I had a very stressful day today and I would really like to take an Ativan to help me rest.

Does anyone know how long it stays in your system?

All I know is that I sleep very soundly, wake up feeling very refreshed and not the least bit groggy when I take a .5 mg tblt.

I just need to know how long it registers in your system.

I drive for a living and I cannot take a chance on driving with it in my system.

Thanks,

bev

Bev I don't really know> I take it mostly at night and wake up without any effects! Hope someone can give you exact time frame. Hugs!

Thank you for your response, Snow! I am worn out, but I don't think I can rest. I hope someone can tell me how long it takes to rid the body.

you should call a pharmacist, they would know. there are some open 24 hrs. i take 1 mg ativan every day and i drive but i never really thought about it being in my system if i got into an accident, im sure it would be judged according to how much was in your system at the time.

Ativan can be detected in urine or blood for 2-4 days after taking, longer than the 1-3 days Xanax takes to clear, but a shorter time than Klonopin or Valium, which can take up to 7 days. Normally, if you have a drug test that comes back positive (it has to be above a certain trace measurement to be reported as positive) a physician will call you to determine if you have a valid prescription for the drug detected. If you do and the amount detected is within range for therapeutic dose use (versus large recreational/abuse dosing) the drug test is reported to the employer as negative. If you do not have a prescription that can be verified or your levels are so high that you are obviously using more than prescribed it is reported to your employer as positive. You should be fine TidalWaves!

Bev,

I just copied this off a forum. I'm not sure if this info is accurate, but, it gives you a perspective.

How long after I swallow an ativan is the peak effect of the drug felt? Let's say I have an anxiety inducing event (like a speech that I have to give) at a particular time, how long b/f that time should I pop the pill?

Also, for how long after taking the pill will I feel the effects of it?

Thank you!


30 minutes is possible. Be careful that you've memorized the speech and you're only taking just enough to quell anxiety. Propranolol is much more useful there but if you find Ativan works, then so much the better. Do realize that it will be in your system for the next 60 hours, its useful half life somewhere around 12 hours, so if you've never taken benzodiazepines, take care driving.

Thank you all so much for the help and the info!

I was not able to do the research for myself yesterday, just because of the emotional crisis I had been in.

I sure could have used the Ativan, but I ended up not taking it.

Didn't want to chance it being in my system for an extended period of time.

Maybe I will take some over the weekend, just so I can destress after this crazy week.

Thanks again!

Hey Bev,
I looked this up for you. Hope it helps a little.

Studies in healthy volunteers show that in single high doses Ativan (lorazepam) has a tranquilizing action on the central nervous system with no appreciable effect on the respiratory or cardiovascular systems.

Ativan (lorazepam) is readily absorbed with an absolute bioavailability of 90 percent. Peak concentrations in plasma occur approximately 2 hours following administration. The peak plasma level of lorazepam from a 2 mg dose is approximately 20 ng/mL.

The mean half-life of unconjugated lorazepam in human plasma is about 12 hours and for its major metabolite, lorazepam glucuronide, about 18 hours. At clinically relevant concentrations, lorazepam is approximately 85% bound to plasma proteins. Ativan (lorazepam) is rapidly conjugated at its 3-hydroxy group into lorazepam glucuronide which is then excreted in the urine. Lorazepam glu-curonide has no demonstrable CNS activity in animals.

The plasma levels of lorazepam are proportional to the dose given. There is no evidence of accumulation of lorazepam on administration up to six months.

Studies comparing young and elderly subjects have shown that advancing