 Key Takeaways
- Lorazepam can be detected in your system for up to one week or more, depending on use.
- Misusing lorazepam increases the risk of dependency, severe side effects, and long detection times on drug tests.
- Professional treatment at 12 South Recovery helps individuals safely stop lorazepam and begin long-term recovery.
How Long Does Lorazepam Linger?
Have you or a loved one been prescribed lorazepam and are wondering how long it stays in your system? You’re not alone. Medications like Ativan can help manage anxiety and sleep issues. But their lasting presence in the body, especially related to drug testing or potential misuse, raises real concerns. Lorazepam is a strong prescription drug in the benzodiazepine family. It offers short-term relief but also comes with serious risks. At 12 South Recovery in Lake Forest, CA, we help those facing prescription drug misuse get the care they need.
What Is Lorazepam?
Lorazepam is a prescription drug used primarily to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures. It is sometimes used as a sedative before surgical procedures. Commonly sold under the brand name Ativan, this medication is part of the benzodiazepine class. These psychoactive drugs help calm the brain and nervous system.
Doctors often prescribe lorazepam to help people manage intense anxiety or stress. This is especially common before surgery, during panic attacks, or after sudden trauma. While it works quickly and can provide real relief, its strength means there’s a real risk of becoming dependent if not taken carefully.
Is Lorazepam an Opioid?
Lorazepam is not an opioid. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs act on the central nervous system to produce calming effects. Opioids, by contrast, are primarily used for pain relief and work by targeting different receptors in the brain. Although both types of drugs can be habit-forming and have potential for misuse, they function in very different ways. Confusion between the two is common, but lorazepam does not have the same properties or effects as opioids.
How Lorazepam Works in the Body
Lorazepam works by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA slows down nerve activity, which helps reduce anxiety, tension, and stress responses. This mechanism makes lorazepam particularly effective for people dealing with panic attacks, acute anxiety, or withdrawal symptoms from alcohol.
Once ingested, lorazepam is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and quickly travels to the brain. Its calming effects are felt within 15 to 60 minutes and can last up to 8 hours, depending on the dose.
Factors that can affect how lorazepam behaves in the body include:
- Age and metabolism
- Body mass
- Liver function
- Frequency and duration of use
- Co-use with alcohol or other substances
How Long Does Lorazepam Stay in Your System?
The answer varies based on several factors, including dose, metabolism, and how long you’ve been taking it.
On average:
- Blood: Up to 3 days
- Urine: 6 days to 1 week
- Saliva: Up to 8 hours
- Hair: Up to 30 days or longer
Lorazepam has a half-life of approximately 12–18 hours in healthy adults. This means that half of the dose is eliminated in that timeframe. However, it can take multiple half-lives for the drug to fully clear from your system.
Factors That Affect Detection Times
- Higher doses mean longer detection.
- Older adults often metabolize drugs more slowly.
- Long-term users will retain the drug longer than one-time users.
- Other health conditions, such as liver disease, can slow down clearance.
If you’re concerned about how long lorazepam will remain in your body, you’re not alone. This is especially important for employment or legal drug testing.
How Long Will Lorazepam Show Up in a Drug Test?
This depends on the type of test:
Urine Test
Most commonly used for drug screening, lorazepam can show up in a urine test for 6 to 7 days after last use. In chronic users, it may be detectable for up to 10 days.
Blood Test
Lorazepam is detectable in the blood for up to 3 days, although it’s rare to use blood for long-term detection.
Saliva Test
This method is less common but can detect lorazepam within 8 hours of use.
Hair Follicle Test
Lorazepam, like other benzodiazepines, can be detected in hair samples for up to 30 days or more. This method is usually reserved for legal or forensic investigations.
Each of these tests is influenced by how lorazepam is used. A single prescribed dose might clear quickly, but habitual misuse will increase the window of detection.
How Long Does Lorazepam Take to Wear Off?
Lorazepam usually starts working pretty quickly, often within an hour. However, how fast it kicks in and how long it lasts can change based on your age, dosage, and how your body processes medication.
- Onset of action: 15 to 60 minutes
- Peak effects: 2 hours
- Duration: 6 to 8 hours
Typically, within 8 hours, most of the sedative effects diminish. However, the drug remains detectable in the body for several days. Even when you stop feeling its effects, lorazepam may still show up on a drug test or impact cognitive function.
Side Effects and Risks of Lorazepam
Lorazepam has a calming effect that can help short-term. However, there are side effects and risks, especially when the drug is used improperly or for extended periods.
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Serious Risks
- Dependency and tolerance
- Memory problems
- Respiratory depression (especially when combined with alcohol or opioids)
- Withdrawal symptoms (seizures, agitation, tremors)
Because lorazepam is part of the benzodiazepines class, it’s often linked to substance misuse. Mixing it with opioids or alcohol can lead to dangerous, even fatal, consequences.
If you’re taking lorazepam and notice increased tolerance, it may be a warning sign. Using more than prescribed can signal the onset of drug abuse or addiction. Treatment is crucial.
Lorazepam, Drug Abuse, and Addiction Treatment
Misusing lorazepam, even when it starts as a legitimate prescription, can quickly spiral into dependency. Those using Ativan for anxiety may find themselves increasing the dose over time. This is done to achieve the same calming effects and is known as tolerance.
Prescription drug abuse is a growing concern in the U.S. Lorazepam is one of the medications often misused due to its calming effects. Once someone develops a dependency, stopping lorazepam abruptly can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
12 South Recovery provides medically supervised detox for individuals struggling with lorazepam misuse. We also offer treatment programs that help clients recover safely and effectively.
Call 12 South Recovery Today
Lorazepam is effective for short-term relief but dangerous when misused. 12 South Recovery in Lake Forest helps people recover from lorazepam and other benzodiazepine addictions. We also treat abuse of other prescription drugs. Our team offers medical detox, therapeutic services, and mental health treatment to help you or your loved one heal fully and safely. Take the first step today. Call 12 South Recovery to talk with a compassionate professional who understands what you’re going through. A healthier future is possible.
