I have severe anxiety. I am going through menopause and I take Lorazepam, 1 mg at night so I can sleep. My anxiety causes me to be terrified to try new meds, in fear of side effects and making me feel worse. Please help!!! I really want to try this, and I would love to be able to eventually stop taking Lorazepam after 11 years of being on it.
Hydroxyzine - Terrified to take my first dose?
Question posted by Dalenlaura on 25 Sep 2017
Last updated on 7 October 2018 by Desidee
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3 Answers
Desidee
7 Oct 2018
Hi , I know this has been a year since your post. How are you doing? I also suffer from menopausal anxiety and take ativan/ lorazepam. 1mg. I also have a new prescription of hydroxyzine for anxiety. This is the same medication used to relax patients before procedures like MRI, ct scan.
Inactive
25 Sep 2017
Hi Dalen: I have taken lorazepam in the past. I now take hydroxyzine per as needed for nights I have a harder time going to sleep, and when I take it, I sleep like a baby. I take the hydroxyzine hydrochloride, 10mg. tablets, one or 2 at bedtime. They really help a lot, and I like that I only have to take them as needed.
Dalenlaura
26 Sep 2017
I took my first one 25mg and it calmed me and I even got hungry for the first time since Friday! BUT it made me really dizzy. I don't do well with dizzy because I get motion sickness.
Inactive
26 Sep 2017
I only took it at bedtime to help me sleep, so I didn't experience any dizziness.
I was taking the 10mg tablet of hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Atarax). If you are taking the 25mg capsule, that would be hydroxyzine palmoate (Vistaril). They are both prescribed for anxiety and itching, as they have an antihistamine effect much like benadryl.
Dalenlaura
26 Sep 2017
I am taking a 25mg white round pill
janiebme
25 Sep 2017
Hi Dalenlaura-
You can google Hydroxyzine for a list of side effects. It is usually used for sleep and anxiety. It can be sedative. You have been taking lorazepam a long time and should get a taper schedule from your doctor. It is no easy task to quit a benzodiazepine after years of use. Talk to your doctor about how best to start one and taper the other.
Hope it all works out for you.
Dalenlaura
26 Sep 2017
Hi Janiebme,
I took my first one 25mg and it calmed me and I even got hungry for the first time since Friday! BUT it made me really dizzy. I don't do well with dizzy because I get motion sickness.
Related topics
menopausal disorders, anxiety, sleep disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, hydroxyzine, lorazepam, side effect, sleep, dosage, fear, sleep disorder
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