Hey, Andy!

The problem with Ativan, well, ONE of the problems with Ativan (Lorazepam) is that within 2-3 months of first taking it it's no longer effective. Seriously. After 2-3 months the reason you're taking it is NOT to calm you down or put you to sleep, it's to prevent withdrawal problems. This is true of all benzodiazepines (check it out on Wikipedia if you'd like). Including the Xanax you also seem to be taking.

So, three mg a day (which is the maximum dose) will very soon no longer have what they call an anxiolytic or soporific effect on you. It's not illegal if your pdoc prescribes it. It's not immoral. But it becomes ineffective pretty darn fast.

My perspective is that of a consumer, like you. I've been off and on Lorazepam since the late Seventies. I'm on it now. But when I take it I try very hard (1) to take as little as possible (i.e., less than the maximum dose that you're taking; and (2) to cycle entirely off Lorazepam as quickly as I can. If I do that and I hit a rough spot I can go back on the Lorazepam and it will calm me down. If you're already taking 3mg, and you've been taking it for 2-3 months or more, it has no calming effect and you will NOT get a calming effect from taking more than a maximum dose. Been there, done that. Doesn't work.

Benzodiazepines are good for temporary relief of anxiety. But you can only use them for that if you no longer have much in your system and haven't for a month or so. It's not a "maintenance" drug. Yes, I know that pdocs will write scrips for benzos whenever you ask, but that doesn't matter. Just because you can get a scrip doesn't mean the drug will work. So. A word to the wise.