Last Updated:
August 1st, 2025
Lorazepam Addiction | Symptoms, Effects and Causes
What is lorazepam?
Lorazepam or Ativan, is a type of benzodiazepine medication often prescribed to manage anxiety, insomnia or seizures. It’s commonly used to help people feel calmer in stressful situations or before medical procedures due to its sedative and muscle-relaxing properties.
Lorazepam works by enhancing the effects of a brain chemical called GABA, which helps to slow down overactive signals in the nervous system, creating a sense of relaxation.
While lorazepam can be effective for short-term use, it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice closely, as regular use can lead to dependence or other unwanted effects.
Is lorazepam addictive?
Lorazepam can be addictive due to how it alters the brain’s reliance on calming mechanisms. Prolonged use can lead to the brain adapting to the presence of the drug, reducing its natural ability to maintain calm without it. This can create a psychological and physical need to continue taking Lorazepam.
Furthermore, its fast-acting nature provides quick relief, which can reinforce the urge to use it, especially in stressful situations. Over time, the body may require increasing amounts to achieve the same effect, leading to tolerance. When use is reduced or stopped, withdrawal symptoms can develop, which further compels continued use. This combination of dependency, tolerance and withdrawal risk contributes to its addictive potential.
Struggling with an addiction? If you are ready to seek help, reach out to us today, and a member of our compassionate team will help you find the best option for starting your recovery journey.
How can a lorazepam addiction start?
It can be confusing to understand how a Lorazepam addiction begins, especially if you or your loved one are taking it as prescribed. Despite following medical advice, addiction can still develop over time. Here are some detailed ways it could start:
- Prolonged use: Even when taken exactly as prescribed, using Lorazepam for weeks or months can lead to the body adapting to its effects. This adaptation can result in dependency, where the brain becomes reliant on the medication to maintain calmness.
- Increasing tolerance: Over time, the brain may require more of the drug to feel the same level of relief. Without realising it, some may begin taking slightly higher doses to achieve the desired effect, inadvertently paving the way for addiction.
- Psychological dependence: Lorazepam can become a crutch for managing stress or anxiety, leading to a cycle where individuals feel unable to cope without it. This reliance can make stopping the medication feel impossible, even when the original issue improves.
- Misuse: Taking more than the prescribed dose, using it to induce relaxation or euphoria or combining it with other substances can amplify its addictive potential and lead to rapid dependence.
- Recreational use: Trying Lorazepam without a prescription, perhaps to alleviate stress or help with sleep, can quickly result in misuse. Its calming effects might seem harmless at first, but repeated use can lead to full-blown addiction.
Understanding these pathways can help prevent addiction and guide you or your loved one toward seeking help if necessary.
What are the signs of a lorazepam addiction?
Spotting the signs of Ativan addiction early is crucial for getting the right help, whether it’s for yourself or a loved one. Addiction can develop gradually, making it easy to miss the warning signs until the situation becomes more serious. By understanding the behavioural, physical and psychological signs, you can better identify if Lorazepam dependency has taken hold and take steps toward recovery.
Behavioural signs
- Prioritise obtaining the medication: They may visit multiple doctors or exaggerate symptoms to secure prescriptions.
- Avoid social activities: Lorazepam can cause drowsiness or impair coordination, making individuals withdraw from activities they once enjoyed.
- Engage in risky behaviours: Such as driving under the influence or mixing Lorazepam with other substances.
Physical signs
- Excessive drowsiness: Regular overuse of Lorazepam can lead to persistent fatigue and slowed reflexes, as the drug suppresses the nervous system.
- Slurred speech and poor coordination: These occur due to the drug’s sedative effects, which interfere with normal motor functions.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Shaking, sweating and nausea when the drug is not taken are clear indicators of physical dependency.
Psychological signs
- Increased anxiety or agitation: Ironically, prolonged use can worsen the very symptoms it’s meant to treat when the drug wears off.
- Cravings for Lorazepam: Persistent thoughts about/the inability to feel at ease without the substance highlight a potential psychological dependency.
- Memory problems and confusion: Chronic use can impair cognitive functions, making concentrating or recalling recent events harder.
By recognising these signs, you can take the first step toward addressing Ativan addiction and seeking the help needed for recovery.
Do I have a lorazepam addiction?
Addiction of any kind can creep up on anyone and often only becomes clear when it’s deeply rooted, and it’s no different with lorazepam. It’s easy to dismiss small changes or rationalise certain behaviours, but checking in with yourself or someone you care about can help catch the signs early.
Whether you’re questioning your own relationship with lorazepam or trying to understand a loved one’s situation better, it’s never a bad idea to pause and reflect. Below are five questions designed to provide clarity. If you find yourself answering “yes” to any of these, it could indicate a Lorazepam addiction:
- Have you found yourself needing to take Lorazepam more often or in higher doses to feel its effects?
- Do you feel anxious, restless or unwell when you miss a dose or try to cut back?
- Have you experienced cravings or persistent thoughts about taking Lorazepam?
- Are you using Lorazepam for reasons other than prescribed, such as to feel relaxed or escape stress?
- Have you tried to stop taking Lorazepam but found it too difficult or experienced significant withdrawal symptoms?
Answering these questions honestly is crucial in recognising the need for support. If the answers are concerning, consider reaching out to a professional for further guidance.
How Is lorazepam addiction treated?
Lorazepam addiction can be treated through inpatient or outpatient rehab programmes. However, if the addiction is severe, inpatient treatment is highly recommended. Inpatient rehab provides a structured, supportive environment where individuals can focus entirely on their recovery without the distractions and triggers of daily life.
Treatment usually begins with a medically supervised detox to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Following detox, therapy plays a vital role in addressing the root causes of addiction. This may include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), group counselling, and holistic approaches such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Outpatient programmes, while flexible, require a high level of self-discipline and are often more suitable for less severe cases.
If you or a loved one is struggling with Lorazepam addiction, reaching out to a rehab centre is a critical first step. Professional support can provide the tools and guidance needed to achieve lasting recovery. Don’t wait — help is available.
Our compassionate team are ready and available to take your call, and guide you towards lasting the lasting addiction recovery you deserve.
