My old Dr switched me from ativan to xanax with no step down or anything in between the two and a lower Mg and dosage of the xanax. I am having awful side effects now which are shaking,panic/anxiety attacks,cant sleep,nausea and headaches. I am new to this town and dont have a regular dr or anything. I dont know how long these will last, or what to do. Can anyone help me?
My Dr switched me from Ativan to Xanax with no step down process?
- Posted:
- 8 Sep 2010 by Cafelecat
- Topics:
- ativan, xanax, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, side effect, dosage
Details:
Responses (2)
jk139 Sep 2010
I'm not sure what to tell you except to find a doctor / psychiatrist as soon as you can. Regardless as to how far away you are from your other doctor, it couldn't hurt to give that doc a call as well. It is possible to fax over a new prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. The last doc left you with a problem, and that doc really should stabilize your situation by the minimum. For whatever it's worth, Xanax is typically considered to be twice as strong as Ativan, so that might explain part of the logic. But even so, I tried switching from Klonopin to Xanax XR at an equivalent strength, and had awful withdrawals. I called my doc, and he switched me right back (and we're in the same town, didn't actually have to go in for an appointment). The Xanax is great for allot of people, however, it just wasn't for me, and apparently you either. We both didn't really want to go to a higher dosage of Xanax, so it was just a no go. Good luck, and I hope that this is of some help to you!
Jeff K
Anonymous 10 Oct 2011
isnt it that atavan and xanax are used for the same thing, panick attacks and anxiety, you ought to find a dr that will be able to honestly see your records and that you will be honest with him/her and tell her your dilema with panic and anxiety. but i believe its for the same thing so you could be experiencing some other side affects cause xanax is long acting considered to atavan rite? but dont quote me on that
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John thank you very much for your answer. I went to a regular dr cause I dont have a psychiatrst here yet. She was very nice and gave me a med called visterial but did keep me on the xanax but increase the dose(I was am on the lowest mg and we are trying to find me a Psych dr here. I think I am going to stop the benzos and trying something called buspar for the panic anxiety. Its not suppose to be as addicting as those others. Ive just had too many problems with them And you are very right the side effect of not being slowly tapered off the Ativan are just awful. Thank you for your help
Cat