Natural Alternatives to Ativan: What Works for Anxiety, What Does Not, and What to Ask Your Prescriber

Natural alternatives to Ativan exist, but none of them is a substitute you can swap in on your own. Ativan (lorazepam) belongs to the drugs called benzodiazepines, which carry an FDA boxed warning for dependence, and physical dependence can develop within days to weeks of regular use [1]. Stopping it to try an herb instead can bring withdrawal symptoms that range from rebound anxiety to seizures. The evidence supports a different kind of alternative: therapy, habits, and non-addictive prescription medications that treat the anxiety disorder itself, alongside a supervised taper. If Ativan use has become difficult to control or is continuing despite harm, Ativan addiction treatment in Minnesota can help assess whether the problem involves physical dependence, a substance use disorder, or both.

• No herbal remedy is clinically proven to replace a benzodiazepine; the best-studied ones show small effects for mild to moderate anxiety, and kava carries a risk of liver toxicity.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is the gold standard for treating anxiety disorders, and mindfulness has moderate evidence behind it.
• Prescription options that do not carry the same benzodiazepine dependence risk include antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs and, for some people, buspirone. Other medications, including hydroxyzine or beta blockers, may be used for particular symptoms or situations rather than as direct long-term replacements for Ativan.
• Never stop Ativan abruptly to start an alternative; any switch runs through a healthcare provider and a gradual taper.

Why People Look for Alternatives to Ativan

Lorazepam enhances GABA-mediated inhibitory activity in the central nervous system, which produces calming and sedating effects. With repeated use, some people develop tolerance and physical dependence, but these do not occur in a fixed sequence, and neither one by itself means addiction [1]. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that benzodiazepines can rapidly reduce anxiety, but some people develop tolerance or dependence, so clinicians commonly use them for relatively brief periods [2]. Drowsiness, cognitive effects, impaired coordination, and fall risk, particularly in older adults, are additional reasons a prescriber may reconsider long-term benzodiazepine use. Our guide to Ativan side effects explains those risks in more detail.

The search for Ativan alternatives usually starts when a prescriber says it is time to come off, or when the drug is doing less and the anxiety more. Either way, the exit is a taper, not a swap. Stopping abruptly or reducing too fast “can result in withdrawal reactions, including seizures, which can be life-threatening” [1]. Whatever alternative you choose, it is added while the benzodiazepine is reduced gradually; how to wean off lorazepam covers that process.

Herbal Remedies and Natural Supplements: What the Evidence Says

Herbal supplements and other natural remedies sold for anxiety relief are the first alternative treatments most searches turn up. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has reviewed the research on the common ones; the pattern is small trials, short durations, and modest effects, without the dependence risk a benzodiazepine carries [3].

Kava

Kava is one of the better-studied herbal products for anxiety, but it is not a natural substitute for a benzodiazepine and should not be treated as pharmacologically equivalent to Ativan. NCCIH reports that kava “may be helpful for anxiety” but “does not appear to be helpful for symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder” [4]. The safety problem is larger: kava products “have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, some of which have been serious or even fatal,” and NCCIH states that kava “should not be used together with other substances that have sedative effects, such as benzodiazepines or alcohol” [4]. That last point matters for anyone still tapering; the other combinations to avoid are in what drugs should you avoid while taking lorazepam.

Lavender

Lavender is one of several herbal approaches that have shown possible benefit for anxiety, although the evidence remains limited. NCCIH finds that oral lavender preparations “may be an effective treatment for anxiety,” and lavender essential oil in aromatherapy massage may help, though whether the oil or the massage helps is unclear [3]. It is “generally considered safe when used orally, with massage, or when inhaled” [3]. The Mayo Clinic adds one caution: children and teens should not take oral lavender because it can disrupt hormones [5].

Chamomile, Passionflower, and Valerian Root

Chamomile has preliminary evidence for generalized anxiety disorder, although the findings are not conclusive and one review found no significant reduction in situational anxiety [3]. It can also cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to plants such as ragweed and may increase bleeding risk when taken with blood-thinning medications [5].

A small amount of research suggests that passionflower may help anxiety, including anxiety before dental procedures, but conclusions remain uncertain; it can also cause sleepiness and dizziness [3, 5]. NCCIH finds there is not enough evidence to determine whether valerian is helpful for anxiety [3], and Mayo notes that valerian can cause dizziness and sleepiness [5]. None of these products has been established as a replacement for lorazepam. The parent guide explains what benzodiazepines are and how they work

Valerian root is sold for sleep more than anxiety; NCCIH finds “not enough evidence to allow any conclusions” about anxiety, and it should not be combined with alcohol or sedatives [3]. None of these has been tested head-to-head against lorazepam in large clinical trials; the parent guide explains what benzodiazepines are and how they work, the standard they are measured against.

Lemon Balm, L-Theanine, Magnesium, and Vitamin B Complex

Lemon balm has shown possible benefit for some anxiety symptoms in small studies and is generally considered well tolerated for short-term use, although the evidence is still limited [5]. Other supplements, including L-theanine, magnesium, and B vitamins, are commonly marketed for stress or anxiety, but the sources reviewed here do not establish them as substitutes for prescription anxiety treatment. Mayo Clinic emphasizes that dietary supplements are not regulated in the same way as medicines, that natural products are not automatically safe, and that supplements can interact with medications and cause serious side effects [5].

The Mayo Clinic’s summary applies across alternative medicine: dietary supplements are not regulated like drugs, “natural doesn’t always mean safe,” and “the interaction of some herbal supplements and certain medicines can cause serious side effects” [5].

When an anxiety disorder needs medication, clinicians often consider treatments that do not carry the same benzodiazepine dependence risk. The appropriate choice depends on the diagnosis, symptoms, other medical conditions, and previous treatment response. How medications within the benzodiazepine class compare is covered in the safest benzodiazepine.

• Antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs are the first-line prescription medications for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorders. They “may take several weeks to start working” and can cause headaches or nausea at first [2].
• Buspirone. A non-addictive anti-anxiety medication that NIMH notes takes three to four weeks to become fully effective [2].
• Hydroxyzine. A sedating antihistamine prescribed for short-term anxiety relief; it can cause drowsiness but not dependence.
• Beta blockers. Used for physical symptoms of anxiety such as a racing heart and shaking hands; they do not touch the worry itself.
• Other benzodiazepines. Switching from lorazepam to a longer-acting benzodiazepine is a tapering strategy, not an alternative.

Which of these other prescription drugs fits depends on the diagnosis, underlying health conditions, other medications, and history. For someone whose lorazepam use has crossed into compulsion, the choice belongs inside treatment; is Ativan addictive explains where that line sits.

Non-Drug Approaches That Reduce Anxiety

The alternatives to Ativan with the strongest evidence are not pills at all.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

NIMH describes cognitive behavioral therapy as the “gold standard” psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder [2]. CBT helps people identify unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and develop skills for responding to anxiety differently. Acceptance and commitment therapy, which incorporates mindfulness and goal setting, is another psychotherapy option [2]. Psychotherapy can also be used while someone is gradually reducing a benzodiazepine because it provides non-drug strategies for managing anxiety and related symptoms; the withdrawal chapter explains that process here.

Mindfulness, Exercise, and Sleep

Mindfulness meditation has “moderate evidence” for improving anxiety and “may be as effective as established treatments” in some analyses, though long-term follow-up is thin [3]. Yoga, music, and acupuncture have limited or inconclusive evidence for anxiety disorders [3].

Supportive habits can also play a role. NIMH recommends measures such as reducing caffeine, getting enough sleep, exercising, and using mindfulness or meditation alongside standard treatment [2]. Relaxation techniques, including controlled breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, may help some people manage anxiety symptoms, although they are not substitutes for evidence-based treatment of an anxiety disorder. Complementary approaches are generally low risk when used appropriately, but they are not risk-free for everyone and should be adapted to the person’s health and symptoms [3].

Any change from Ativan to another treatment should be planned with the prescribing clinician. If physical dependence has developed, lorazepam should be reduced gradually rather than stopped abruptly, and the taper can be adjusted according to withdrawal symptoms and the person’s overall clinical situation [1].

Tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about every supplement you use because herbal products can interact with medications; kava in particular should not be combined with benzodiazepines or alcohol [4]. Therapy or another medication may be started before, during, or after the taper depending on what condition is being treated and what is safest for the individual. How lorazepam compares with alprazolam is covered in Lorazepam vs Xanax

Third, start the alternative before or during the taper, not after, so something is treating the anxiety while the drug is removed. Why a prescriber chose lorazepam over alprazolam in the first place is the subject of Lorazepam vs Xanax; the same reasoning shapes what they suggest instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ativan Alternatives

Getting Help With Ativan in Minnesota

If you are searching for natural alternatives because Ativan has become difficult to reduce or control, a professional assessment can help separate physical dependence from addiction and identify the safest next step. Northwoods Haven’s intensive outpatient program provides behavioral health and substance use treatment that can address anxiety and other concerns alongside medication management from an appropriate medical prescriber. Reach out for a confidential conversation about where to begin.

Sources

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “FDA Requiring Boxed Warning Updated to Improve Safe Use of Benzodiazepine Drug Class,” Drug Safety Communication, September 23, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requiring-boxed-warning-updated-improve-safe-use-benzodiazepine-drug-class
2. National Institute of Mental Health, “Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control,” NIH Publication, revised 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Anxiety and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says,” last updated September 2024. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/anxiety-and-complementary-health-approaches
4. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Kava,” last updated April 2025. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/kava
5. Mayo Clinic Staff, “Herbal Treatment for Anxiety: Is It Effective?” Expert Answers, Mayo Clinic, March 27, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/expert-answers/herbal-treatment-for-anxiety/faq-20057945