Drug use is likely to cause side effects even when taken as directed, and its abuse can be physically damaging, leading to irreversible health conditions. Most benzodiazepines cause depression, Anxiety, delusion, and other side effects.
Ativan is one such benzo drug for the treatment of Anxiety. Ativan is FDA-approved and ranked 48 in 2012 on a list of the 200 most frequently prescribed medications. In 2017, physicians wrote almost 26.5 million prescriptions for Ativan alone.
Hallucinations are unreal perceptions that can occur due to several reasons. Numerous drugs can cause hallucinations. Heavy drug use results in hallucinations most of the time. Opioids, including
Vicodin and Percocet commonly treat pain and other conditions and cause terrifying hallucinations in their users, significantly when misused.
Since Ativan is approved for Anxiety, does it also cause hallucinations? Let us know more about it further.
Ativan, containing Lorazepam as its active ingredient, belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this medicine in 1977. It is a sedative/hypnotic or anxiolytic drug approved for the short-term management of Anxiety disorders, such as generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobias, panic attacks, or immediate relief of Anxiety symptoms in adults and children 12 and older. It can also be taken by adults and children of 5 years or older as a "pre-medication."
Ativan acts on the GABA receptor to slow down the Central Nervous System. This reduces agitation and excess excitement in the brain, inducing a calming and relaxing effect. Ativan also reduces the intensity of Anxiety and panic attacks. The drug has fast-acting compounds that make it an effective solution to manage panic symptoms temporarily.
The drug enters your system rapidly and lasts a few hours. Systematic clinical studies have not assessed the effectiveness of Ativan for more than 4 months. Thus, physicians or concerned medical practitioners should occasionally evaluate the drug's efficacy for the individual patient.
Hallucinations are sensations or perceptions that aren't real. These perceptions are created in an individual's mind and can assure them of a reality that doesn't exist. Hallucinations can make someone believe they're seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling things that aren't real. Seeing people, hearing voices, handling bugs crawling on their skin, and smelling odors are common hallucinations.
Different types of hallucinations include:
Hallucinations can be caused due to different health conditions. Common causes of hallucinations include
Sometimes hallucinations can be temporary. They can occur if you have a high temperature, migraines, or just as you wake up or fall asleep.
Yes, there are chances of you getting hallucinations through the use of Ativan medication. This happens due to the active ingredients and the person's mental stability toward the medicine. Not everyone taking Ativan will experience the same side effects, but a few may get hallucinations.
Hallucinations refer to experiencing things that aren't real. Individuals have rarely experienced hallucinations in clinical trials of Ativan tablets and injections. If you experience hallucinations while taking Ativan, consult your doctor. They'll likely recommend a different medication for your condition.
The treatment for hallucinations depends on their cause. Your medical practitioner might recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your hallucinations, like drinking less alcohol, avoiding drugs, and getting more sleep.
Apart from this, certain medications and therapies also help treat hallucinations, and these include the following:
Various side effects may occur with Ativan, which tend to be more severe with high doses. If it appears that someone is in an overdose state due to taking Ativan or other benzodiazepines, get emergency medical help immediately.
|
Common side effects |
Severe side effects |
|---|---|
|
Sedation |
Convulsions or seizures |
|
Lightheadedness |
Aggression, agitation |
|
Muscle weakness |
Allergic reactions |
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Drowsiness or sleepiness |
|
|
Dizziness |
Erectile dysfunction |
|
Unsteadiness |
Suicidal thoughts |
|
Depression |
Swelling of lips/tongue |
|
Changes in libido (sex drive) |
Breathing difficulty (or respiratory failure) |
|
Amnesia |
Memory impairment |
Before taking Ativan, please inform your doctor about your medical history or any medications, as they might interfere with the drug's performance.
Ativan was intended for short-term use only, but prolonged usage of Ativan for Anxiety and insomnia has become common. Taking Ativan for about three to six weeks daily, at prescribed doses, can cause dependence and mild withdrawal symptoms.
Ativan withdrawal is a challenging task. Around 40% of people on benzodiazepines for longer than six months are likely to experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue taking it abruptly. The remaining 60% will have mild symptoms. When your daily dose of Ativan is stopped suddenly or significantly reduced, withdrawal symptoms can appear in less than 8 to 12 hours.
Potential withdrawal symptoms include:
Ativan is a potent benzodiazepine with a higher potential for addiction and abuse. People with a history of substance or alcohol abuse or untreated mental health disorders are at higher risk of developing Ativan addiction.
As a pharmacotherapeutic agent, Ativan is intended for short-term use. The usual Ativan dose for Anxiety is 2 mg - 3 mg/day, given in two or three divided doses. 2 mg - 4 mg is recommended for insomnia given at bedtime.
The standard dosage will typically have lasting effects for 10-20 hours. If taken beyond the point when it should be discontinued, the medication is unlikely to retain its efficacy.
The following criteria may be warning signs for a developing Ativan addiction-
To ensure safe and easy recovery, all benzo drugs should be tapered gradually rather than quitting abruptly, regardless of the dose and duration of use.
Ativan can interact with several medicines. Several interactions can cause varying effects and interfere with the performance of a drug. It should not be taken with benzodiazepine medications such as Diazepam, Clonazepam, Alprazolam, and Midazolam.
Ativan causes drowsiness, so caution should be taken in combination with other sedatives. These include:
Ativan is a potent benzo drug for the short-term treatment of Anxiety. Ativan, like other medicines, has a beneficial effect and a range of side effects, including hallucination.
Suppose an individual describes visual hallucinations or any visual disturbance to you. In that case, evaluating the nature of the hallucinations and the individual's medication use as you go for a treatment plan is essential.
It should be noted that even drugs not usually associated with hallucinations can cause CNS toxicity in rare cases. Work with your doctor to decide on an adequate treatment for you.
