Updated on: September 2, 2026 by John Ingham
Ativan (lorazepam) is a drug in the benzodiazepine class. It’s used to treat anxiety disorders, but it carries a risk of abuse, physical dependence, and addiction, even when it’s used as prescribed. If you take Ativan for long periods, it’s possible to become dependent and experience withdrawal if you stop taking it.
Learn more about Ativan withdrawal symptoms, treatment options, and how Ativan withdrawal is managed to avoid serious complications.
Key Points
- Ativan, or lorazepam, is a benzodiazepine that can cause physical dependence with regular use.
- Abruptly stopping benzodiazepines after physical dependence has developed can cause severe withdrawal, including seizures and other potentially life-threatening complications.
- Benzodiazepine tapering should be individualized rather than based on a universal withdrawal timeline.
- Brooks Healing Center provides medical detox and benzodiazepine addiction treatment when supervised withdrawal and additional substance use treatment are clinically appropriate.
What Is Ativan?
Lorazepam, sold under the brand Ativan, is a benzodiazepine medication that’s used to treat anxiety. Like other benzodiazepines, Ativan acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to produce a calming feeling and enhances the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
In some cases, Ativan may be used to treat nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment or to help with the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal from alcohol use disorder.
Ativan Withdrawal Timeline
Ativan is intended for short-term use because dependence can develop over time, which is when the body becomes used to the presence of a drug and needs it to function properly. If you stop taking it, withdrawal occurs.
The withdrawal timeline for a benzodiazepine like Ativan can be potentially dangerous or even fatal due to the potential to develop seizures during the withdrawal process. The stages of Ativan withdrawal are the acute stage and the prolonged stage.[1]
The onset and duration of lorazepam withdrawal vary considerably. Factors include the dose, duration and frequency of use, individual metabolism, other medications or substances, previous withdrawal experiences, and how quickly the medication is reduced.
Symptoms from a shorter-acting benzodiazepine such as lorazepam may begin relatively soon after the dose is substantially reduced or stopped, but there is no single timeline that applies to everyone.
Withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Abdominal cramps
- Difficulty concentrating
- Heart palpitations
- Rapid heart rate
- Stiffness
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Panic attacks
- Seizures
Rebound symptoms are common during Ativan withdrawal, which is the temporary, enhanced return of the symptoms the drug is intended to treat, like anxiety or insomnia. The timing and duration of rebound anxiety or insomnia vary, and these symptoms can overlap with other withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, people may relapse to relieve the rebound anxiety.
Some people experience symptoms that persist beyond the initial withdrawal period. This is sometimes referred to as protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal.
The duration varies widely. For some people symptoms resolve relatively quickly, while others may experience anxiety, sleep disruption, sensory symptoms, cognitive difficulties, or other problems for months or longer.
Not everyone develops prolonged withdrawal symptoms.
Factors Affecting Ativan Withdrawal
The duration and intensity of withdrawal symptoms can depend on different factors, such as:[5]
- The dose and frequency: People who use Ativan for long periods or abuse the drug can develop tolerance quickly and may become dependent. The longer Ativan is taken and the higher the doses, the more intense the withdrawal syndrome will be.
- Individual differences: Individual factors like body composition, history of addiction, and co-occurring mental health issues play a role in the intensity and length of Ativan withdrawal.
- Other drug use: Benzodiazepines may be abused in combination with other drugs, such as opioid painkillers, other benzodiazepines, and alcohol. Withdrawal becomes more complicated if you’re experiencing withdrawal from multiple drugs, such as Ativan and alcohol.
Treatment for Ativan Withdrawal
Updated benzodiazepine tapering guidance emphasizes individualized, gradual dose reduction rather than abruptly stopping treatment. The taper may need to be slowed or paused when significant withdrawal symptoms develop, and people who have taken benzodiazepines for extended periods may require a longer taper.
The appropriate schedule should be determined with a qualified healthcare professional rather than copied from a generalized online taper.
You should never stop taking Ativan suddenly because of the risks of benzodiazepine withdrawal and the severity of the symptoms, especially if you’ve been taking it for long periods. Doctors will often recommend a taper schedule to gradually reduce the Ativan dosage to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and complications.
Because of this, medical detox may be necessary. In addition to a doctor-recommended taper schedule, Ativan detox provides medical supervision to monitor your health. It provides medications to address severe withdrawal symptoms until the withdrawal process is complete.
Though Ativan is generally safe when taken as directed by a doctor, drug addiction is possible. Ativan detox can help with withdrawal management, but you may need to enter an addiction treatment program after detox to address the underlying factors of drug addiction.
Both inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment provide individualized therapy to help you overcome addiction. This could include individual therapy, group counseling, and behavioral therapies like cognitive and dialectical behavior therapy.
Are Medications Used During Ativan Withdrawal?
There is no single medication that eliminates benzodiazepine withdrawal.
The primary strategy is usually a carefully managed benzodiazepine taper. Depending on the individual situation, clinicians may adjust the taper, consider transitioning to a longer-acting benzodiazepine, or use other medications to address specific symptoms.
Medication decisions should be individualized because adding sedating or psychoactive medications can introduce additional risks and interactions.
Get Help for Ativan Addiction
Ativan can help treat anxiety, but it has a risk of Ativan dependence and addiction. If you’ve been taking Ativan for a prolonged period, don’t stop taking it on your own. Talk to your doctor about how to stop taking Ativan safely. If you’re abusing Ativan – either on its own or with other drugs – consider medical detox and an addiction treatment program to get help for Ativan withdrawal.
FAQ’s
Can I Take Ativan Daily?
Ativan has not been evaluated as a long-term medication for anxiety. It’s intended for short-term use, typically less than four months.[9] If you take Ativan for long periods, it increases the risk of physical dependence, misuse, and addiction.
How Long Does Ativan Withdrawal Last?
The onset, duration, and severity of Ativan withdrawal vary considerably. Dose, duration and frequency of use, other substances, previous withdrawal experiences, and the pace of a taper all matter. Some people have symptoms that persist for months or longer, but not everyone develops protracted withdrawal. A qualified healthcare professional should guide an individualized taper rather than relying on a fixed online timeline.
Can I Quit Ativan Cold Turkey?
Quitting Ativan cold turkey is not recommended. Stopping benzodiazepines like Ativan suddenly increases the risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms, including severe symptoms like seizures, so it’s important to reduce your Ativan dose to avoid withdrawal symptoms gradually. Speak to your doctor if you want to stop taking Ativan or start a lower dosage.
Is Detox Necessary for Ativan?
Depending on how long you’ve taken Ativan and your dosage, you may be able to stop taking it with a taper schedule from your doctor. However, medical detox is an effective way to ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. If you have an addiction to Ativan, it’s important to undergo medical detox and an addiction treatment program to treat the behavioral aspects of your Ativan abuse.
Sources
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[2] Ativan civ tablets rx only – food and drug administration. (n.d.-b). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/017794s034s035lbl.pdf on 2024, September 24.
[3] H;, P. (n.d.). The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Addiction (Abingdon, England). Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7841856/ on 2024, September 24.
[4] H;, A. (n.d.). Protracted withdrawal syndromes from benzodiazepines. Journal of substance abuse treatment. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1675688/ on 2024, September 24.
[5] Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Addiction withdrawal symptoms. healthdirect. Retrieved from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/addiction-withdrawal-symptoms on 2024, September 24.
[6] Doron Garfinkel, M. (1999, November 8). Facilitation of benzodiazepine discontinuation by melatonin. Archives of Internal Medicine. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/485174 on 2024, September 24.
[7] Nakao M;Takeuchi T;Nomura K;Teramoto T;Yano E; (n.d.). Clinical application of paroxetine for tapering benzodiazepine use in non-major-depressive outpatients visiting an Internal Medicine Clinic. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16958945/ on 2024, September 24.
[8] Voshaar RC.Couvée JE;van Balkom AJ;Mulder PG;Zitman FG; (n.d.). Strategies for discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use: Meta-analysis. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16946355/ on 2024, September 24.
[9] Ativan: Uses, dosage, side effects & warnings. Drugs.com. (n.d.-a). Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/ativan.html on 2024, September 24.
