Effects & Dangers Of Injecting Ativan (Lorazepam)

Injecting Ativan causes stronger sedation, drowsiness, and relief from anxiety compared to taking Ativan pills by mouth. 

When injecting Ativan, you may be at risk of life-threatening side effects such as infections at the injection site, benzodiazepine toxicity, and interactions between Ativan and opioids in your system.

Intravenous injection of Ativan may be given to patients in hospitals before going through surgery. However, injecting Ativan on your own or outside of a hospital setting is a form of drug abuse.

Injecting Ativan solution to get high is dangerous to your health. If you or someone you know inject Ativan and have trouble quitting, you can benefit from an Ohio drug addiction treatment program.

Effects Of Lorazepam Injection

Ativan causes sedative effects that slow down activity in your central nervous system. These effects may be desirable when taking illicit drugs to get high. 

Injecting lorazepam illegally may include taking lorazepam solution from a hospital or crushing and mixing lorazepam pills into a solution.

Effects of an Ativan injection may include:

• sedation
• sleepiness
• relaxed mood
• impairment
• trouble concentrating
• dizziness
• excessive sweating

You may be more likely to experience these side effects when injecting a high dose of lorazepam compared to swallowing. Injecting Ativan allows lorazepam to enter your bloodstream directly, bypassing the digestive system. The effects on your brain and body can be equivalent to taking high doses of the drug.

Dangers Of Lorazepam Injection

Injecting lorazepam places high stress on the injection site, increasing your risk of infections, collapsed veins, and other serious physical problems. If you share needles with others, your risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne diseases may also increase.

Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers who inject Ativan may unknowingly give nursing babies lorazepam through their breast milk. Infants who drink lorazepam through breast milk may develop neonatal withdrawal syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.

Drug Interactions & Overdose

Lorazepam can have serious and sometimes life-threatening interactions with other prescription drugs, increasing the risk of overdose. In clinical settings, lorazepam and the anticholinergic scopolamine can cause psychosis and hallucinations.

Antipsychotic medications such as haloperidol and clozapine can cause irregular heart rate, hypotension, sedation, sleep apnea, and even death when mixed with intramuscular lorazepam.

Benzodiazepines, opioids, and certain antidepressants can also cause fatal respiratory depression when mixed, even in lower doses. Talking to your doctor about any substances you’re taking can help you avoid dangerous adverse reactions like overdose.

Drug Addiction

Benzodiazepines are habit-forming, especially when taken with illicit methods or in higher doses than you were prescribed. Injecting lorazepam illegally increases your risk of physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit.

If you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms or a decreased quality of life due to benzodiazepines such as lorazepam, alprazolam, and diazepam, help is available. 

To find out if our prescription CNS depressant treatment options will work for you or your loved one, please contact Ohio Recovery Center today.