Lorazepam (Ativan)....Scared

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi ladies, me again....y'all have been so supportive that I thought I'd post this discussion here in the hopes that someone could offer me some comfort or wisdom (although I know that most of you are going through this without the aid of medication)....my GP prescribed 0.5mg of lorazepam (Ativan) for me to take on an as-needed basis (up to twice a day) to help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety that I've been feeling daily for months now (shakiness/internal trembling, racing heart, perceived muscle weakness, headache, blurryish vision, etc)....since August 8, I've taken it six times for a total of 1.25mg over the nineteen days (I only take 0.25mg at a time, and don't take it every day)....I last took it on Saturday (August 23) evening (0.25mg). I'm feeling very jittery and anxious today....is it possible that I'm feeling withdrawl symptoms? It feels like my "normal" anxiety symptoms, but I spent some time consulting Dr Google this morning (bad, I know, but I couldn't help myself), and now I'm terrified that I'm going to have violent withdrawl symptoms, even though this seems like a very small dose for a very short time.

I should add that I took this same medication last year for a longer period of time, and had no issues when I stopped taking it last November....or could what I'm feeling now be some sort of wacky delayed withdrawl? Stupid Google has me worked into a right frenzy over this....what to do?

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi weary

    bless you hun...  is it because you arent taking it every day that your body is up and down, surely a low daily does would be more beneficial ..  and then constantly in the body not confusing it ...  you should never just stop any medication of this type suddenly, if you have had none at all since the 23 then maybe you are with drawing a little .... may be ....  

    jay xx

    jay xx

  • Posted

    Hi weary..

    sorry sweets, i got confused reading the days you took it..

    so since the 8 aug you have only taken it on 6 occassions ... between 8 aug to stopping on 23 aug...

    maybe its just not worth bothering with... is it ... or does it help ....

    i read some ladies take low dose citalopram on a daily basis for anxiety etc  and some say its great..  maybe you need to speak to the doc again weary..

    jay xx

     

    • Posted

      I have an appointment with my doctor on Friday....I suspect he and I will both end up feeling frustrated, since I resist taking any of the medications he's suggested and keep looking to him for reassurance that I'm not dying...and I get frustrated because he seems so annoyed to see me...but honestly, isn't my doctor supposed to be a resource for me when I'm so worried about how I feel? I just don't know how people get through this....I'm exhausted!
    • Posted

      Hi weary

      well the doc will sort you out...

      peri is tiring, and hard, but when we learn to accept it and relax and take each day at a time it gets easier... 

      you just need abit of support at the moment and hopefully the doc can help you...  we all will too if we can ☺️

      maybe if you resist what he tries to give you, then theres not alot more he can do...  tricky one isnt it... 😥

      jay xx

    • Posted

      Thanks, Jay.....I'm so glad that I found this forum....it's been comforting to be able to talk about how I'm feeling and to realize that I'm not alone....you and the other women on here have been so helpful, even if it's just providing me a (virtual) shoulder to cry on....hugs to all
  • Posted

    Dr Google is a bad friend! I think that you are just experiencing anxiety made worse by focusing on worry about the tablets. I've had diazepam for a similar period to you and not had withdrawl symptoms. A few years ago I was prescribed Fentanyl for a pain syndrome I have and I just decided to stop them one day - I had withdrawl symptoms then and boy I knew about it. I think if you are feeling like it's your normal anxiety then it probably is. dr google isn't always right about anything so keep away! I find my anxiety is greatly lessened when I keep out of his consulting rooms! Xxx
    • Posted

      I don't know why I keep visiting Dr Google...as you point out, he's been a horrible friend to me the past year and a half....I just get so scared of the way I feel sometimes that I can't help myself....it's difficult to accept the fact that all these physical sensations are either perimenopause or anxiety (or both)....most days, I'm convinced that I have some dreadful and terminal illness...it's pure madness. The lorazepam (low dose though it is) helps take the edge off the scarier symptoms (like the heart palpitations and shakiness), but I worry that I'm going from the frying pan into the fire in terms of dependency/withdrawl....so frustrating all the way around!!!!
    • Posted

      Oh god , I completely understand. I've been to his consulting rooms loads of times and always come out with some awful illness that terrifies me for weeks. I do feel better if I resist the urge to look on the internet. 

      I think a low dose of anti anxiety drug now and again is fine. If you were craving them constantly or finding that you needed a higher dose, that would be when you would consider that you may be becoming dependent, but you are quite aware of taking them and why you are taking them, so I truly don't think that's an issue.  

      My doc once told me when I told him I was concerned about getting addicted to morphine, that being aware of the potential for that to happen, and also taking the meds for the right reasons were the best ways to ensure that dependency didn't happen xxx

  • Posted

    I think Jay's right in that you should perhaps take a low dose every day so as not to confuse the body. Our bodies seem extra sensitive during this peri time so perhaps a constant, steady approach to it is the answer. Do you know yet if it helps alleviate the anxiety symptoms? If it does, then you would want to take it every day, right, even if it's a small dose?
    • Posted

      Hi Lara....it does help with the anxiety symptoms, but I get stubborn (and anxious) about not wanting to take it....I've got myself so worried about the long-term effects that I'm not sure what's worse at this point....I'm pretty much a mess no matter what I do!! The worst part for me is that I never used to be this afraid of everything....it's very discouraging to not even recognize myself anymore.

      I ended up taking 0.25mg this afternoon and I'll probably take it again tomorrow...and I'll talk it over with my doctor on Friday. I'm also going to be starting another course of therapy, so am hoping that will help.

  • Posted

    Hi I'm the same having a terrible time at the moment I've just been given a low dose of HRT for very bad aching I also am in citalopram and I also have diazepam which I can take upto 4 times a day but when I know I need it I'm to scared to take it I also have had great difficulty taking medication prescribed I know how you feel and sympathise with you I feel the need to call the dr frequently for reassurance I'm sure there fed up with me but nothing is working hope you feel better soon
  • Posted

    Hi Wearykitty

    Your situation sounds very similar to mine, I was prescribed an AD which I felt made my anxiety worse, even tried B6 and found they also made me more anxious though that could've been coincidence.  I was at the stage where I was virtually housebound and very low due to the increasing anxiety, inner shaking, muscle twitches etc.  My GP prescribed 5mg diazepam (which is equal to 0.5 ativan) twice daily, like you I visited google scaring myself to death, and only taking them when I was really bad.  What I have since discovered is, you do need to stick to the same dose daily, when you feel better your GP will help you reduce them very slowly to avoid the nasty withdrawal symptoms. The diazepam has helped me get back to my voluntary work, I can concentrate better, not feeling so low. Please try not to google, it almost always leads us to worst case scenarions which in turn increases anxiety even more.  If the pills are helping then take them, don't be afraid, take each day at a time, you will get through this.  I also find rescue remedy helps to, the one you spray on tongue.  xx

     

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