Ativan?

Apr 05, 2016, 10:31 AM

My pdoc just prescribed me Ativan for my high anxiety levels. However, it's PRN, so it's not meant to be taken everyday. (It's mostly intended for travel, as I tend to get panic attacks when my anxiety is really high. However, it's also useful for big events in my life that are anxiety inducing.)

I was warned it was addicting because it's a benzo, and I know that a lot of people here have problems getting off benzos.

If I use Ativan for a couple of days in a row (for example), will I experience nasty withdrawal symptoms? Just wondering if anyone's had experience with that. My pdoc didn't really give me any useful information about withdrawal, but then again... every person is different.

I'm supposed to travel overseas in the coming months, and I'll probably have some serious anxiety the first few days.

lilypup · Apr 05, 2016, 11:09 AM

I use Klonopin prn and have no trouble with it. But I read on here bout lots of people struggling with withdrawal. I wouldn't worry if it's just a few days...and maybe take one the day after you use them to sort taper off. Ask your pdoc.

Apr 05, 2016, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilypup

I use Klonopin prn and have no trouble with it. But I read on here bout lots of people struggling with withdrawal. I wouldn't worry if it's just a few days...and maybe take one the day after you use them to sort taper off. Ask your pdoc.

Thanks. Makes sense about tapering off. I could definitely try that.

My pdoc is sort of useless. It's kind of why I want to get a new one. He ignores my concerns and tells me to "just take it" when I ask about medication.

Great pdoc, huh?

pirilin · Apr 05, 2016, 11:13 AM

Benzos are supposed to be used for less than 15 days in a row, if necessary. For longer than that, you may be dependent.
I don't see a problem with PRN. As long as you space it.
I'm one of the ones with a benzo dependency. And I'm trying hard not to be addicted.
I'll repeat it even if I know you know about it.
The problem with benzos is that you will need to increase the amount to get the same efect.

zijax · Apr 05, 2016, 11:18 AM

I was on klonipin and used to take it prn but steadily took more and more then I started running out of it early and snorting it and knew I was in trouble. They kick anxiety in the *** but everything good except Jesus has a dark side

pirilin · Apr 05, 2016, 11:20 AM

Forgot to mention. There are non benzo alternatives for anxiety that work.
Even herbs. Meds, Vistaril and propanolol come to mind. But there are many more.
Only it's easy to prescribe a benzo because is a sureshot.

raspberrytorte · Apr 05, 2016, 11:23 AM

I'd take it, I don't know, once a month.

Maybe ask your pdoc about propranolol? I take that occasionally, and it really helps with panic attacks because it slows your heart beat down. Really calms me down. And I've taken it, in the past, everyday, and didn't have any withdrawal when stopping it.

eclogite · Apr 05, 2016, 04:05 PM

You'll be ok with Ativan for a few days. PRN is the way to go!

piano97 · Apr 05, 2016, 05:13 PM

It's a good PRN.

ablankscript · Apr 05, 2016, 05:47 PM

These are definitely questions for your doc or pharmacist. I was on a low dose of klonapin and ativan (separately) and had no problems, but everyone is different and it can be very easy to pop a pill at the slightest feeling of anxiety or take more than prescribed which are big no no's and will lead to dependency. I have been told anxiety is normal, and doctors are learning that long term benzodiazepine use is very bad.

ComfortablyNumb5 · Apr 05, 2016, 06:31 PM

I was on ativan for quite some time and as long as you're taking it PRN and not regularly then there's no worries on getting physically dependent. However some people prefer to take it every day to avoid anxiety before it hits. Whatever floats your boat but I wouldn't recommend taking it like that unless you're prepared to go through withdrawal in the long run.

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gina_re · Apr 05, 2016, 07:47 PM

I was prescribed vistaril prn for anxiety because my pdoc is not a fan of prescribing benzos. But when I was grieving for my grandma, I lost it! So he prescribed klonopin for exactly 30 days, then I was on my own. I think he prescribed it that way to avoid any dependency. I think a couple of days in a row should be ok, as long as those couple of days don't turn into everyday.

hashiBP2? · Apr 05, 2016, 08:25 PM

Is ativan the same a lorazepam? My doctor tells me to take them every day as needed for anxiety and irritability and to sleep at night. Great! Will I get hooked om them??

LeBlond · Apr 14, 2016, 09:03 PM

I been on it two days. How do I know if it's working? I still feel very stressed and uptight. On .5/3-4 a day.

cakeladie · Apr 14, 2016, 09:33 PM

I take Ativan daily and have since 2008. It helps with my seizures

Apr 14, 2016, 10:29 PM

I use(d) ativan - it works amazingly well, which is why it's SO addictive!! I was on a tiny dose (I mean tiny - like .125 - .25 mg) and became physically and psychologically addicted after a few months. I didn't even use it everyday. I could definitely feel withdrawal symptoms when I started to taper, but nothing even close to the horror stories I've read, probably because I tapered extremely slowly and was using such a small amount for a relatively short time.

Anyway, I read that if you take it consistently even for just a few weeks you can become addicted. Luckily I didn't build up tolerance because I never increased my dose, so I'm now able to take it as needed with no withdrawals (I make sure to only take it a few times a month when I really really need it - mostly for extreme vertigo).

that's my very long-winded way of saying use with caution and space it out so your body doesn't start decreasing it's natural production of gaba

optimistic_dolphin · Apr 15, 2016, 05:42 AM

i didn't experience withdrawal or addiction on Ativan
currently it's PRN for me too
but there was a time I switch around with Clona for sleeping at night

BastetsMuse · Apr 15, 2016, 08:09 AM

[quote=bluebicycle;4996767If I use Ativan for a couple of days in a row (for example), will I experience nasty withdrawal symptoms? Just wondering if anyone's had experience with that. My pdoc didn't really give me any useful information about withdrawal, but then again... every person is different.[/quote]

I use klonopin and I can take it for several days in a row and then drop it and not have any problems. It was the same with ativan when I took it. But I try to keep the usage down to a week at a time if I can.

zepchic · Apr 15, 2016, 08:14 AM

I was taking ativan for like two months not quite daily. I was aware of the addictive potential, so I tried to only take it if I NEEDED it. Sometimes I took it for sleep, sometimes for anxiety. Then it got to if I took it like 3 days in a row and stopped I would get twitches, dysphoria, and depersonalization. Ativan is supposed to be faster acting with a shorter half life I believe than klonopin.

Ripose · Apr 15, 2016, 09:52 AM

I read somewhere that you should not take it for more than 4 days in a row at a reasonably low dosage like .5-1 mg daily.

I have been taking it daily for about 15 years at 6 mg. I am just starting to taper off of it now and started taking 1.5 mg of klonopin to stop seizures for now.