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#35604 - 09/23/03 05:34 PM Ativan - Lorazepam
nihil nihil Journeyman Registered: 09/15/03 Posts: 70 Loc: New England	Recently, I was at the hospital for a panic attack I suffered and (two nurses later and after a very long wait) the physician finally saw me and prescribed me some lorazepam (ativan) in case I had another occurance that night or in the near future. I'd told one of the nurses I had met with that I had another anxiety disorder (social anxiety) so the doctot knew. He told me that the lorazepam would not only work to quell my panic but also the anxiety as well (since they are both related to each other). He also said that when I took a pill it would feel like I had "drunk three beers." The thing is, though, that since I've used the lorazepam I haven't felt a major decrease in my anxiety, even when I've taken as much as 3mg (three pills). I also didn't feel like I had drunk three beers (more like half a beer after I took 2mg of lorazepam and 60mg of dihydrocodeine). So I'm wondering how good lorazepam is supposed to work for social anxiety? I know there are much better benzodiazepines for social anxiety (klonopin, valium, xanax) but I'm wondering about ativan, since that is all I have at the moment. Edited by Melody (03/03/04 03:10 PM)
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#35605 - 09/24/03 04:39 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
pescado1 pescado1 Journeyman Registered: 07/22/03 Posts: 86 Loc: The Southwest	I have both general panic disorder and agoraphobia (social aniety). I take Ativan at the first sign of a panic attack and for me it has been a life saver. My doctor gives me 60 a month of the 1mg ones. This is plenty enough since I do not take them daily. However, they are adicting so do not take them daily or for preventitive reasons, only take them when a panic attack occurs. If 1mg does not work I feel fine taking up to 3mg at once. Just my thoughts. _________________________ "One man gathers what another man spills"
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#35606 - 09/24/03 04:57 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
drewsmerdel drewsmerdel Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/14/01 Posts: 1137 Loc: Nap Town	Have you ruled out all and any medical conditions? JMO, but I would make sure it isnt something else, and several physicial conditions can appear on the surface as a panic disorder, or even social phobias. Most docs dont want to perscribe valium, or xanax, due to the euphoria it delivers. Ativan and klonopin were developed to not be "habit forming", in other words they dont give(most) people that "high" feeling. You shouldnt have a problem getting a doc to try you on klonopin, they may be hesitant to try Alprazolam or Diazapam. Just keep in mind the half life on klonopin is a nasty one, also remeber that there is no benzo that you will not build a tolerance for. Eventually all social phobias I have dealt with are best treated in 2 parts 1. proper medication and 2. Behavior modificiation(behaviroal science). Good luck Drew _________________________ Are you hungry? Are you sick? Are you begging for a break? Are you sweet? Are you fresh? Are you strung up by the wrists?
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#35607 - 09/24/03 05:13 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
Trampy Trampy GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 04/02/02 Posts: 3178 Loc: Southwest U.S.	I think that the main drawback of using short-lived benzos (like Ativan and Xanax) for a chronic anxiety problem on an as-needed basis is that the person often develops anticipatory anxiety, worries about not having pills with them at all times, and has to suffer while waiting the time it takes for the pill to take effect. That's why i like Klonopin better. If you chew them both up, a Klonopin will take effect almost as fast as an Ativan. The main difference is that the Klonopin lasts so long that it's hard to notice it wearing off. A psychiatrist had no problem switching me from lorazepam to clonazepam when i explained how depending on lorazepam for relief actually caused me to have anxiety. It's been three years now and i've never felt the need to increase the clonazepam's daily dose. It's for daily use, day after day. But after a week i stopped feeling any effect from it besides the absence of anxiety. The first week it was sedating. That went away. It's nothing like having a beer, not even a sip. I prefer not feeling drugged and can do mental work with no problem. That would be impossible on some other benzos. Your mileage my vary from mine. Find a good doctor. There are some out there. Trampy _________________________ Vote Libertarian if you want freedom. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
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#35608 - 09/25/03 12:19 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
nihil nihil Journeyman Registered: 09/15/03 Posts: 70 Loc: New England	Quote: Have you ruled out all and any medical conditions? JMO, but I would make sure it isnt something else, and several physicial conditions can appear on the surface as a panic disorder, or even social phobias. There's really nothing else it could be. I have all the symptoms and I fit the description perfectly. I'd also say my social anxiety is pretty acute as it has resulted in me becoming extremely withdrawn from society and avoidant of any sort of social gatherings. Quote: You shouldnt have a problem getting a doc to try you on klonopin, they may be hesitant to try Alprazolam or Diazapam. That's the funny thing. My psychiatrist hasn't ever prescribed me benzodiazepines. I've been going there for almost a year now and all they give me is a new SSRI when I tell them the one before didn't work. Considering that I've been told by other people with social anxiety that they've been prescribed benzodiazepines (along with an SSRI or other augmentation med) from their first visits with their psychiatrists, I'm beginning to think that they are giving me faulty meds to keep me coming back just to take my money.
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#35609 - 09/25/03 04:31 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
pescado1 pescado1 Journeyman Registered: 07/22/03 Posts: 86 Loc: The Southwest	nihil, I can't believe that your doctor would not give you some sort of benzo at least until the SSRI has a chance to kick in. I didn't even ask my doctor about Ativan he just gave me the prescription for that and zoloft and every month I get the scripts renewed. Personally I haven't noticed the Zoloft working any wonders (I take 50mgs a day) and I still get panic attacks. Are you treated by a psyciatrist or a general physician? _________________________ "One man gathers what another man spills"
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#35610 - 09/25/03 04:53 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
neonsign2003 neonsign2003 Veteran Registered: 12/26/02 Posts: 574 Loc: midwest	YOU NEED TO TELL YOU DOCTOR "THE MEDS ARE NOT WORKING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TO ABOUT IT?" BE SPECIFIC AND TELL THE DOCTOR WHY YOU NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM/HER AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A NEW DOCTOR. THEN SIT BACK AND LET HIM TALK. IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, GET A NEW DOCTOR. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED HOW THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION CHANGE THEIR TUNE ONCE THEY REALLY KNOW THAT IT IS YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN HEALTH ISSUES.........IT WORKS!
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#35611 - 09/25/03 05:10 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
Reel_X_4U Reel_X_4U Enthusiast Registered: 04/24/03 Posts: 263 Loc: Queens, New York City	From my experience, Ativan to me is a weak benzo, it right there with Serax and Librium. It's more frequently used with the elderly, who don't "REELLY" require a strong benzo like "Valium" (My Favorite) or "Xanax". Your experience sounds similiar to mine, just a slight anti-anxiety effect with no "REELLY" sedating qualities or attributes attached to it. That's why the docs prescribe it so readily, he knew it wouldn't much for you and no one is going to notice a script of Ativan, like they would if it was was for "Valium" or "Xanax". Sorry dude, that's why I always stick with stronger benzos, you get more bang for your buck. Good Luck on your next try!! _________________________ Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!! Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!! I've dreamt of things that never were, and say "WHY NOT"!!
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#35612 - 09/25/03 05:44 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
plotinus plotinus Board Addict Registered: 09/16/03 Posts: 358 Loc: California	Neither I nor anyone I've personally talked to about it has ever reported any benefits from SSRI's when used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. I'm willing to be corrected, if we have some DBers who have had good results with SSRI's. To sum it up, I think Trampy's analysis is dead on. And I'd be very suspicious of any doc treating anxiety/panic conditions with an SSRI, who won't atleast give you enough (ideally) klonopin to give the SSRI 3-4 weeks to take effect. I know a few people who have had good luck with Remeron, but personally I think it is too insanely sedating. Effexor XR in the AM and Rivotril/Clonazepam/Klonopin in the evening are a very effective combination for me. Don't think Effexor without the Klonopin would be effective, as Effexor can wind you up pretty tight. Suspect Wellbutrin SR ith Klonopin might work similarly to Effexor XR, though unlike Effexor XR, Wellbutrin SR is not actually approved for treating GAD. But Wellbutrin seems to have fewer sexual side-effects. Unfortunately many of you, including the mods, have been less impressed by some of my posts written after washing down my PM Klonopin with a shot of vodka, then forcing myself to stay awake, because I was feeling so f'ing brilliant. Take comfort in the fact that there are many parallel universes where I'm sober (and maybe you aren't) _________________________ "Reality is an illusion; albeit a persistent one." -- Albert Einstein
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#35613 - 09/26/03 05:53 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
nihil nihil Journeyman Registered: 09/15/03 Posts: 70 Loc: New England	Quote: Are you treated by a psyciatrist or a general physician? I'm treated by a psychiatrist and/or the clinician at the psychiatric place I go to. But if they continue giving me SSRI's then I'll take neonsign's advice and just go to another psychiatrist. Since they put me in a "med group" I've been growing more and more weary of that place. Considering that they know I have social anxiety I have no idea why the hell they put me there. Having me sit in a cramped room with 10-12 people and having my appointment in front of them all doesn't exactly do me any good. Quote: I know a few people who have had good luck with Remeron, but personally I think it is too insanely sedating. They recently gave me remeron and you're definitely right about it being insanely sedating. Once I woke up from a 8+ hour sleep, took 15mg of remeron, and then within 15 minutes felt as though I hadn't slept for about a day. I had to keep walking in order not to fall asleep but eventually I gave in. When I woke up about 6 hours later, I wasn't tired initially. But then after about an hour I started getting tired again. Quote: Effexor XR in the AM and Rivotril/Clonazepam/Klonopin in the evening are a very effective combination for me. Don't think Effexor without the Klonopin would be effective, as Effexor can wind you up pretty tight. I used to take Effexor. Out of all the SSRI's I ever took it was the best (even though technically Effexor is not a SSRI but a SNRI). It slightly-moderately chipped away at my anxiety every time I increased the dose (and then stop working). But eventually it stopped working completely for me. That's when I tried to go off of it and went through one of the worst withdrawals of my life (and I was tapering, mind you). I've had more pleasant opiate withdrawals...
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#35614 - 10/15/03 06:31 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
nihil nihil Journeyman Registered: 09/15/03 Posts: 70 Loc: New England	Great...I just returned from my psychiatrist after telling him I wanted to change my SSRI-based medication to a different class (preferably benzodiazepines) and the b,astard denied me this. Now what was worse about all of this was that he was PRESCRIBING AMPHETAMINES, STRONG OPIATE ANALGESICS (AMONG THEM METHADONE), AND OTHER BENZOS to other patients right in front of me. He agreed to switch me to some non-SSRI medication, tofranil, but I don't expect it to do s,hit. And I'm real f,ucking pissed off about all of this.
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#35615 - 10/15/03 06:47 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
neonsign2003 neonsign2003 Veteran Registered: 12/26/02 Posts: 574 Loc: midwest	Tell the "DOCTOR" you are dumping him. tell him you want ALL you records INCLUDING all psyco-thearpy notes he wrote. Then read what the doctor wrote about you, locate another doctor ( don't tell him about the records) and I bet you will be posting more postive mail in a short while. I know exactly how you feel because I have been there, many times. good luck!!!
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#35616 - 10/15/03 07:19 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
prettyday prettyday GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 02/09/03 Posts: 1860 Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub	Me! I am cautiously back on Prozac, the granddaddy of em all and I feel a little calmer.....but I am probably in the minority! He did also give me ativan, but I don't notice it and forget to take it....maybe that means it is working...who knows? Edited by prettyday (10/15/03 07:23 PM) _________________________ -The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of great moral crises maintain their neutrality. -Dante
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#35617 - 10/15/03 08:07 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
nihil nihil Journeyman Registered: 09/15/03 Posts: 70 Loc: New England	Thanks for the advice, neosign. That is EXACTLY what I'm going to do and VERY soon. It's one thing to search for the "right" medicine for several months, but it's a totally different thing for a corrupt "psychiatrist" to have the nerve to lie to my face and tell me that benzodiazepines generally don't help for social anxiety (that is what he actually told me!) and then prescribe me old tricyclic anti-depressants which have been proven to be totally ineffective for this particular ailment.
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#35618 - 10/16/03 05:07 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
bill2002 bill2002 Member Registered: 10/30/02 Posts: 105 Loc: washington dc area	dude, one of the main purposes of diazapam is for the treatment of social anxiety, nerves, muscle spasms. Its all right there in the PDR. You need to find a new doctor. Good luck, you deserve better
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#35619 - 10/16/03 07:37 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
Opie_Yates Opie_Yates Veteran Registered: 08/11/03 Posts: 712 Loc: Out the Doghouse's Back Door	Quote: Thanks for the advice, neosign. That is EXACTLY what I'm going to do and VERY soon. It's one thing to search for the "right" medicine for several months, but it's a totally different thing for a corrupt "psychiatrist" to have the nerve to lie to my face and tell me that benzodiazepines generally don't help for social anxiety (that is what he actually told me!) and then prescribe me old tricyclic anti-depressants which have been proven to be totally ineffective for this particular ailment. In my opinion, there is one trycyclic that is good for one thing only, and that is Elavil for fibro related sleep disorders...and even that makes you gain weight. Tricyclics....UGGHHH!! _________________________ ******YES! DEFINITELY VOTE IN '08!******
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#35620 - 10/16/03 10:22 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
Skylark Skylark Member Registered: 09/01/03 Posts: 114 Loc: California	Quote: dude, one of the main purposes of diazapam is for the treatment of social anxiety, nerves, muscle spasms. Its all right there in the PDR. You need to find a new doctor. Good luck, you deserve better I wholeheartedly agree. I dumped my last psych for under prescribing me and not listening to my needs. They are there to HELP you!! Not make your life worse...which is why I have a new psych, LOL. My last one, well, y'all saw the post about him. Good luck!! Skylark _________________________ "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"....-E. Roosevelt
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#35621 - 05/28/04 11:03 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
keystone keystone Veteran Registered: 09/05/02 Posts: 686 Loc: Arizona, USA	[image]http://balder.prohosting.com/~agpa/home/ativan.htm[/image] Attachments Description:
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#35622 - 11/01/04 10:21 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
stevesmith stevesmith Registered: 10/01/04 Posts: 431 Loc: Southern	Quote: YOU NEED TO TELL YOU DOCTOR "THE MEDS ARE NOT WORKING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TO ABOUT IT?" BE SPECIFIC AND TELL THE DOCTOR WHY YOU NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM/HER AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A NEW DOCTOR. THEN SIT BACK AND LET HIM TALK. IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, GET A NEW DOCTOR. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED HOW THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION CHANGE THEIR TUNE ONCE THEY REALLY KNOW THAT IT IS YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN HEALTH ISSUES.........IT WORKS! I AGREE 10000000%% . my dr. had me on Zoloft, paxil, wellbutrin, and tons of others for years, so many pills i cant remember. I finaly walked in his office and told him I had tried Valium and it worked for me. I told him I could order it off the internet and leave him outta the whole thing. He promptly wrote me a script for Valium. _________________________ PPL don't argue over ideas or possible solutions, but instead argue to assert their egos and release frustration. Once U realize this, U will neither argue nor take arguments seriously
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#35623 - 11/01/04 11:14 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
voyager voyager Pooh-Bah Registered: 04/17/03 Posts: 1090 Loc: United States Virgin Islands	BE GLAD your doc does not prescribe benzo's. They are best used for SHORT TERM MANAGEMENT of anxiety only. You don't want to turn yourself into an ADDICT. Caring Doctors Wouldn't do a AWFUL thing like that. That is the Big BEEF against OP's. There is no close supervision of the patient which is important if you want to avoid DRUG ADDICTION. If anyone in your family has ever been addicted to any substance at all you could understand where i am comng from. Do your best to stick with meds like Effexor XR for LONG TERM treatment of anxiety. They work FAR better but in order to give them an honest chance you have to try them for at LEAST 2 months. Good luck and CHOOSE WISELY, voyager
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#35624 - 03/06/05 04:17 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
svene83 svene83 Journeyman Registered: 01/10/02 Posts: 66 Loc: City: Happiness, State of Mind	I have been buying Wyeth 2mg Ativans that have been arriving in blister packs: color- yellow. My supplier recently was forced to switch HIS venor in Mexico to another one (I suppose -based on the UPS tracking info.) from Canada: color - peach. Is the fact that I don't think the peach colored ones are as strong as the yellow one's all in my Mind? They are both Wyeth products, state the same drug, same mg. dosage. I don't "get" it? and am trying to decide whether to stick with him or not. Anyone had a similar experience? _________________________ "Time is fun when you are having flies: said the frog."
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#35625 - 03/10/05 07:14 PM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
kentuckyboi kentuckyboi Stranger Registered: 03/02/05 Posts: 3	Hey Svene83, I'm glad I finally found someone that has some yellow Lorazepam too. I did a seach on the internet for yellow Lorazepam and never found any info on them. I bought some yellow 2mg Lorazepam tablet online like a year ago.I'm 99.9% sure they came from mexico becuase of the stamps on the envelope. When I got them I was so scared that they were counterfeit. And Lorazepam was spelled Lorazapam too. I guess that's the way they spell it over there.
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#35626 - 05/07/05 08:38 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
lap1026 lap1026 Member Registered: 02/10/05 Posts: 128	Quote: Quote: Have you ruled out all and any medical conditions? JMO, but I would make sure it isnt something else, and several physicial conditions can appear on the surface as a panic disorder, or even social phobias. There's really nothing else it could be. I have all the symptoms and I fit the description perfectly. I'd also say my social anxiety is pretty acute as it has resulted in me becoming extremely withdrawn from society and avoidant of any sort of social gatherings. Quote: You shouldnt have a problem getting a doc to try you on klonopin, they may be hesitant to try Alprazolam or Diazapam. That's the funny thing. My psychiatrist hasn't ever prescribed me benzodiazepines. I've been going there for almost a year now and all they give me is a new SSRI when I tell them the one before didn't work. Considering that I've been told by other people with social anxiety that they've been prescribed benzodiazepines (along with an SSRI or other augmentation med) from their first visits with their psychiatrists, I'm beginning to think that they are giving me faulty meds to keep me coming back just to take my money. Hi ANXIETY FRIENDS, I've been going through this since 1988. By 1997 I got help. If the Doctor you see now will not give you a benzo...get another doctor. There was maybe one that treated me like your doctor treats you....the others I've had treating me prescribe an SSRI and Serax or klonopin. No one gives Val or Xanax that I've found but the others do help quite a bit even if they are mild. I sympathize with you and all the rest of us who have to live with this frightening feeling each day. Best of luck, look for a new PSYCHIATRIST!
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#35627 - 05/07/05 08:50 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
lap1026 lap1026 Member Registered: 02/10/05 Posts: 128	Quote: Hey Svene83, I'm glad I finally found someone that has some yellow Lorazepam too. I did a seach on the internet for yellow Lorazepam and never found any info on them. I bought some yellow 2mg Lorazepam tablet online like a year ago.I'm 99.9% sure they came from mexico becuase of the stamps on the envelope. When I got them I was so scared that they were counterfeit. And Lorazepam was spelled Lorazapam too. I guess that's the way they spell it over there. But were they counterfeit or did they work for, that is THE QUESTION!
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#35628 - 05/07/05 09:10 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
lap1026 lap1026 Member Registered: 02/10/05 Posts: 128	Voyager, I truly understand your stance against Benzos and under normal conditions you are quite right, but if you had to live, day in and day out with Agoraphobia, Anxiety attacks and Panic attacks, I believe you would begin to feel differently. I, myself, have had to live periodically in a hooror movie since 1988. Without my two combos of meds, one being a benzo, I would not be here anymore...BY CHOICE! You are right, they are addictive and noone wants to live with that but desperate situations sometimes call for desperate measures!
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#35629 - 05/07/05 09:15 AM Re: Ativan - Lorazepam
Tylertoo Tylertoo Board Addict Registered: 01/11/05 Posts: 360	Hi Nihil, i'm very sorry to hear that your doctor did not give you the help you needed. I'm in complete agreement with Trampy on this one ~ my old doctor had me on Ativan, 2 mg, 3X a day, and it actually ended up causing me MORE anxiety as my tolerance increased. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, agoraphobia, and Panic Disorder. Fortunately, my new doctor decided to switch me from the Ativan (Lorazepam)to Klonopin. I can't believe the difference. Apparentely, this is a much better medication for people like me who need an anti-anxiety med in their systems all the time, rather than taking a fast-acting, short-life benzo. I just take my 2 mg Klonopin in the morning and am good for the day, then one at night. There's absolutely no feeling of euphoria or "being high" - it just controls the anxiety the way it's supposed to, and since being on it i've never felt a need to increase the dosage. It works wonders for me, and i'm very grateful to be off the Ativan cycle! Sorry for long post - just wanted to let you know, i was able to find a new doctor who understood what i needed and had no problem prescribing the Klonopin. I hope you are able to find a doctor who will do the same. Best of luck to you!
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#35630 - 05/29/05 06:11 AM Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety?
archie archie Stranger Registered: 04/30/04 Posts: 3	HI Benzo's are nuch harder to come off than any of the other meds u mentioned. IF I was a doctor I would rarely prescribe benzos, and never for more than a month. Also, while a drug will relive the symptoms, it is not acting on the source of your anxiety. This may be due to an imbalance in brain chemicals, and throwing a Benzo into the picture may have a bad effect in the long term, while providing relief in short term. Try Cardinol/Proprananol. It mutes the physical feelings associated with anxiety, meaning if we don't feel anxious, then we arent. Also another point to ponder is, Anxiety/social disfunction can be a precursor to or symptm of depression, and Benzo's have a negative action on depression and will interfere with your anti-depresant medication, as they cause depression. Cheers Graham
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