Ativan for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• Mir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2017

"At the age of 29, I've developed anxiety, and it's gotten progressively worse, with me ending up in the ER for what I thought was a panic attack. After evaluating me, the doctor confirmed I'd had a panic attack and had the nurse give me an Ativan. I came to in the ER in tears, unable to control my breathing, feeling suffocated, body tingling, nauseous, face numb, the whole 9 yards. After taking the Ativan, I was feeling completely back to normal within 15 minutes, I could not believe it! They gave me a short prescription for it until I can follow up with my health care provider, and it really is such a miracle drug that calms the anxiety, allows you to think clearly, and feel relaxed."

• Sou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2014

"Loved it, love it still, but no longer allowed prescriptions due to strength and dependency issues. It was taken as needed to treat anxiety and worked relatively quickly, generally, I would feel better within ten minutes. I took one almost every day for eight weeks before going on antidepressants, and then I had to taper off them. I have kept a small amount on me for extremely bad days, though."

• Kim...
• September 12, 2014

"I have severe anxiety. It comes and goes. Sometimes I can control it, or sometimes I can't. Up to now, it has been really bad. So my doctor prescribed me Ativan. Just took it this morning. So far, it's helping, but sometimes if my anxiety gets far too worse and I take the Ativan, sometimes it takes a while for it to calm or slow down."

• EJK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2018

"Yes, it will stop panic attacks, but good luck coming off it. I was having severe anxiety after a bad spell of taking Lexapro, which made my anxiety worse and gave me constant panic attacks, so my doctor had me taking 0.5 mg three times a day. I was so grateful to have some relief that I didn't question the dose, but the more I read about dependence, the more nervous I became. I started tapering off it after only a month, and I thought I was going to die. Hallucinating, insomnia where I didn't sleep for days, couldn't keep down solid food, crippling depression, and agoraphobia... it was a nightmare, and I was contemplating checking into a hospital. I eventually transitioned to buspirone and eventually Pristiq. Such a nightmare. I can't recommend Ativan to anyone who may be sensitive to benzos."

• Owl...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 30, 2016

"Ativan is very good for anxiety. The trick is not to take it too often. I've found that I get used to dosages fast. I've also found that on the day following when I take it, I'm more tired, listless, and depressed. It's something to watch out for."

• PN7...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

"This would be my 3rd time in 14 years of getting a week's worth prescription of Ativan (0.5 mg). I never seem to take them all. Does calm anxiety, and with the low dosage, I don’t get drowsy or have any other side effects. I would suggest taking a pill only when necessary. I could see how this could become habit forming. Sometimes, you just naturally need to fight through an anxiety episode."

• Jul...
• April 21, 2017

"I am a nervous flyer, and my anxiety has been getting particularly bad, so I decided to go to my family doc and get a prescription. My doc gave me Ativan and said to take 1 mg 1 hour before the flight. I took 1 mg exactly as she told me and then another 0.5 mg midway through the flight. During the flight, I felt completely calm and at peace, which has never happened before. Highly recommend for infrequent fliers with anxiety."

• Nin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2026

"This is a total lifesaver. I take lorazepam 0.5-1mg occasionally for anxiety attacks and insomnia and it gets me calm and relaxed immediately and I can fall asleep easily. For me it's better than zopiclone for insomnia, but unfortunately it makes you dependent quickly. I can definitely recommend tho."

• Pum...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 2, 2019

"I’ve been taking lorazepam for about 15 years for sleeping. It works wonders. Six weeks ago, I went through a very stressful time, and my anxiety went through the roof. I hesitated for weeks about taking another 0.5 during the day because of my fear of getting hooked on this. Finally, I gave in the other afternoon, and I was my normal self that night and all the next day. Then, the following day, I was back to being anxious. So disappointing because I had hoped something got jarred into place. I'll try cutting the daytime one in half and see if I can do that for a few days. I do like this drug."

• Jas...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 21, 2018

"This pill has been my safety net for my severe anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and ADHD. I have been taking this pill off and on for 6 years and have never been addicted to it. I take 0.5 during the day, and it actually makes me feel like myself and sometimes even gives me more energy. This pill has been a true lifesaver."

• wor...
• October 27, 2018

"1st time sharing a story or review, but I just think this is so important to talk about and let others know. My mother is only 60 years old and has been suffering from depression and anxiety and also panic attacks for about 15 years. 3 months ago, my dad passed away, so my mom had a breakdown and ever since has been crying, complaining about pain in her chest, palpitations, suicidal thoughts. The antidepressant she is taking doesn't seem to help her at all. So we took her to the hospital because we don't know how to help her. No medication helps her, only Ativan is the medication that makes all the above go away, but the doctor doesn't want to prescribe it to her."

• Ana...
• September 11, 2009

"Ativan has a troublesome history of abuse and ignorance associated with it. People expect some magical pill to solve all their problems on a daily basis, following the advice of a doctor rather than their own body. I lead a stressful life, and sometimes there's no amount of relaxing, watching movies, etc., to get my body to calm down. I always want to get up and run, work out, etc. If used properly, it's a lifesaving medication for me. Losing my hair from stress, Gilbert's syndrome, etc., finally I am able to enjoy my life again, enjoy movies, etc. Used properly, it's a tool I wish to have at my touch at all times available. Responsibility and moderation to all."

• Ann...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2024

"Been on Ativan for years. I take 2 a day. Works great. I just called the doctor for a refill and was told by a receptionist that he wanted me to stop taking them. I was given a 2-week supply and told that's it! Devastated. I work full time and take care of a disabled husband."

• AnS...
• August 1, 2016

"I started off at 0.50 mg, then to 1 mg before bed. I had many issues going on in life, and I was having trouble falling asleep. This helped in the beginning, but my dose is going up and up. I admit, I take this more than I should, so I understand there's an addictive nature to this. Just be careful and talk to your doctor if you notice that. The best part of this drug: I get a good night's sleep, and I'm not waking up 3 times a night."

• Joh...
• February 15, 2016

"Saved my life and made my life manageable. So far superior to numerous SSRIs, SNRIs, off-label gabapentin, Serax, than any of the 10 other antidepressants I tried. Wasted 3 years of my life. May be addictive for addicts and alcohol abusers, but if taken as prescribed, I've had minimal side effects. I'm not dizzy, falling, etc."

• Can...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 19, 2017

"Hands down, the best immediate solution for anxiety or panic attacks. I prefer Ativan to other benzos, and it usually lifts my depression too, even suicidal thoughts (well, for the few hours that it works). Just be very careful not to become addicted, but this is extremely helpful as an occasional tool in stressful situations. Do not take every day for many days unless instructed to, but even then do your research."

• Bru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2018

"I highly recommend this drug. It's a miracle worker! I started having anxiety after my boyfriend and I broke up, I would cry at night and have panic attacks. I only take this drug when I need severe relief, and I'm so thankful it's available. Try it just once if you are having bad anxiety, if it's not for you, then switch. I was nervous trying this because I didn't want to feel high when going on a benzo drug. You definitely don't feel high, you just feel tired and oddly 'okay'!"

• JR1...
• February 15, 2016

"I recently started getting anxiety. It started very slow and began to get worse. I went to the hospital very anxious one day. They did all tests and, as I already knew, found nothing. I asked for something to calm me down. They gave me 1.0 mg Ativan IV. The minute the nurse pulled the needle out, I was ready to go home as if nothing happened. Slept like a baby that night. I was good for like 4 days until I started to feel anxious again. I just started Zoloft today, which takes some 1 or 2 weeks to work, and Ativan for in case I get another attack before Zoloft kicks in. For me, Ativan has been great."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2024

"Ativan is one of the benzos that really works for my severe anxiety attacks. Sometimes I need to take 1.5mg on a bad day, and sometimes I get a bit worse before the final half calms me down, and I'm back to normal, able to function for the rest of the day. You could have a miserable day or you could get back on track, I opt for the latter; life is too short. I just wish my doctor would let me have more of them without having to plead my case again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 30, 2021

"I have been on Ativan in varying dosages for a few years now. I had a terrible bout of anxiety after an illness years ago, and I was unable to eat anything for weeks due to extreme stomach pain. If I wasn’t prescribed Ativan, I don’t know if I would have survived. I don't think that benzos have such a stigma, but for those living with anxiety and all the terrible things that come along with it, it can make living so much better. At my highest anxiety, I was taking 3 mg/day. I could finally eat and get through the day without pain. When I am not having issues, I take 0.5 mg at night to sleep. If I don’t have it for more than 24 hours, I can tell because I will wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. I don’t love the fact that it is so addictive, but I don’t know where I would be without it."

• Hel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 6, 2025

"I was given Ativan when I went to the ER for a serious anxiety, which came from a situation that was going on at work. It was IV Ativan, and within a couple of minutes, I was feeling like my thoughts stopped racing, my body relaxed, and my agitation dissipated. The ER doc prescribed it for me for five days and actually wrote a recommendation for my PCP to give me a RX as needed. Well, they did, and my life on Ativan, which I only took for anxiety and panic flare-ups, was so much more satisfying, and my unhappiness at the disabling symptoms of anxiety: the chest fluttering, the feeling of doom, the overall uncomfortable intolerable feeling that my world is on fire, that I take the Ativan and the fast work of it, and I see my current situation as tolerable. Side effects: some sedation at first, but that went away over time. Nothing that was compared to my debilitating anxiety."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2012

"After several failed attempts at using SSRIs to help with my panic attacks, my Dr. prescribed me 0.5 mg of Ativan to use when needed to 'break the cycle' of panic. Along with everyone else, I'm telling you to use with caution if you are taking Ativan, because it is very addicting. I'm a 21-year-old female who has suffered from panic attacks since I was 15. Ativan is a great safety net when needed, no side effects except some small cloudiness. Use with caution and be knowledgeable. Learn what panic is, what sets you off, and how to use coping mechanisms before using medication. And always do research on what medications you are being prescribed and be the judge if this medicine, in the long term, will benefit you. Knowledge is the key to beating panic."

• BWi...
• May 30, 2013

"Though I've rated this medication an 8 (when I first started taking it, I would have rated it at 12!). I must caution anyone who uses it to use it strictly as directed by your (presumably responsible/knowledgeable psych/med doc)."

• Wen...
• January 14, 2016

"I had a stroke, and so I had to have an MRI. This is something I had feared my whole adult life (because of claustrophobia) and wondered if I would even consent to it. They gave me an Ativan, and the whole experience was easy and uneventful. It was not prescribed long-term, just for that single event. Under those circumstances, I would rate it a 10."

• ric...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 8, 2022

"I've had bouts of severe anxiety since childhood. After my mother died, I started drinking, which began making me worse. It got to the point I could barely move. My uncle took me to the doctor, and he gave me Ativan. I didn't feel the need to drink and didn't wake up with the horrible anxiety. I never took more than one a day at night and never felt the need to increase the dose, in fact, sometimes I'd cut back on it for 6 years, and then years and years of anxiety were gone. Suddenly, doctors didn't want to prescribe it anymore or had you come in and see them so much that you couldn't afford it. So all the suffering is back again because of politics. At this moment, I suffer. I had another anxiety period so bad I was crippled, they gave me the Ativan, and it took it all away in 40 minutes. I never had problems with it, never had to increase the dosage, but I am made to suffer anyway."