Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group The use of Ativan for anxiety

The only time i take adivan is for flying (I do a lot of northern plane travel) and they knock me out! So I guess it's a good thing that is the onyl time i need them for. I took Celexa for depression and it worked wonders! Not everyone has the same reactions though. Good luck Janet.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that the only two drugs that can actually cause death are alcohol and benzo's ie(volume,ativan,xanax,klonopin) but that's only if you stop cold turkey.Am I right SJLC? But I still say take em,your doctor says do it, they are working for you obviously,so thats good to hear. I would just make sure if I decided to stop taking them do it gradually(like Pea said) but for now I think you should stick with it.Good luck!

Stopping benzodiazepines cold turkey is a terrible idea; I think its the seizures that can occasionally cause death.

Janet, if you haven't done so already, recommend you read up on the potential side effects so that you'll notice quickly if any of them start appearing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorazepam

One of my close family members had a really dangerous, traumatic experience with a cascade of prescription drug side effects because doctors and pharmacists did not make her aware of the early warning signs such as insomnia and anxiety -- from that time on I have been studying the side effects of every prescription drug before starting to take it. Some doctors just don't even like to think about the darker side of prescription drugs, it's human nature that they would focus on the good stuff they accomplish rather than on the bad. Mollycli has also learned that lesson the hard way.

My last comment is that hopefully this is a only a short-term measure while adapting to the anti-depressants. Samzee's occasional usage seems a lot safer than taking that stuff daily; I would be quite concerned if anybody in my family started taking it on a daily basis.

I learned the hard way that I don't tolerate benzos. Took a very low dose (Xanax 0.25mg 3 times a day or less) for less than 3 months. At the same time I was being treated, unsuccessfully, for depression. When the latter became too severe, I was hospitalized. The benzo was discontinued. It was not tapered because it was such a low dose (the doc said). First full day without gave me a lot of jitters, which was treated with Librium. On the 2nd full day, I had 3 grand mal seizures, spent 3 days in ICU and the next 10 yrs on Dilantin for seizure control. I will never take them again. Be careful with benzos, they are not a benign drug. Only the lowest dose needed for the shortest period of time. Good luck!

Ativan has been a godsend for me for anxiety. I'm under the watchful eye of a psychiatrist with them. I can take up to 6mg if needed at night, 1mg during the day. If I build a tolerance, I simply stop taking them for awhile. I haven't had any problem stopping them (no withdrawal) for a couple weeks and taking something else instead. Then I can switch back to ativan at a lower dose again. The common sense thing is - if you build a tolerance to your dose, don't increase it. That may increase your chances of addiction. Talk to your doctor if you build a tolerance to it (before you try adjusting the dose on your own). Like I said - I've had no problems with it at all. It's only been a benefit.

Hi

I am doing better, just knowing that the Ativan is there if I need it. I have not taken it everyday, so that is good. Thank you fo rall your posts. I feel better being well educated about Ativan.

Janet

Hi Megan,

What do you take when you build tolerance to the Ativan, another Benzo ?

Janet

Hi Janet, glad to hear that you're feeling a little better, I hope the Ativan can continue to help you improve, at least until you can get it all straightened out...hugs,

Michelle