I know certain medications can be taken sub-l to increase the efficacy and speed of action. Can regular old ativan be taken sub-l? If so, does it work any faster?
Can Ativan be taken sublingually, even if it's a regular pill?
Question posted by mloleary on 5 Jan 2018
Last updated on 1 December 2021
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Answers
Stephen Treloar
5 Jan 2018
It can be taken sublingually but due to its high oral bioavailability (85%) and relatively fast onset of action (30-40 minutes) I guess it just is not that common. I had not heard of people using this method for Ativan until now.
Sharebeauty
12 April 2018
Sorry , don’t understand “ high oral bioavailability “ . Please explain . Thx .
drbasant
10 Jan 2019
Oral bioavailability means how much concentration of drug in your blood can you expect when you take the drug orally when compared to IV and it is measured in %.
For example if you take 1 mg of Lorazepam IV, and you get 100 mcg in blood at its peak level; you expect to get 85 mcg in blood if you take the same dose orally.
Hope that helps.
Inactive
2 Dec 2021
No, do not ever take oral ativan sublingual. It will destroy your life and the lives of your loved ones. I took it for 8 months for anxiety, panic attacks and what I thought was insomnia. I was used to falling asleep within 5 minutes and when it was taking 15 to 20 minutes I thought I needed ativan to sleep. I sometimes took without water, just allowed it to dissolve, never realizing it would hurt me. It has destroyed mine and my family's lives. My once youthful and very healthy skin is now dull, extremely dry and unhealthy. My once shiny, soft and sleek hair is now a dried up frizzy mess. I have tachycardia and have been diagnosed with a hole in my heart and POTS. In the last 25 years I've had 4 perfect echocardiograms and stress tests. My once beautiful healthy teeth are destroyed, my mouth is miserably dry. My once healthy, toned and attractive legs are covered up in varicose veins. I've had bladder and rectal prolapse. I never sleep anymore.
If I sleep 2 hours a night I consider myself lucky. Prior to ativan I slept great, usually 7 to 8 hours a night. All this occurred in a period of 8 months. I felt horrible while taking it but thought it was due to anxiety and depression. About 3 months of taking it my sleep was almost non existent and my hair was falling out, I just thought it was due to anxiety. About 7 months in, I had to take medical leave from work. I decided while I was off I would taper off ativan, I was only taking 1.5mg to 2mg daily, so I thought it would be easy. My symptoms worsened and I realized I was having ativan withdrawal symptoms. From this point on my once very normal and functional life and my beautiful family's lives has been turned upside down, never to be the same again. DO NOT TAKE ORAL ATIVAN SUBLINGUAL. One of the inactive ingredients is polacrilin potassium, it is highly corrosive and used to cure leather, etc. I believe this is what is responsible for all the damage it has done to me. I don't want anyone to ever go through what I am going through. Please do no take it sublingual unless it is the sublingual form
Related topics
ativan, anxiety, panic disorder, medication, pill, speed
Further information
- Ativan uses and safety info
- Ativan prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Ativan (detailed)
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