[Elana05]

I just entered crisis mode. For me this means anxeity, crying, deep, deep dispair. The place I feel it is in my chest, throat, stomach - I always wonder if its due to the stress hormones. I have just started to ramp up on Zoloft (I started out on a super low dose because I am inordinately sensitive to medication). Does Ativan help with the "out of control" crisis feeling? I just want the pain of dispair to go away. I want to try a really small amount but my prescribing doc never prescribes anxiety medication, only AD's so I was thinking of going to my GP. Some say it makes them sleepy. I would rather sleep then be up with this horrible feeling. (I also see a therapist, so I have that part covered). Thanks.

[buttrfli42481]

I started on .5mg of Ativan up to 3 times a day. I then went to just .5mg at bedtime and .5mg prn. I am now on 1mg at bedtime to help my brain slow down. When I was in "crisis" mode, I found that the Ativan did work to calm me down to a functioning level. It never took the whole anxiety away, but I could at least in touch with the world. I would ask you GP if they would dispense it, some won't because it is a benzo and they don't want you to become addicted. I hope you feel more in control soon.

[Rohag]

For me Ativan was a highly effective anti-anxiety med. I took it only on an as-needed basis (.5mg?), and it always made me drowsy, often to the point of sleep. I no longer use Ativan because it's contraindicated for narrow-angle glaucoma.

All the best, Elana05!

[Gently1]

Ativan for me is as needed, and it does work at stopping the anxiety spin to depression, but my daily anti anxitey is clonazepam, and this will be titrated down first as long as I am starting to feel like myself.

In a way depression can be like a chronic pain with the AD, working on the overall brain system.
Until I find the right AD's, the anti-axniety is like a pain killer, does not solve the problem but does give a fighting chance at moving around during the day, and even gives me energy as the toll of overiding anxiety sucks the life out of me.

Good luck at advocating for yourself.
If I felt like you described I would call my Pdoc, and she would take care of me, Rx as needed etc. I learned early not to wait for the next appointment.

This makes depression with anxiety difficult to treat.

G

[Kiya]

i would say Yes - it does help with that 'out of control feeling'. But it's not something you want to be on for a long time. I have some now for emergencies (from my ER trip on Monday). I too am medication super sensitive so I take only a 1/4th of the 1 mg when I need to calm it down. I don't take it often. It does make you sleep - in the ER they gave me 2mg but I was so overwraught that when it kicked in i just curled up on the edge of the bed, but was still awake and alert until i got the heck out of there. But then slept deeply all the rest of the night. They wanted me taking 1g every 8 hours, but no way. I took one every 24 hours only for 2 days and then needed to function. Thus the 1/4th when I'm at home and know I'm not going anywhere but the chaos is out of control. Was considering one tonight actually, but I think I talked myself down...
best...

[Umbral_Seraph]

To the best of my knowledge benzos slow down your nervous system so you calm down. In higher doses they are used for sedation. They are very addicting and hard on your liver, so you don't want to be taking them consistently for an extended period of time.

Ativan didn't help me very much. I only got minor relief. The only effect it had on my sleep was that I woke up less when I slept, waking up 2 or 3 times instead of 4 or 5.

[DePressMe]

It is important for your prescribing doc to know if you start taking ativan because it can effect ADs. Going to your GP to get ativan might not be such a good idea. Just my thoughts....

[whenwillitend]

I took Ativan ONCE, .5mg, so a super low dose, and I ended up in the hospital that night. As far as I can remember, at first I felt really good, very mellow, then I started not feeling anything, (all that happened over a couple of hours), then I started feeling very slowed down, taking a shower took me 45 minutes, I was feeling very... I don't know... foggy, like I had overdosed (which I hadn't). I called my T, I remember that, but not much after that, apparently I told her that I felt like taking the rest of them too, so she called 911. Someone came, I don't know who, probably an ambulance and fire, I don't remember a whole lot of that part, I remember them saying they were taking me to the hospital. Everything after that is one big blur. I woke up late the next morning at the psych hospital feeling completely fine. They kept me for 24 hours to make sure I was really fine, and then they let me go home.

I will never take Ativan again. All this happened with my two small kids sleeping in their beds and me being all alone with them. Very dangerous. Please be careful with that stuff.

[Elana05]

Mmmm. Now I'm having second thoughts. I took a tiny dose of Trazadone once and ended up having to crawl to the bathroom when I couldn't stand up because I was too dizzy and felt like I was going to black out. Maybe I'm sensitive to that stuff too... I'll talk to my pdoc about it. He'll probably tell me to hang in there with the new AD (since he doesn't usually prescribe anxiety meds anyway).

[FuriousGeorge]

I've been taking 2mg tablets of Ativan for about 5 years now. I take them as needed. I don't have any adverse affects and I am not addicted to them either. Works great for me.

[sandiebl]

Ativan saved my life! I really feel that it helped me sooooo much with my panic attacks. I've only been on 1mg 2x a day as needed for the last three months but, I now can actually leave my house. (yea that bad) Make sure before taking this medication to check for any interactions with any other meds that you are on... and don't drink any alcohol!! I hope you can find the help you need.

[Kiya]

maybe you can try cutting the dose in half until you get used to it? or even 1/4th. i am sensitive to meds and must do that with mine. even my .05 xanax, i take half of morning and night or it would knock me on my butt.