Is it bad to take Ativan?

To remove yourself from Benzo's go to a doctor. This is something too important to do without a doctors help. I urge you to please go to the doctor.

I am feeling the same way, I'm only on 1 mg for eight months now and I feel like a train wreck, and when I try to cut down on stop CT I have extreme depression and anxiety. I used to smoke, not a lot just a few a day, and now since I started taking the drug, every time I go into an attack I fall into a deep depression about what I have done. It is horrible. Not to mention the tension and pain in the shoulders and neck and head; and yeah I get those waves also, especially when I just coming to in the morning. I am so depressed I feel worst than I did before I took them, which was to help me sleep after my mom's death. Now I can't stop thinking about death. Also did anybody have any tightness and and pain the throat and sinuses. My acid re-flux which was almost gone flares up each time I drop my dose, not to mention the lose of appetite and motivation.
Ativan is the WORST drug out there, it should be illegal. I think that I would rather be on cocaine
anyday

savamy wrote:

I am feeling the same way, I'm only on 1 mg for eight months now and I feel like a train wreck, and when I try to cut down on stop CT I have extreme depression and anxiety. I used to smoke, not a lot just a few a day, and now since I started taking the drug, every time I go into an attack I fall into a deep depression about what I have done. It is horrible. Not to mention the tension and pain in the shoulders and neck and head; and yeah I get those waves also, especially when I just coming to in the morning. I am so depressed I feel worst than I did before I took them, which was to help me sleep after my mom's death. Now I can't stop thinking about death. Also did anybody have any tightness and and pain the throat and sinuses. My acid re-flux which was almost gone flares up each time I drop my dose, not to mention the lose of appetite and motivation.
Ativan is the WORST drug out there, it should be illegal. I think that I would rather be on cocaine
anyday

See the doctor who prescribed this medication and tell tham everything that you're experiencing. There are other meds that can treat the problem that you were prescribed thss medication for.

Donna B wrote:

<quoted text>
Have been taking ativan for about 4 to 5 weeks in very small amounts..I'm afraid I'm already hooked and seem to have withdrawals when I don't take it...Could this be real or is it just my anxiety acting up? Please help

I've been taking 2mg of Ativan for 17 days and I believe I am already addicted as when I quit taking it I am shaking, having stomach pain, and constant insomnia.

I've been taking 2mg of Ativan for 17 days and I believe I am already addicted as when I quit taking it I am shaking, having stomach pain, and constant insomnia.

Tricia wrote:

I've been taking 2mg of Ativan for 17 days and I believe I am already addicted as when I quit taking it I am shaking, having stomach pain, and constant insomnia.

The "Physicians' Desk Reference" expains that Ativan can cause tolerance and dependence to develope with its use. One may experience withdrawal symptoms if one stops using it abruptly. Onle yor doctor should advise you to discontinue or change your dose.

I always encourage clients to buy a copy of the PDR (Physicians' Desk Reference) Pcoket Guide to Prescription Drugs as it cost around ten dollars and is so valuable for everyone who are taking any medications.

Purchasing this book and reporting all side effcets to your doctor is the only route to take. The more that you can learn about your own health and the medications that you're taking helps you in taking charge and better care of yourselves.

Cheers

Are people here talking about taking medication because of a serious need for it? Or are they talking about recreational use? If it's a medication one needs to have a normal life, I could care less if I get addicted to it.

Ativan is better known as Lorazepam. It's prescribed for anxiety disorders anf for only short term (up to 4 months).

Tolerance and dependence can develope with its use. You can experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it abruptly.

Never quit taking a medication without consulting your doctor first. But, if you are experiencing severe side effects from the medication, that contact your doctor or an emergency room immediately!

Cheers

did you manage to quite ativan?

i started taking ativan that were my grandmothers after she passed, due to feeling a lot of stress and anxiety. i took 2-3 1mg pills a day,for about 4 months. eventually they ran out and then i started having terrible panic attacks9 i diagnosed myself. my normal heart rate is in the mid fiftys it shot up to 93 my blood pressure which is normaly on the low side was borderline high blood pressure, i had chest tightness, felt very wierd, things in the house looked dark and dreary i felt i would not make it another day each day. i also had high temp, sweating all that, but never did i know it was withdrawl due to the fact i was off them almost 12 ddays before all that started. went to doctor him not knowing i had been taking the ativan perscribed me some 0.5 mg took them felt sooooo much better. those pills are evil i like them but they are evil

I was on Ativan for 12 years. I took ONLY the PRESCRIBED amount for insomnia related to tinnitus... which was PRESCRIBED by my doctor. It was the lowest dose of Ativan available in pill form..5 milligrams/once at night. I never craved it, I have never been an addict of any kind... I just took it with my allergy medication every night before I went to bed. I had no idea that Ativan was related to Valium and I certainly didn't know it by it's classificaiton.... a benzodiazepine.

After being on it 8 years and having been told the entire time that they were safe by many doctors, I discovered they were not. And I spent the next 3 years building up the courage to go through with the withdrawal. However, it's only now that I have some distance and clarity that I realize just how much the benzos had affected me. So for those of you who think that the benzos haven't had an effect on your life... that's the insidious part... you don't know because you can't see/feel it. You don't FEEL foggy or different, but after taking them long enough, you don't even see how changed you are... it happens so slowly. I am realizing every single day how much they had changed me physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is the weirdest and hardest thing that I have ever experienced in my life. Ironically, I sleep very well at night now. Tinnitus and all. The benzos were actually CAUSING my insomnia.

NO... benzos are NOT safe. If you must take them, do so on an INFREQUENT basis. They are NOT a daily crutch... slow down and deal with your life... eat better, exercise, meditate. Trust me, the alternative is NOT worth it. If you think your life struggles are bad now... just get hooked on these for a couple of years and see how drastically and fast your life can fall apart if you ever try to get off of them. Please don't be arrogant enough to think it won't happen to you... it can and (if taken long enough), it probably will.

i usually cant let my body unwind and go to sleep until at least 2am, 1mg of ativan helps me to sleep soundly and awake refreshed, is there a danger to taking this every night?

Hello, I need some advice on this drug. I just found this thread (internet search) and need some advice.

I started taking Ativan about 6 weeks ago. This was not for anxiety, sleeplessness or depression; it was for an inner ear condition (Meniere's disease). My Ear Nose and Throat doctor prescribed it to me.

My current dose is 4mg a day--2mg morning and 2 mg at night.

I would like to slowly taper off the medicine so I'm not taking it regularly.

How do I accomplish this?

Is 6 weeks enough to make me too dependent on the drug to ween off of it too slowly?

How should I proceed?

Thank You

I've been taking Ativan for about 5 weeks for my so called anxiety disorder my doctor diagnosed me with. I take .5 mg twice daily sometimes more and Ive never been sure if it worked or not. the only times i felt ok was when i was already relaxed, but when i needed it to work the most, it never does. I was at my friends moms funeral the other morning and i took a pill right before i went, because i was really nervous, and it made me have a panic attack in the middle of the service. it sucked and i have to get on a plane and in a couple weeks and im really scared that nothing is gonna help me once im up in the air. should i try a higher dosage or a different medicine? or should i just stop ativan before i get hooked on it?

and another thing, maybe someone with knowledge could help me with this. so...i like to drink alcohol, couple nights a weeks and weekends, not too bad. and for the time ive been on ativan, it never seemed to interact or mix badly, whatever. until last wednesday, i had a couple beers and a couple shots and i blacked out, stumbled around downtown and injured myself, then i got arrested for disorderly conduct, because apparently (i dont remember any of this) i didnt know who or where i was and i was basically rambling insane shit, and very drunk. how come this never happened before? id drank way more than that with the meds and nothing happened. so now i feel like shit cause im not allowed to drink, my anxiety is there 24/7 and i dont know what to do. drinking was my only escape. now what?

Has anyone had success with using ativan for years? Panic attacks sucks, and I detoxed from benzo's once before in a hospital to be monitored. Stayed off them for 4 months and relized that life was more manageable while on them so started with Lorazepam again which is the healthiest benzo for my bad liver and I once again can now walk to the bus station without feeling that something bad is going to happen.

hello i took 0.5 mgs of ativan twice a day total of one mg per day for 4 months. My doctor just stopped me one day and about 5 days later i became ill sweats couldnt get out of bed sick not sleeping. Can this be withdrawal from this drug after 4 months of use at only 1mg.

Hey if you want something that is not addictive and is an all natural stress reliever try what I use. It's called Relevax. It's just made up of herbs so there's nothing addictive or harmful in it. http://www.relevax.com Good luck!

Ativan. The devil u know. but dont blink, or you will be lost.

I have carpal tunnel and my job duties were changed without my knowledge or any warning by new management. I had to start on Ativan to keep my pain level down as I attempt to basically keep my job. My husband is disabled and I have to take care of the household. I am dealing with the depression of management who don't give a shit about workers and I feel they just want to get rid of the problem - me.