and what to expect if you’re trying to stop using this prescription medication. Understanding these details can help you make more informed choices about your health.

What Is Ativan?

Ativan, also known by its generic name, lorazepam, is a prescription medication used to treat anxiety. It belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. These medications help calm the brain and body by slowing down the central nervous system [1]. Ativan is often used when people experience severe anxiety or panic attacks. Doctors might also prescribe it for short-term relief from insomnia, muscle spasms, or even during alcohol withdrawal [2].

Ativan can be very effective, but it should only be used for short periods because your body can quickly become dependent on it. This means it may not work as well if taken for too long, and stopping it suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. 

Ativan’s Chemical Makeup

Ativan’s scientific name is lorazepam, and it belongs to the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Its chemical structure is designed to enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) [3]. GABA helps slow brain activity, which is why Ativan works so well for reducing anxiety, calming nerves, and even preventing seizures.

The basic chemical makeup of lorazepam is 7-chloro-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one. While this may sound complex, what’s important to know is that the drug interacts with brain receptors to help you feel more relaxed. However, because of how it interacts with the brain, it also has a potential for misuse, leading to physical dependence if not taken as prescribed [4]. 

Ativan Uses

Ativan is prescribed for several reasons, with anxiety relief being the most common. Doctors use it to help people calm down during intense stress or panic. However, Ativan is also useful in many other situations.

• Anxiety disorders: Ativan helps treat general anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and social anxiety.
• Pre-surgery sedation: Doctors sometimes give patients Ativan before surgery to help them relax.
• Seizure disorders: Ativan can stop or prevent seizures, making it useful in emergency settings.
• Insomnia (short-term): When anxiety leads to trouble sleeping, Ativan can help provide short-term relief.
• Alcohol withdrawal: Ativan helps ease the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, which can include anxiety, shaking, and seizures. 

Ativan is generally prescribed for short-term use. Long-term use can lead to tolerance, meaning the drug becomes less effective, and dependence, where your body relies on it to function. 

Ativan Effects

Ativan triggers multiple effects on the body, most of which are tied to its calming abilities. Here are the most common:

• Calming and anxiety relief: The most noticeable effect is the reduction of anxiety and stress. Ativan helps calm the mind and body, making it easier to manage difficult situations or panic attacks.
• Sedation: Many people feel sleepy after taking Ativan, which is why it’s sometimes used as a sleep aid.
• Muscle relaxation: Ativan helps relax muscles, making it useful for people with muscle tension or spasms.
• Euphoria: Some people may feel a brief sense of euphoria or well-being, which can lead to its misuse.
• Impaired coordination: Taking Ativan can affect motor skills, making driving or operating machinery dangerous.
• Memory problems: In higher doses or after long-term use, Ativan can cause short-term memory loss [5]. 

Ativan should only be used under a doctor’s guidance. 

How Long Does Ativan (Lorazepam) Last?

Ativan, although fast-acting, can stay in your system for quite a while. The effects of the medication usually begin to wear off within 6 to 8 hours, but this depends on the dose. While the calming effects may fade after a few hours, the drug itself stays in your system longer. Ativan has a half-life of 12 hours, meaning that half of the drug is still in the body after that time. It can take several days for the drug to fully clear from your system, even though you may no longer feel its effects. 

How Long Does Ativan Take to Kick In?

Ativan works quickly once you take it. The calming effects usually kick in after 20 or 30 minutes. This is one reason doctors prescribe it for anxiety or panic attacks – it can provide fast relief when you need it most. For those who take Ativan as a pill, it starts working as it’s absorbed into your bloodstream, calming your nervous system. 

The exact time can vary based on factors such as whether you’ve eaten recently, your metabolism, and how much medication you take. Taking the medication with food can slow down its metabolism slightly. 

How Long Does Lorazepam Take to Peak?

After you take Ativan, it usually takes about two hours to reach its peak in your bloodstream. This means that about two hours after taking a dose, you’ll feel the strongest effects, whether it’s relief from anxiety or sedation. This peak time is when the drug is most active in your body, so avoid activities like driving or operating machinery during this time. 

Everyone’s body is different, meaning the peak may happen sooner or later, depending on factors like age, metabolism, and general health. 

Ativan Duration

The duration of Ativan’s effects depends largely on how much of the drug you take. Below is a general breakdown of how long different doses of lorazepam might last in your system.

• Lorazepam .25mg: how long does it last?: A lower dose, like 0.25mg, provides relief for up to 8 hours. This small amount is often prescribed to treat mild anxiety or for older adults, who may metabolize the drug more slowly [6]. Even though the effects may wear off within this time frame, it can take longer for the drug to leave your system.
• Lorazepam .5mg: how long does it last?: A moderate dose of 0.5mg of lorazepam lasts up to 12 hours. This dose is more common for people dealing with moderate anxiety or for pre-surgery sedation. The calming effects are stronger and last longer than a lower dose, but the drug will remain in your system for several days.
• Lorazepam 1mg: how long does it last? A higher dose, such as 1mg, can last 24 hours. This may vary according to how quickly you process the drug. This stronger dose is often used for severe anxiety, preventing seizures, or managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Even after the calming effects wear off, traces of the drug can remain in your body for several days.

Understanding how long Ativan lasts based on its dosage is beneficial if you are managing your anxiety or other conditions. Follow your doctor’s instructions, and don’t increase your dose without approval, as higher doses can increase the risk of dependence and side effects. 

How Long Does Lorazepam Take to Wear Off?

The noticeable effects of lorazepam, like feeling calm or drowsy, typically start to subside after about 6 hours. That said, this doesn’t mean the drug is completely out of your system. Even after you stop feeling its effects, lorazepam can remain in your body for much longer. The exact time it takes to wear off can vary depending on factors like your metabolism, age, and how much of the drug you took. 

For those taking higher doses or using Ativan regularly, the effects may last longer, and the drug can take even more time to leave your system. While the calming or sedative effects may fade after several hours, remember that lorazepam is still working in your body, which can impact activities like driving or working.

Ativan Detection Times

Ativan can be detected in the system after its effects have dissipated. How long it stays detectable depends on the test type and how much lorazepam you’ve taken. Here’s a breakdown of lorazepam detection times: 

• Blood tests: Lorazepam can show up in blood for 3 days after use. These tests are mainly used to check for recent use in legal cases or medical settings.
• Urine tests: This is the most common way to test for lorazepam. In urine, it can be found for 3 days after use. For someone who has taken Ativan over a long period, it might be detected even longer.
• Hair tests: Lorazepam can be found in hair for 90 days or more. Hair tests are not used as often, but they can give a longer history of substance use.
• Saliva tests: Saliva tests can detect lorazepam for about 8 hours after the last dose. These tests aren’t as common and are used for rapid, non-invasive checks. 

The length of time lorazepam stays detectable in your body depends on how often you use the drug, how much you take, your metabolism, and how healthy your liver and kidneys are. 

Ativan Half Life

Ativan’s half-life is how long it takes 50% of the drug to leave the system. For lorazepam, the half-life is about 12 hours. It normally takes 5 half-lives for a drug to be almost eliminated from the system [7]. 

This means that even though you may stop feeling the effects of Ativan after 6 to 8 hours, the drug can stay in your body for 2 or 3 days before it is fully eliminated. It can take longer for people with slower metabolisms or those who take higher doses. 

Understanding the half-life of Ativan is important, especially if you’re concerned about drug interactions, side effects, or drug tests. Since the drug stays in your system for a while, you should follow your doctor’s instructions and avoid taking more than prescribed. 

Ativan Withdrawal

If you’ve taken Ativan for a while, you may have become dependent on the medication. This means your body gets used to having the drug, and when you stop, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Ativan withdrawal may be unpleasant and potentially dangerous. Never stop taking Ativan suddenly without a doctor’s help, especially if you’ve been using it for a long time or in high doses. 

Withdrawal happens because your brain has adapted to Ativan’s calming effects. When the drug is removed, your brain has to readjust, which can cause anxiety, insomnia, and other symptoms.

The timeline for Ativan withdrawal varies from person to person, but most people start feeling symptoms within the first 24 to 48 hours after their last dose. The most intense symptoms usually peak between 2 to 4 days. For people who have taken Ativan for a long time or at high doses, withdrawal may last longer, sometimes stretching out for weeks or even months. 

Managing withdrawal safely often requires a tapering process, where the dosage is slowly reduced under medical supervision [8]. This helps to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and makes the process safer. 

If you’re thinking about stopping Ativan, work with a healthcare professional to manage withdrawal symptoms properly. This way, you can avoid severe symptoms and get the support you need to detox from the drug safely and comfortably.

 Ativan Withdrawal Timeline

The withdrawal process from Ativan doesn’t happen all at once. It normally follows a similar timeline, although the exact symptoms and duration can vary depending on the scope, extent of use, and your overall health. Here’s what you can expect during Ativan withdrawal:

• Within 24 hours: The first mild withdrawal symptoms appear – anxiety, restlessness, or trouble sleeping.
• Days 2 – 4: Symptoms are usually at their worst during this phase. You may experience intense cravings for Ativan, sweating, increased anxiety, nausea, shaking, and irritability. Some people also experience headaches or muscle pain.
• Days 5 – 14: Most symptoms start to improve during this period. Anxiety or sleep problems may still linger, but physical symptoms like nausea and shaking should ease up.
• 2 weeks: The majority of physical symptoms are gone by this point. However, emotional symptoms, like cravings or anxiety, may continue for a longer time. Ongoing support may be needed to manage these feelings. 

Get Drug Withdrawal & Addiction Treatment at Renaissance Recovery

If you need help getting back on track from prescription drug misuse, reach out to Renaissance Recovery today. We have luxury rehabs in California and Florida where you can get compassionate and effective treatment for any type of addiction or mental health issue. 

We can connect you with medical detox centers nearby to streamline prescription drug withdrawal. A tapered reduction in dosage under medical supervision reduces discomfort and complications. 

The outpatient treatment programs we offer enable you to meet your obligations at home, work, or school while getting addiction treatment at one of our beachside facilities. The unique aspect of every addiction means we provide personalized treatment plans. Therapies may include:

• Talk therapy (CBT and DBT)
• Motivational therapy
• Counseling
• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Holistic therapies
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Aftercare 

Get started on your journey to recovery from drug addiction today by calling our team at 866-330-9449.

Sources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684331/

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606320/

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513311/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4657308/

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7871060/

[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512217300786

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554498/

[8] https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/DSI-Pharmacy/MHCAGDocs/Tapering-Benzodiazepines.pdf