ATIVAN

Holly J · Post by **Holly J** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:21 pm

so i read that a side effect CAN be suicidal thoughts/depression but i have heard form people on this site it had anti depressant properties in it to make you feel better when you are depressed. it weird. Now i am afraid to take it thinking ill get that side effect. has anyone gotten that at all or is it something that is terribly rare and they just have to put it on the site because a few people gotten that. it also says people who are depressed should talk to their dr before taking it. i think that is odd because ALOT of people with anxiety have depression (me) so if anyone can enlighten me that'd be great (-:

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:02 am

Holly don’t be afraid to take MY 83 YEAR old mother in law takes it everyday and she is great…This is part of your anxiety and one of the biggest hurdles I have had to face….Man when your felling horrible your feeling horrible no need to suffer at the extreme…take a benzo and move on…I have been researching this for a long time and I’ve never heard of anyone wanting to kill themselves after taking Ativan….extremely LOW morbidity rate with cases usually involving many other drugs…I am not a doctor or pharm rep by no means…and I am not saying take one every time your feel a little off…maybe on some of your hot points till you get better… just not long term:

One of my reposts:
People please don’t be so hard on yourself for taking xanax and the benzo-family ...anxiety and panic patients are the worst for taking meds in the first place...people that take substance to escape have additive tendencies and take the meds for the high and the escape effect…we are afraid of the control portion and when we panic we feel like we have no control and taking meds scares us that we are losing control and the worry of addiction…the average dose for panic disorder is 5.5 daily …Take the meds… they work and help to build a certain confidence needed to subside the panic then you work on the cognitive remedies…do not suffer needlessly and do not worry about the addiction portion…we are here because we have Anxiety disorders not Drug addictions

Bakedpears · Post by **Bakedpears** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:19 am

This is an odd post perhaps, but my insurance company saw my past mental health issues and "waivered" me, so I pay full price for scrips. I already have a $250 a month bill, and my doc suggested another drug recently - $483 a month at five mg a day!!!! Have any of you had luck with drugs having generic counterparts? If so, which ones? My doc suggested Lithium, which prob does have a generic, but it scares the heck outta me!
Doc says very sm. doses, and that it has gotten a bad rap, but still! I do need something to complement my present meds, as they just aren't cutting it. Any input on that? I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Come on, folks....save me some money!

Thanks.
- Donna

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:31 am

I took Ativan (among other meds) for the past year and I have been off of it for about a week. If you don't feel that you definitely NEED to take it, I would avoid it. Coming off of it is hard, even when you taper. But I took it everyday (1 mg-2mg). If you use it as a PRN it would be OK but it can be very addictive. As far as worsening my depression....my depression was pretty bad, but I'm not sure if the Ativan helped or hindered me, I felt that it helped slightly at the time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:48 am

daisygirl how long was your taper?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:11 am

Hey Problemattic, I have had luck with generic brands, anxiety and depression meds. Generics are basically the same as the original, but generic brands can't be made until a certain number of years after the original is developed for legal reasons. I am currently on lexapro, which has no generic yet, it isn't that old, but I would definately go generic if you can there is nothing wrong with it. Pharmcists usually give generic by default if it is available, they do here at Walgreens anyway, I don't have to even ask for generic. If you feel uncomfortable about it, talk to a pharmicist, they know more about meds than doctors! And do some research on lithium or other medications like it. Then talk to your doctor, maybe make some suggestions if you have any, and maybe even try the lithium. Good luck!

derfy · Post by **derfy** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:43 pm

Thanks JJB1. that makes me feel better and whenever i take an ativan during a bad panic attack it makes me feel way better in 15 minutes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:48 am

Holly,
I took Ativan .5mg twice a day for only 10 weeks...I was never told how addictive is is or how hard it is to get off of it.
My advice is that it is a dangerous drug and not to ever take it..
I went on it for insomnia and anxiety but now in taper all of my original symptoms are FAR WORSE and I am going through hell...
Do you know that it is harder than HEROIN to get off of?

Originally posted by Holly J:
Thanks JJB1. that makes me feel better and whenever i take an ativan during a bad panic attack it makes me feel way better in 15 minutes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:51 am

Holly,
This drug is harder to get off than Heroin
I"m in a slow taper nearing the end and going through hell.
Noone should be given this drug past 2 weeks,,,

Cold Turkey can kill you.
Tapers are horrific
Symptoms during withdrawal are FAR WORSE than the original problems,,whatever they may have been.

Originally posted by JJB1!:
Holly don’t be afraid to take MY 83 YEAR old mother in law takes it everyday and she is great…This is part of your anxiety and one of the biggest hurdles I have had to face….Man when your felling horrible your feeling horrible no need to suffer at the extreme…take a benzo and move on…I have been researching this for a long time and I’ve never heard of anyone wanting to kill themselves after taking Ativan….extremely LOW morbidity rate with cases usually involving many other drugs…I am not a doctor or pharm rep by no means…and I am not saying take one every time your feel a little off…maybe on some of your hot points till you get better… just not long term:

One of my reposts:
People please don’t be so hard on yourself for taking xanax and the benzo-family ...anxiety and panic patients are the worst for taking meds in the first place...people that take substance to escape have additive tendencies and take the meds for the high and the escape effect…we are afraid of the control portion and when we panic we feel like we have no control and taking meds scares us that we are losing control and the worry of addiction…the average dose for panic disorder is 5.5 daily …Take the meds… they work and help to build a certain confidence needed to subside the panic then you work on the cognitive remedies…do not suffer needlessly and do not worry about the addiction portion…we are here because we have Anxiety disorders not Drug addictions