How Long Does Lorazepam Stay In Your System?

Lorazepam usually stays in your system and can be detected within a day or two administration. If you’re a heavy lorazepam user, however, you risk addiction or dependence. More information on the half life of lorazepam, as well as blood and urine detection times, here.

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Reviewed by: Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. Dr. Juan Goecke, M.D.

Lorazepam clears the body fairly quickly.

In fact, lorazepam’s short half-life (related to other benzodiazepines) is about 12-18 hours. While lorazepam usually is not reported in standard drug tests, if you are getting high on lorazepam you risk physical and psychological dependence on the drug. So how long can you expect for lorazepam to leave the body completely? More on the peak levels and half life of lorazepam here, plus a section for your questions about lorazepam use or detection at the end.

Main Lorazepam Uses

Lorazepam treats anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. It’s also used for other conditions, including epilepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, and alcohol withdrawal. Lorazepam decreases abnormal excitement in the brain, to control anxiety and relax the body. However, lorazepam should only be prescribed for 2-4 weeks because of it is one of the most addictive sleeping tablets on the market.

How Do You Take Lorazepam?

Lorazepam is available in two forms. There is an oral tablet, and a liquid solution, which are both ingested. Sometimes, the pill is crushed and snorted, but this is dangerous and discouraged by medical professionals.

Peak Levels And Half Life Of Lorazepam

Lorazepam reaches peak concentrations in the blood in two hours. This lorazepam peak level varies on the amount taken, of course, but for a 2 mg tablet, it would be about 20 ng/mL. The age of the person taking Lorazepam doesn’t seem to effect the rate of absorption. So, the average half-life of lorazepam in most people is about 12 hours.

Lorazepam Drug Testing: How Long Does Lorazepam Stay In The Body?

Lorazepam stays in the body for a short time. Lorazepam usually takes a day or two to clear from the body completely. Lorazepam can be detected in blood, hair, and urine samples during drug testing.

How Long Does Lorazepam Stay In Blood?

Lorazepam stays in the blood for such as short amount of time because of the drug’s long half life. Exactly how long it stays in the blood depends on the dose taken – therapeutic dosage ranges from 1-10 mg per day, and someone abusing the medication might take even more.

How Long Does Lorazepam Stay In Hair?

Lorazepam can be detected in hair up to 90 days after the drug was first taken. The length of the person’s hair at the time of testing, as well as hair color or color treatments can affect the accuracy of the results.

How Long Does Lorazepam Stay In Urine?

Traces of Lorazepam can be found in urine for at perhaps a day or two. This depends on the dose of lorazepam taken, and if it’s been taken frequently in the past. Lorazepam addicts and abusers will have a harder time clearing this drug from their system, even after stopping.

Lorazepam And Addiction

Lorazepam is a habit-forming drug, and it is addictive. Users will develop a tolerance after just a short time, meaning it will take higher amounts of lorazepam to achieve the same results or effects as when you first starting taking lorazepam. Trying to quit lorazepam once you’re addicted or have a physical dependence can be very difficult because of the cravings and withdrawal effects it can cause. For this reason, lorazepam is never prescribed for long-term use.

Does your or a loved one’s lorazepam use worry you? Help is available! Learn more about lorazepam’s addiction potential, available treatment options, the course of rehab and recovery, and more…in this comprehensive guide on lorazepam addiction treatment programs.

Problems With Lorazepam?

Lorazepam does have unpleasant, potentially dangerous withdrawal effects. There is good news, though: it’s possible to get off the medication by tapering the dosage. If you want to stop taking lorazepam, talk to your doctor about a gradually decreasing your dose to make the transition as easy as possible. Doctors always recommend that you go through withdrawal with medical supervision. This can minimize the risk of adverse effects, and certain medications might be helpful to treat and ease withdrawal symptoms.

Lorazepam In Your System Questions

Do you still have questions about lorazepam in your system? We will be happy to try to answer your questions here. Please leave all lorazepam questions or comments below. We will do our best to respond to you with a personal and prompt reply.

Reference sources: Daily Med: Ativan (lorazepam) tablet
NCBI: Lorazepam
DEA: Benzodiazepines
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
Medical Reviewers
Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. is a general surgeon practicing women's focused medici...
Dr. Goecke is a medical doctor and general surgeon with personal experience of...

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a licensed medical professional.

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