How Long Does Lorazepam Stay in Your System?

How long does Lorazepam stay in your system? The answer will help individuals predetermine and manage the impacts of Lorazepam on other aspects of their life as well.

What is Lorazepam?

Lorazepam, popularly known as Ativan, is a common anxiolytic medication that belongs to a class called benzodiazepines.1 Lorazepam is mainly used as a short-term treatment for anxiety symptoms and insomnia. It is also used to treat severe seizures.2

Lorazepam largely works by decelerating brain activity. It can also be administered before surgery to make a patient sleep. Lorazepam comes in two major forms, mainly as tablets and as an intravenous injection.
Lorazepam is also available as a generic medication, which is less expensive than the brand version. Brand and generic adaptations are also available in different strengths and types.
lorazepam drug test

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How Quickly Does Lorazepam Work?

Lorazepam dosage starts to take effect within twenty to thirty minutes, but the full sedating effect can last anywhere from six to eight hours.
Also, Lorazepam is ideal for short-term usage, typically from two to four weeks, so experts recommend that its usage should not exceed four weeks.

How Long Does Lorazepam Stay in Your System?

It usually takes three to four days for Lorazepam to leave your system completely.

Lorazepam Half-Life

Lorazepam half-life refers to the duration of Lorazepam staying in your body after ingestion. The half-life of Lorazepam is roughly twelve hours, meaning that half of the substance is eliminated in your body within those twelve hours. The half-life of Lorazepam may vary based on its different types.
0.5 mg worth of Lorazepam lasts roughly six to eight hours, but can stay in your system for about two and a half days. Based on usage and dosage, patients may be prescribed to take Lorazepam in intervals that can range from one to four times a day. Doctors may raise the dosage for increased drug efficiency.
1mg of Lorazepam starts to take effect in about twenty to thirty minutes and goes into full effect within one and a half hours. However, it may remain in the system for three or more days.

How Long Does Lorazepam Stay in Your System for a Drug Test?

Note that the detection time for Ativan is not fixed and varies based on the type of test being conducted.

Urine Tests

Lorazepam detection in urine may last for up to six days after its last use. Notably, if the drug test is targeted at the metabolite known as lorazepam-glucuronide, which is stimulated by Lorazepam breakdown, it is detectable for up to nine days.

Blood Tests

Lorazepam is detectable in the blood for up to six hours after ingestion.

Saliva Tests

Even though saliva tests are not commonly used for Lorazepam drug tests, it is still detectable in the saliva for up to eight hours after ingestion. Notably, saliva tests are more expensive than other tests.

Hair Tests

Lorazepam is detectable in the hair between one to three months after ingestion due to the slow growth of hair follicles.3
So, tests taken a few days after usage may produce incorrect results. Notably, such a test may also be affected by the length of the person’s hair.

False-Positive Drug Screens

Medications such as Zoloft and Daypro can result in a false-positive urine test screen. Prescription drugs can also generate false positives for Lorazepam drug tests. Some of them are Oxaprozin, Sertraline, and Efavirenz.

Factors That Affect Just How Long Lorazepam Does Stay in Your System

Certain factors further contribute to how long Lorazepam stays in your body system. Lorazepam detection times may also vary between individuals with different metabolism speeds. Notably, here are some of the factors influencing Lorazepam duration in the body system:

Amount Consumed

Typically, those who take increased doses of Lorazepam would experience a longer detection time in their body systems, as the body has more to flush through the system than if a patient was to take a smaller dose.

Frequency of Use

Similarly, Lorazepam has a longer detection time in those who have been taking the substance over a longer period. The longer a person takes Lorazepam, the longer the substance will stay in the system and remain detectable during drug tests.

Method of Administration

Though ingesting or injecting Ativan into the body system produces similar results, the subsequent metabolic reaction may vary.

Age

Usually, younger people cycle through Lorazepam 20% faster than older people. This results from faster blood flow, metabolism, and increased organ function, which all affect how the body processes Lorazepam.

Other Factors

For instance, using additional substances or medications with Lorazepam, such as alcohol, may increase Lorazepam detection time.

Lorazepam Drug Interactions and Overdose

how long does lorazepam stay in your system

Being mindful of what other drugs you take with Lorazepam is crucial to make sure you or a loved one don’t overdose.

Lorazepam and Alcohol

Lorazepam and alcohol interaction is one of the most common ways to overdose on Lorazepam.4 Alcohol can increase the risks of having a nervous breakdown as well. This combo can be fatal, so it is important to detect it early by checking for the following symptoms:

  • Drowsiness5
  • Dizziness
  • Unresponsiveness
  • Shortness of breath

Lorazepam and Food Interactions

For individuals with obesity and increased food intake, the half-life of Lorazepam is prolonged due to increased fat distribution throughout the body. Lorazepam will show up on drug tests far later in these people.

Lorazepam Overdose

Taking more than the prescribed dosage can result in Lorazepam overdose and other severe consequences. So, you should seek emergency medical support if you overdose, as it can be fatal.6

Side Effects

Other common side effects of Lorazepam overdose can include:6
  • Excessive sedation
  • Depression
  • Confusion
  • Lethargy
  • Restlessness and lack of coordination
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Stumbling
  • Muscle fatigue
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Respiratory failure
  • Slow heart rate
  • Memory loss
  • In extreme cases, comas

Treatment for Lorazepam Abuse

Lorazepam has several effects on the brain, including sedation, which can increase how prone an individual is to abuse and substance abuse disorder. Whether you’re taking Lorazepam by itself or alongside other drugs as well, getting help with managing it will be beneficial for your health. Please consult with a doctor before you or a loved one stop taking Ativan to manage withdrawal symptoms.

Ativan detox grants individuals the access to professional support that will ease the withdrawal symptoms and help with the lasting side effects that may impact multiple areas of your everyday life.

Getting Help

If you or a loved one have a problem dealing with Lorazepam abuse or withdrawal symptoms, please seek professional support immediately. One form of aid you and your loved ones can consider is starting a form of therapy at Concise Recovery today. We offer supportive and successful care that emphasizes help every step of the way.

Resources

  1. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8892-5244/lorazepam-oral/lorazepam-oral/details
  2. https://prescription-drug.addictionblog.org/how-long-does-lorazepam-stay-in-your-system/
  3. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lorazepam/
  4. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Lorazepam-(Ativan)
  5. https://www.drugs.com/lorazepam.html
  6. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682053.html