[Reesie]

I would like to hear others' experience with this drug. I've had a combination depression/anxiety thing for a few years. I've used ativan, on and off, and now I'm woncering if it keeps me depressed. I'm on Celexa for the depression.

[Reesie]

moved to lorazepam topic in this forum. I had read somewhere, depression could be a side effect of benzo's. Catch-22: to be able to go without it, even a small dose, long enough to find out if I'd be less depressed. That's why I want others' opinions who've been on, then off, and also suffer from anxiety and depression.

[Juliana]

Hi Reesie. I wish I had the answer for you. I know what you mean about the Catch-22. I've wondered the same thing about my long-term Clonazepam use. My anxiety got much, much better but I developed depression -- after not having been depressed in ages. I read that benzos can cause depression, so I wondered if the Clonazepam might be a contributing cause of my depression... but I couldn't stop taking the Clonazepam or BAM! the anxiety came back. I used to be on Celexa (I took it for anxiety, not depression) too, but I stopped taking it about a year ago... was still taking Clonazepam... 0.5 mg/day though.

Now I'm on Lexapro (went on it for the depression that hit me in the fall). It's helping so much with my anxiety (haven't had a panic attack since I started taking it). So, since I'm less anxious, I'm using a lot less Clonazepam. My depression is also quite a bit better... but of course, I don't know if it's because I'm using less Clonazepam or if it's because of the Lexapro. Maybe I'll never know.

[DePressMe]

Ativan tended to make my depression worse, but it did help with the anxiety.

[okiedokie]

Hi,
If you are having to take a benzo I recommend taking the longer lasting half-life clonazepam. Ativan is quick in and quick out which can cause a feeling of intense relief and then drop you right back to anxiety.

I've suffered with anxiety and depression all my life. The combo that has worked for me is low dose Effexor and Neurontin. I always hesitate to "tell" what meds have worked for me because it is so different for each person. It would make it much easier if the meds worked the SAME for each person!
Take care,
Okie

[Reesie]

Thanks to all of you for replying. This info will help me everyday when I face that decision. Two of you said it can worsen depression, and I had read that, too.

I'll ask my doctor about clonazepam, also.

[psisci]

Yes, chronic benzo use can cause depression symptoms and/or make them worse.

[Reesie]

Thanks for the information. I'm thinking of just tapering off the ativan now.

[Juliana]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
psisci said:
Yes, chronic benzo use can cause depression symptoms and/or make them worse.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks for confirming that psisci. I have read that in numerous places, but when I mentioned it to my doctor she told me she had never heard of that side effect.

I had 14 depression-free years... and then after 2 years of taking Clonazepam daily, I got very depressed. There's no way to know for sure, but I suspect there's a connection there. Fortunately, Lexapro is working so well on my anxiety I rarely take Clonazepam now.

[Reesie]

I saw my pdoc today. Knowing my symptoms, he said I could continue to take the ativan; that it's too small a dose to cause or worsen depression ( ? ) He increased my Celexa, and kept abilify the same.