Ativan User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Adczyk
• December 17, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I use Ativan when I experience a panic attack at the time of going to bed or when I wake up with one. I only use a quarter of a 2.5 mg. and it seems to calm me down enough to sleep. I only use it occasionally namely once in about a two week period when something happens in my life which stresses me out and causes the panic attack. It also calms me down and brings down my BP since I have a over reactive BP spike whenever I have a panic attack. It's a God sent for me :) Because of the small dosage, I never have an unwanted side effect...feel refreshed in the morning."

• Kelly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2016

For Anxiety "Ativan has been SO SO helpful for anxiety and panic attacks. It can be addicting so I try and only take it when I really need to; not more than a couple times a week. But it definitely has helped me and I would recommend it to those with bad anxiety."

• Paul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2023

For Anxiety "I am 67 years old. I was prescribed Ativan in the early 1980s. I got addicted and after 5 months was taking 12 a day instead of the prescribed 6. I threw them down the toilet then ended up at my gp with acute withdrawal symptoms. He did a six-week withdrawal plan. I lost the memory of that 6 months. I also lost a lot of my memory up to that point. As a person who has suffered memory loss and lack of emotion for the last 40 years and my life wrecked I implore people not to take this drug."

• Jake
• March 7, 2016

For Anxiety "I take 0.5-1mg for times of unmanageable anxiety or panic attacks. This happens a few times a year. Very effective medication with no side effects for me. I've been taking it since I was 26, I'm now 30."

• Ativan
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2022

For Anxiety "This is an absolute lifesaver for anxiety sufferers, I take 2mg throughout the day, half in the morning, half in the afternoon and a full one at night. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Ativan, it’s just enough to take the edge off, I still suffer with anxiety but no where near as bad as I would if I wasn’t on this. I know people say don’t take it for a long time because of how addicting it is, but to me there is no difference me taking this than an antidepressant, they're also highly addicting and once you start on them you struggle to come off them. I hate how Ativan gets given a bad name just because there’s people out there that abuse it... use it the right way and you’ll get the results that you need! Much rather be addicted to this than to be stuck on an antidepressant that I can’t come off. I also can’t take antidepressants as I have had several bad reactions to them."

• blue-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2018

For Nausea/Vomiting "Ativan is a wonderful medicine. The people that abuse it, are ruining it for everyone. I got food poisoning followed by 3 rounds of what doctors called "stomach flu." They couldn't figure out how to help me. Ativan is the only thing that helped my nausea. The stomach issues I had also caused me anxiety that I never had in my life before. Ativan helped both nausea and anxiety with zero side effects. Took Ativan for 6 weeks then switched to Klonopin to wean off. Both of those meds are far better than any other SSRI which seem to have so many side effects."

• kstew
• August 16, 2016

For Anxiety "I was super against taking medication. I've started dealing with anxiety (some depression) for awhile now. I got prescribed Ativan months ago, and never took it. I thought I could handle myself again but then my relationship started to fail because of my over thinking. I went back to the doctor, and decided to try it. She prescribed me .50 3 times a day. I took a full one at night after a bad panic attack, and within 30 minutes I was calm and slept through the entire night. I have only been taking a half morning and mid afternoon and full at night because it does make you feel tired. My brain is in a slight fog, but nothing crazy, I still know whats going on though :) Give it a try if you are suffering. You will know after 1."

• Marks...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 22, 2016

For Anxiety "I have PTSD with panic attacks. When these come on it's terrifying to say the least! I take half a tablet and about 30 mins later I am calm. It has truly been a life saver for me. Like a lot of people here I went to the ER 3 times thinking I was dying all tests revealed nothing wrong with me."

• Johnboy
• October 9, 2015

For Anxiety "I love them. .5 mg when I'm shaking (getting over a fear of heights) that I got due to a sickness. Tried all others none worked & they had bad side affects. Take it at work and drive fine, work fine. Makes me not care about heights, bills, stresses in life, just a very good pill. Just watch out have been caught twice looking at a wall for hours smiling not knowing it was that long just content and happy..."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2009

For Anxiety "I'm on 0.5mg 3 times a day. I feel great. I'm happy, calm, and back to my old self again, without anxiety flare ups. I love this medicine, and would recommend it to anyone. Personally I think this is the best benzodiazepine, take it with caution though, but if you truly need it like I do, then find a doctor willing to prescribe it. Good luck."

• MHE-MHO
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 1, 2023

"I suffer from Hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO which is a rare disabling genetic disorder, part of it is autism and extreme anxiety. The fear is so great that you feel like you are dying. After years of trying SSRIs, SRIs, SIRs, and all those psychological drugs that never worked but gave me horrendous side effects, Ativan answered my prayers. For my first dose, I was required to take half of 1 mg in the doctor's presence. I braced myself for that anxiety-inducing feeling of trying a new medication. Five minutes passed, and nothing happened. Then, instantly, I felt like someone had released me from hell. Ativan was like a release of anxiety in every cell of my body. I didn't feel sleepy, nauseous, sweaty, or unbalanced, and my heart wasn't racing. I looked at my doctor and genuinely smiled. He smiled back, and I said, "I think this is the miracle I've been looking for." I am not addicted to it. I did increase my dose to 1 mg when necessary, but some days I don't take any. I always start with half a milligram. I can confidently say that Ativan has given me my life back."

• DFnB
• December 6, 2013

For Anxiety "Klonopin made me irritable & short with people especially as they began wearing off. Xanax are ok but made my food taste better so I gained some. So Ativan several days now and its just perfect. Little sleepy but I'll work through that."

• AimeeR
• March 21, 2008

For Anxiety "After waking up from a bad dream, my BP read 185/100. I was nervous the whole day and I remembered that I was prescribed Ativan for this kind of anxiety. As prescribed (1/2 of .5 mg - as needed), I took the pill and after 15 minutes, my BP started going down - felt relaxed and had a good sleep. Wonderful!"

• Pumpel
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 2, 2019

For Anxiety "I’ve been taking Lorazapam 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 my fear of getting hooked on this. Finally gave in the other afternoon and I was my normal self that night and all 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 day one in half and see if I can do that for a few days. I do like this drug."

• Jay
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 8, 2020

For Insomnia "I have a fairly high medication resistant (or I'm allergic or develope tolerance after using meds .. yes it's been hell and still is .. I'm writing this while admitted to the hospital psych ward) I have severe insomnia and not one sleeping medication has worked for more then a week! I took ativan sublingual and was up to 8mg in a week .. and it stopped working!! Now I'm on injections at night .. it worked for 2 nights amazingly!!! I don't have withdrawal symptoms like others have described on here ... I guess for me it's a great short term solution but then I build a tolerance.. sigh!!"

• ptere...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2023

For Panic Disorder "This drug, I believe, saved my life when I was going through the darkest period of panic attacks I ever had. I was on 0.5mg as needed. What I will say is, it's not a cure-all for anxiety in general. I still had 'anxiety' while taking it. It didn't drift me off into warm cozy la-la land like anesthesia drugs do, but it did allow me to calm down and fall asleep when I needed to. I will never leave home without it as an emergency drug for future panic attacks. In smaller dosages, I also took it with CBD oil before social interactions and it just made me feel somewhat normal while sitting around with friends, talking. Whereas, if I didn't take it at all, I would start getting uncomfortable after about 5 minutes and make an excuse that I had to leave."

• Youar...
• July 8, 2016

For Anxiety "Hey Everyone, I take 2mg of Ativan a day. 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg at night before bed. I have been diagnosed with Severe Panic Attack and Depression. Lorazepam (Generic brand for Ativan) does help me. Understand that the effects for any medication is going to vary person to person. I don't get sleepy in the morning when I take it, but it does help me get a good night's sleep at night when I'm tired. Also, I do want to say: Recently, my pharmacy didn't give me the exact amount of pills of Ativan, so I have been off of it "cold turkey" because I ran out and the withdrawal symptoms can be a hellish. Note: Anybody can be dependent on any medication/drug. Talk to your Psychiatrist. REMEMBER...everyone responds to medication differently."

• PN78
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

For Anxiety "This would be my 3rd time in 14 years of getting a weeks’ worth prescription of Ativan(0.5mg). 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."

• luchele
• February 27, 2008

For Anxiety "there was a period of time when i kept going to the emergency room for chest pains and shortness of breath. my heart and everything checked out perfect. i went to the doctor and described these episodes i was having and he prescribed ativan 2mg and i have never experienced the tightness of the chest as often once i discovered i was having panic attacks. it is very helpful and not too sedative, and it might not work for everyone, if possible try small rx or samples first."

• Optia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 6, 2013

For Nausea/Vomiting "Ativan is the only drug that can stop my vomiting when I'm in the middle of a bad cycle (I have cyclical vomiting syndrome which is triggered by neurally mediated hypotension.) I've never had any nasty side effects. I just get pleasantly loopy and very sleepy which is usually a blessing after staying up all night. I don't have a prescription for it so I end up in the ER a few times a year which is when they give it to me. (By the time it's that bad, I need IV fluids anyway so...)"

• Luna
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2020

"Oh. My. God... relief. I had been suffering restlessness for four months on end and it was horrible. Respiridone and haldol made it worse, and klonopin made me suicidal. Then I started Ativan and upped my gabapentin dose(I had previously been on a higher dose and I suspected me lowering it 4 months ago is what triggered the restlessness), and it worked. I feel a bit sedated (although taking Ativan w/ the gabapentin actually relieves the brain fog/smothered feeling I used to get on higher gabapentin) and there are times during the day where I feel my inhibitions are a bit lower but compared to living a nightmaree for four months, this is bliss. I can function and do things again, and I don’t live in constant fear of the horrible restlessness that I could always feel just below the surface. I checked my chest, I don’t feel any restlessness at all. I can sit here and think about the restlessness feeling and I don’t feel it. For the first time in 4 months I’m free."

• kerry...
• January 4, 2017

For Anxiety "I've been on/off benzodiazapines for about 20 years. I am now back on ativan 1mg 3 times a day for anxiety/panic attacks and insomnia. I know I need an increase in dose soon, as it no longer relaxes me as much as it used to. I find ativan to be the best benzo. I've tried xanax, (which made me sleepwalk), valium, (which doesn't affect me really). I think I will stick to ativan and after 20 minutes, I feel a lot better. relaxed."

• RyGuy
• May 30, 2009

For Anxiety "I've had no obvious side effects except dry mouth. I had severe panic attacks (12-15 a day) before taking Ativan. I couldn't work and thought I was dying. Since I started it I have had only one full blown panic attack in 5 years."

• Lizzy...
• March 15, 2016

For Anxiety "I took my first 1mg dose recently and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. I was prescribed Ativan to take only as needed on the cusp of an anxiety attack, as I've been having a few lately. It absolutely took the sting out of the anxiety and left me feeling really chilled out, to the point of that really comfortable tiredness when you're super relaxed. I haven't felt that in a long time. I didn't have any gross side effects (except for the tiredness) and was able to enjoy the rest of my day :)"

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2008

For Anxiety "I was terrified of flying and my doctor prescribed me Ativan a day before my flight and 1 hour before my flight. It works perfect for me. Since then I don't have any panic/anxiety attack. I enjoy every single trip I have now."