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A few questions about Ativan
So, I have suffered from panic attacks for some time now. However, they have recently gotten so bad that after a lifetime spent in adamant opposition to all forms of medication, I have decided to take the plunge and give it a try. I went to my doctor, who prescribed Ativan. I have heard that it is pretty safe, and I have a low dosage (0.5 mg) but I am still very nervous about taking it. I have a few specific concerns that I was hoping to address.
First of all, is Ativan best to take regularly or as needed? I am hoping to take it only for the worst of my panic attacks. On the other hand, I am afraid that such a decision might cause a shock to my system: if I am in the throes of anxiety and take the drug, won't the abrupt sensation of calm be hard on my body? Also, if I take it once and then do not take it again for several days, I fear that it will cause all sorts of strange withdrawal effects , or a rebound effect, in which my anxiety levels after the drug wears off become worse than they were before I took it in the first place. I have heard of instances of this happening, and I don't want it to happen to me.
Secondly, how long does it take to feel the effects of this drug? I have heard that for some people, it takes quite awhile. I can just imagine my panic rising as I wait for it to work, fearing that it will not work at all.
Thirdly, how long can the effects of the drug be felt? Will I get a good long period of calm, or will I be tempted to re-dose within an hour or two?
Finally, like almost everyone else who has a fear of medication, I worry about side effects. I have done a lot of reading about the various side effects of Ativan, from drowsiness to dizziness to worse, and I don't know which I will experience. I know that it is different for everybody, but I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone here.
Again, I realise that my reaction to medication will not be identical to anyone else's, but the more I know, the less scared I will be. If anyone could share their stories with me and reassure me that this drug will not kill me and may actually help me live my life without the constant terror of anxiety attacks, I would be grateful. Thanks!
First of all, is Ativan best to take regularly or as needed? I am hoping to take it only for the worst of my panic attacks. On the other hand, I am afraid that such a decision might cause a shock to my system: if I am in the throes of anxiety and take the drug, won't the abrupt sensation of calm be hard on my body? Also, if I take it once and then do not take it again for several days, I fear that it will cause all sorts of strange withdrawal effects , or a rebound effect, in which my anxiety levels after the drug wears off become worse than they were before I took it in the first place. I have heard of instances of this happening, and I don't want it to happen to me.
Secondly, how long does it take to feel the effects of this drug? I have heard that for some people, it takes quite awhile. I can just imagine my panic rising as I wait for it to work, fearing that it will not work at all.
Thirdly, how long can the effects of the drug be felt? Will I get a good long period of calm, or will I be tempted to re-dose within an hour or two?
Finally, like almost everyone else who has a fear of medication, I worry about side effects. I have done a lot of reading about the various side effects of Ativan, from drowsiness to dizziness to worse, and I don't know which I will experience. I know that it is different for everybody, but I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone here.
Again, I realise that my reaction to medication will not be identical to anyone else's, but the more I know, the less scared I will be. If anyone could share their stories with me and reassure me that this drug will not kill me and may actually help me live my life without the constant terror of anxiety attacks, I would be grateful. Thanks!
Hi I am currently taking .5 my of Ativan most nights as an aid in falling asleep, though sometimes I only need half the .5mg tablet. But I went to see a PA the other day and she tried to care me into considering thyroid medication by horrifying me about the possible addictive qualities of Ativan and about the fact that it could possibly depress the respiratory system. Basically, added to my normal anxiety surrounding sleep, I'm now afraid that if I continue to take my Ativan, I might just stop breathing in my sleep. Is this reasonable at all? I do not drink any alcohol or take any other sleep aids and my dosage is very low. My anxiety has been getting gradually better and i dont intend to be on Ativan forever.I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance from someone who knows what they're talking about and has some empathy.
1 Comments
For anyone else reading this, that is just a biased dr trying to scare you. .5 is an extremely low dose. It would be nearly impossible to have respiratory depression on such on small dose. I even have asthma and can take that low of a dose. Benzos have an extremely high safety index as far as adverse effects. The only time they can be really dangerous and cause those adverse effects would be if you mixed them with alcohol (bc alcohol also effects GABA,) or you mixed it with another downer like benedryl, or opiate narcotics. The synthetic thyroid medication is much more dangerous than ativan.
I've been taking Ativan for a little over a year for sleep. I take 0.5mg or 1mg a night. 3 different doctors have told me the same thing:
Taking one dose a day only is fine since it breaks up the cycle that it stays fully in your system. I think the half life is 12 hours. You get physically addicted when a high level of the drug is in your system at a constant rate, like if you were to take Ativan every 8 hours, every day. Your body adapts to that level and gets used to it. So when you remove that "constant level", your body gets shocked and you get physical withdrawls. But this should only occur if you take it 2-3 times a day, every day. Taking it once a night for sleep breaks up the cycle enough to prevent physical addiction, but you will become psychologically addicted....which means when you stop taking it you will have trouble sleeping for a few days. But no drastic physical withdrawls. I have stopped taking Ativan for 3-5 days at a time, several times, and the only side effect was really bad stressful sleep the first 2 days. No physical withdrawls at all.
I'm not a doctor, but these are my personal experiences with Ativan and is also what doctors tell me. Reading about this stuff online is not good because people who go into withdrawls that say they only take one pill a day may not be telling the truth, or they may have been taking other medications that they stopped which caused the withdrawls, or they are recovering drug addicts or alcoholics which causes the withdrawls. Don't fully believe what you read on the internet that people say, there are so many other things going on that could cause withdrawls than just Ativan, especially if they say they only took it once a day and got physical withdrawls, and are not recovering addicts and weren't taking any other medications. The generic data on Ativan is that it's to be taken once every 8 hours for no more than 5 months. This is the FDA approved method. But no long term studies have been done on alternative uses, such as using it once a day for sleep. So when doctors hear that you take it every day for a long period of time, and then freak out, they probably either assume you're taking it every 8 hours, or they are not fully informed of alternative, non-FDA approved, methods of using it. Because all 3 of the doctors I've asked about once a day use had said there are really no side effects other than psychological addiction, which is very short term and not physically unhealthy, I believe them, not what random unkown people on the internet say. Doctors know the full extent of the issues people have, the internet only gives you a portion of the whole truth that people put forth.
Taking one dose a day only is fine since it breaks up the cycle that it stays fully in your system. I think the half life is 12 hours. You get physically addicted when a high level of the drug is in your system at a constant rate, like if you were to take Ativan every 8 hours, every day. Your body adapts to that level and gets used to it. So when you remove that "constant level", your body gets shocked and you get physical withdrawls. But this should only occur if you take it 2-3 times a day, every day. Taking it once a night for sleep breaks up the cycle enough to prevent physical addiction, but you will become psychologically addicted....which means when you stop taking it you will have trouble sleeping for a few days. But no drastic physical withdrawls. I have stopped taking Ativan for 3-5 days at a time, several times, and the only side effect was really bad stressful sleep the first 2 days. No physical withdrawls at all.
I'm not a doctor, but these are my personal experiences with Ativan and is also what doctors tell me. Reading about this stuff online is not good because people who go into withdrawls that say they only take one pill a day may not be telling the truth, or they may have been taking other medications that they stopped which caused the withdrawls, or they are recovering drug addicts or alcoholics which causes the withdrawls. Don't fully believe what you read on the internet that people say, there are so many other things going on that could cause withdrawls than just Ativan, especially if they say they only took it once a day and got physical withdrawls, and are not recovering addicts and weren't taking any other medications. The generic data on Ativan is that it's to be taken once every 8 hours for no more than 5 months. This is the FDA approved method. But no long term studies have been done on alternative uses, such as using it once a day for sleep. So when doctors hear that you take it every day for a long period of time, and then freak out, they probably either assume you're taking it every 8 hours, or they are not fully informed of alternative, non-FDA approved, methods of using it. Because all 3 of the doctors I've asked about once a day use had said there are really no side effects other than psychological addiction, which is very short term and not physically unhealthy, I believe them, not what random unkown people on the internet say. Doctors know the full extent of the issues people have, the internet only gives you a portion of the whole truth that people put forth.
2 Comments
I have taken 1 mg for 18 months in the morning, i have been withdrawing and have had very hard withdrawal symptoms so this is not true for everyone, i just tried to take a little less than .5 mg and had the worst panic attack i ever had. I never took it more than once a day.
Of course you're right, taking it every day even if only once can create a withdrawal problem. The brain gets used to it even if you're not addicted to it. Happens with antidepressants, too, which are not technically addictive. We're all individuals and our brains react as they react, not as someone else reacts.
Hello there!
For starters, "dependency" and "addiction" are two different things. We're discussing dependency, not addiction. I get what you're saying about the psychological factor (not an "addiction"), but there is also something called rebound insomnia, which is not in your head. That results from the use of sleep aids on a regular basis for an extended period of time. Basically, upon cessation of the sleep aids, the insomnia returns, and often times is worse than when you started.
Everyone is different for sure, but when any habit-forming med is taken on a regular basis (even once a day), there is a risk for withdrawals if stopped abruptly. I do get what you're saying about the half life and how the med works, but you're still putting it in your system regularly.
I'll give you an example. My dad has been an insomniac as long as I can remember. He has taken Xanax at bedtime every day for decades. It's the only thing that has worked for him (and he's tried a lot of stuff). One time, when he was travelling, he forgot to take his Xanax along...so he assumed he was just in for a few sleepless nights (as he understands about the rebound insomnia that occurs with the cessation of any sleep aid). Well, unfortunately, he went through some pretty intense withdrawals for a few days. He actually thought something was wrong with him, and went to the ER, as he didn't even think w/ds were a possibility. Sure enough, as soon as he took a Xanax when he got home, all of the symptoms disappeared within 20 minutes.
Whether or not a person will actually experience w/ds depends on a whole bunch of things....length of time a person is on a medication, the dose, other medications they make be taking, just to name a few. So, while you may not experience w/ds when stopping the Ativan, it's still adviseable to taper off if you decide to stop taking it, to be on the safe side.
Also, you recognize the issue with rebound insomnia that occurs when using sleep aids for an extended period of time. I personally have no issue with people who need to take a med to help them sleep, but if at all possible, it's best to limit the courses of those meds to a shorter length of time, as to not make the original problem worse. The other option is to just resign yourself that you will take the med indefinitely. I would just encourage you, if you haven't already, to look into some other alternatives for sleep. I too am a pretty bad insomniac, and have learned some tricks of the trade. TRULY there are techniques that, with practice and consistency, will improve your sleep. I'll post them for you in the next reply (it's a long post).
Here's to a good night's sleep!
For starters, "dependency" and "addiction" are two different things. We're discussing dependency, not addiction. I get what you're saying about the psychological factor (not an "addiction"), but there is also something called rebound insomnia, which is not in your head. That results from the use of sleep aids on a regular basis for an extended period of time. Basically, upon cessation of the sleep aids, the insomnia returns, and often times is worse than when you started.
Everyone is different for sure, but when any habit-forming med is taken on a regular basis (even once a day), there is a risk for withdrawals if stopped abruptly. I do get what you're saying about the half life and how the med works, but you're still putting it in your system regularly.
I'll give you an example. My dad has been an insomniac as long as I can remember. He has taken Xanax at bedtime every day for decades. It's the only thing that has worked for him (and he's tried a lot of stuff). One time, when he was travelling, he forgot to take his Xanax along...so he assumed he was just in for a few sleepless nights (as he understands about the rebound insomnia that occurs with the cessation of any sleep aid). Well, unfortunately, he went through some pretty intense withdrawals for a few days. He actually thought something was wrong with him, and went to the ER, as he didn't even think w/ds were a possibility. Sure enough, as soon as he took a Xanax when he got home, all of the symptoms disappeared within 20 minutes.
Whether or not a person will actually experience w/ds depends on a whole bunch of things....length of time a person is on a medication, the dose, other medications they make be taking, just to name a few. So, while you may not experience w/ds when stopping the Ativan, it's still adviseable to taper off if you decide to stop taking it, to be on the safe side.
Also, you recognize the issue with rebound insomnia that occurs when using sleep aids for an extended period of time. I personally have no issue with people who need to take a med to help them sleep, but if at all possible, it's best to limit the courses of those meds to a shorter length of time, as to not make the original problem worse. The other option is to just resign yourself that you will take the med indefinitely. I would just encourage you, if you haven't already, to look into some other alternatives for sleep. I too am a pretty bad insomniac, and have learned some tricks of the trade. TRULY there are techniques that, with practice and consistency, will improve your sleep. I'll post them for you in the next reply (it's a long post).
Here's to a good night's sleep!
Sleep Tips:
Before turning to potent meds, I would advise one to exhaust all other methods, including the more natural or OTC remedies (which, you should also limit as much as possible, because rebound insomnia will occur with those too, after enough regular use).
Here are some tips to help with your sleep:
1. Avoid any and all stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, energy drinks, etc) as much as possible, especially within 4+ hours of bedtime.
2. Exercise is a great way to induce sleep, as it releases natural endorphins. Even a brisk evening walk will help. Your exercise should be an hour or more before your bedtime..you don't want to exercise right before bed.
3. Try to avoid eating a heavy meal close to bedtime. If you're hungry, stick to a light snack an hour or more before bed. Avoid ALL fluids 3 (or more if you can) hours before bed. Nothing worse than finally getting to bed and have mother nature wake you up!
4. Stick to a consistent bedtime and a consistent bedtime routine. Even on days when you don't FEEL tired at your bedtime, try to stick to your routine...that conditions your body and brain. Pick a reasonable time. If you work 3-11:30 and get home at 12, a reasonable time isn't 12:30, as you would need time to unwind after getting home.
5. Create an environment conducive to sleep and relaxation. Your bedroom and bed should be an inviting place that you look forward to retiring to. Keep the room clean and clutter free, keep dust levels down. Keep your bedding washed with clean or fresh smelling scents. Choose comfy, non-binding clean smelling PJs. ALL of our 5 senses affect our mood, and also our sleep. If you have a quiet room, but your sheets smell like feet (lol), that won't be very relaxing. Keep the room DARK. Keep weather in mind. In the summer, you would only need a light sheet or blanket, in the winter, heavier blankets are necessary to keep you comfy. Again, back to the senses...if you create a bed that keeps you too hot or too cold, that will interfere with your sleep. Keep a glass or bottle of water at your bedside, in case you awaken with that dry mouth and need for a drink. This way you don't have to get out of bed to get something to drink. Light soothing music or white noise machines for LOW (not blaring) background noise can be helpful. Try to avoid using TV as a background noise, as our brains are still working while asleep, and the things you hear from the TV could affect your anxiety levels and even dreams. Basically, sleeping with sounds of "The Chainsaw Massacre" in the background won't lead to happy thoughts. ;0) A warm bath or shower is great before bed...dry your hair. Never go to bed with wet hair. NOT comfy!
6. Ignore the urge to get out of bed. Even when you're feeling frustrated, try to remain in bed, reposition yourself, adjust your sheets, read a book if you are not falling asleep, but the more up and down you do, the harder it is to get and stay asleep it is. The same goes for nighttime awakening. If you DO fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night, ignore the urge to get out of bed...again, reposition yourself, adjust the sheets, and try to go back to sleep. When you get up out of bed, you're waking yourself more. If you stay lying in bed, you are not as awake. If nature calls...go to the BR, and get right back to bed..no snacking, no smoke breaks (I'm bad at this...lol). Those things are murder for sleep. Get up...go potty, right back to bed.
7. When you DO manage to finally start on a consistent routine, you'll find things that help and hurt your sleep. Take note of them and adjust your regimen as needed. Sleep patterns will change, and life happens, so sometimes, adjustments need to be made. Consistency is TRULY the key..I cannot stress that enough.
8. Listen to your body. For a while, while your sleep is lousy, you will feel tired at odd times of the day. Your body is telling you it needs rest, so heed the wanring...take a nap. Lie down on the sofa, and catch a 1 hour (or less) nap. Don't nap for hours at a time, that will interfere with your nighttime sleep. An hour is the perfect amount of time for a refresher. Also, don't nap in bed. Once you're conditioned, your bed should be for nighttime sleeping only.
Hope these tips help some...I know these are the things I do that help me get some decent sleep. It's not always foolproof, but it works pretty well. Please be patient for a while too...your body is getting back to normal, and that takes some time. If you are going days without any sleep, definitely see your doctor. Sleep depivation is a whole other ballgame, it can be dangerous.
Best to you...sweet dreams!
Before turning to potent meds, I would advise one to exhaust all other methods, including the more natural or OTC remedies (which, you should also limit as much as possible, because rebound insomnia will occur with those too, after enough regular use).
Here are some tips to help with your sleep:
1. Avoid any and all stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, energy drinks, etc) as much as possible, especially within 4+ hours of bedtime.
2. Exercise is a great way to induce sleep, as it releases natural endorphins. Even a brisk evening walk will help. Your exercise should be an hour or more before your bedtime..you don't want to exercise right before bed.
3. Try to avoid eating a heavy meal close to bedtime. If you're hungry, stick to a light snack an hour or more before bed. Avoid ALL fluids 3 (or more if you can) hours before bed. Nothing worse than finally getting to bed and have mother nature wake you up!
4. Stick to a consistent bedtime and a consistent bedtime routine. Even on days when you don't FEEL tired at your bedtime, try to stick to your routine...that conditions your body and brain. Pick a reasonable time. If you work 3-11:30 and get home at 12, a reasonable time isn't 12:30, as you would need time to unwind after getting home.
5. Create an environment conducive to sleep and relaxation. Your bedroom and bed should be an inviting place that you look forward to retiring to. Keep the room clean and clutter free, keep dust levels down. Keep your bedding washed with clean or fresh smelling scents. Choose comfy, non-binding clean smelling PJs. ALL of our 5 senses affect our mood, and also our sleep. If you have a quiet room, but your sheets smell like feet (lol), that won't be very relaxing. Keep the room DARK. Keep weather in mind. In the summer, you would only need a light sheet or blanket, in the winter, heavier blankets are necessary to keep you comfy. Again, back to the senses...if you create a bed that keeps you too hot or too cold, that will interfere with your sleep. Keep a glass or bottle of water at your bedside, in case you awaken with that dry mouth and need for a drink. This way you don't have to get out of bed to get something to drink. Light soothing music or white noise machines for LOW (not blaring) background noise can be helpful. Try to avoid using TV as a background noise, as our brains are still working while asleep, and the things you hear from the TV could affect your anxiety levels and even dreams. Basically, sleeping with sounds of "The Chainsaw Massacre" in the background won't lead to happy thoughts. ;0) A warm bath or shower is great before bed...dry your hair. Never go to bed with wet hair. NOT comfy!
6. Ignore the urge to get out of bed. Even when you're feeling frustrated, try to remain in bed, reposition yourself, adjust your sheets, read a book if you are not falling asleep, but the more up and down you do, the harder it is to get and stay asleep it is. The same goes for nighttime awakening. If you DO fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night, ignore the urge to get out of bed...again, reposition yourself, adjust the sheets, and try to go back to sleep. When you get up out of bed, you're waking yourself more. If you stay lying in bed, you are not as awake. If nature calls...go to the BR, and get right back to bed..no snacking, no smoke breaks (I'm bad at this...lol). Those things are murder for sleep. Get up...go potty, right back to bed.
7. When you DO manage to finally start on a consistent routine, you'll find things that help and hurt your sleep. Take note of them and adjust your regimen as needed. Sleep patterns will change, and life happens, so sometimes, adjustments need to be made. Consistency is TRULY the key..I cannot stress that enough.
8. Listen to your body. For a while, while your sleep is lousy, you will feel tired at odd times of the day. Your body is telling you it needs rest, so heed the wanring...take a nap. Lie down on the sofa, and catch a 1 hour (or less) nap. Don't nap for hours at a time, that will interfere with your nighttime sleep. An hour is the perfect amount of time for a refresher. Also, don't nap in bed. Once you're conditioned, your bed should be for nighttime sleeping only.
Hope these tips help some...I know these are the things I do that help me get some decent sleep. It's not always foolproof, but it works pretty well. Please be patient for a while too...your body is getting back to normal, and that takes some time. If you are going days without any sleep, definitely see your doctor. Sleep depivation is a whole other ballgame, it can be dangerous.
Best to you...sweet dreams!
Hey there. Reading all these answers has been very helpful for my case too. I take it as when needed and it really helps me. I was a bit worried recently where i was using it quite a bit. 7mgs in two weeks with a couple of days doing 2mgs a day. I was worried about withdrawal symptoms with this type of usage? Any thoughts?
Is there something going on where you're needing more of the med? Are you taking it as directed, or have you been taking more than prescribed? Are you taking it every day?
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