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sarahsweets · Aug 16, 2020, 03:50 AM

Hey @Soupe du jour: Did you know that out of all the benzos Ativan is the one more likely to cause mood disturbances? In particular emotional feelings like crying, anxiety and depression? I think this could be a bipolar issue, I forget if my doctor said that was the only case. A few years back I was on xanax but felt like the dependence possibility or addiction possibility was too dangerous for me personally. I tried ativan and couldnt figure out why I was suddenly so emotional. It was almost like I was on the edge of a cliff of a bipolar episode. I went back to my Dr after a month and she told me that this happens sometimes with bipolar patients. She said although it was a benzo, not all benzos are created equal. Many years ago after a sleep study the sleep doctor had me try Klonopin for sleep. It turned me into a drooling, slurry mess. Xanax was ok for me but being an alcoholic it was just too easy to take more than I needed so rather than that I came off of it. I was off benzos for 5 or so years and then my daughter ran away, came home and went to rehab, and various other crisis's. She got pregnant on purpose. Basically it was 2 years of constant chaos and hell. She moved in five minutes away from us with her boyfriend and we just had to accept that our grandchild was on the way. Things are better now and I adore my grandson but for those 2 years I needed something so I was on valium which was very good because it has a long half life and I never felt impaired. Now I stopped valium and am on no benzos. I have been very lucky to never having had w/d. I was able to just wean off myself over a few days and that was it. It can be very hard for some people, even dangerous. But I thought it was interesting learning this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour

I could imagine that two little ones would be an extra challenge.

Have you added other sleep hygiene strategies? I'm talking really basic stuff, like a sound machine, better sleeping environment if applicable (dark, cooler, etc.). I have even found that yogurt is helpful. There are other foods known to help, as well (certain nuts, turkey, other dairy products, chamomile tea). I'm sure some people would laugh off these suggestions, but I am a believer, and they are not harmful in the least bit.

Again, I have no idea what will be best for you, but I can say that I observed a rather interesting thing when I lowered my Ativan down from unapproved higher doses. There was a point when I was taking 4 to 6 mg of Ativan, when I was only supposed to be taking maximum 3 mg per day. My anxiety worsened and worsened as I went up in the dose. When I started weaning myself down to PRN (with my pdoc's demand), my anxiety actually lessened. Weird, but true. I'm not sure if such a phenomenon would happen with sleep, but who knows.