Ativan for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• You...
• July 8, 2016

"I take 2 mg of Ativan a day: 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg at night before bed. I have been diagnosed with severe panic attacks and depression. Lorazepam (generic brand for Ativan) does help me. Understand that the effects of any medication are going to vary from 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 hellish. Note: Anybody can be dependent on any medication/drug. Talk to your psychiatrist. Remember, everyone responds to medication differently."

• DFn...
• December 6, 2013

"Klonopin made me irritable & short with people, especially as they began wearing off. Xanax are okay but made my food taste better, so I gained some. So Ativan several days now, and it's just perfect. A little sleepy but I'll work through that."

• luc...
• February 27, 2008

"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. 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 a small prescription or samples first."

• Joh...
• October 9, 2015

"I love them. 0.5 mg when I'm shaking (getting over a fear of heights) that I got due to a sickness. Tried all others, none worked, and they had bad side effects. I take it at work and drive fine, work fine. It makes me not care about heights, bills, and stresses in life, just a very good pill. Just watch out, I have been caught twice looking at a wall for hours, smiling, not knowing it was that long, just content and happy..."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2008

"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 or anxiety attacks. I enjoy every single trip I have now."

• Ati...
• November 7, 2023

"I struggle with certain traveling experiences which flare up my anxiety, especially at bedtime. I suffer from hypnic jerks and am not able to fall asleep at all, which leads to anxiety during the day and then again at night. My doctor prescribed me Ativan, and I was very reluctant to take it after hearing all these benzodiazepine horror stories. But my mom has been on it for 25 years, so I thought, 'Don't believe everything you hear.' So I took 2mg last night, and wow, I had such a great sleep. It was amazing."

• 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."

• RyG...
• May 30, 2009

"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."

• Ner...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

"Do not hype yourself up about addiction, but do know certain people will be at risk more than others, high-stress jobs (where people's lives are on the line), addictive personality, or using these to 'solve' problems should find other ways to cope. The .05 pills are gentle, they take the edge off. Things like alcohol and opiates seem like they are WAY more addictive. I had to deal with my mom, who had a high-stress job and was HORRIBLY addicted to Xanax, almost died taking them. I refused to take benzos my whole life for that reason until I just recently needed them due to a miscarriage. Will only use them as needed (during PMS). I had absolutely NO withdrawals or odd sensations the next day after taking. Have seen what benzos do to some people. I am hoping that not to be me, nor do I get the withdrawals people say they get the next day. Everyone reacts to drugs differently. I cannot tolerate MJ, most other people can."

• Liz...
• March 15, 2016

"I took my first 1 mg 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
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 13, 2018

"I started taking Ativan when I was 18 years old due to a nervous breakdown. The doctor prescribed it to me after experiencing a full-blown panic attack that didn't seem to subside. I felt immediate relief after months of experiencing depression and anxiety attacks. Over the years, I became dependent on it (I take it 3-5 times a week). I never take it for more than two days in a row because of a bad reaction that I had about 13 years ago. The doctor says I'm SUPER sensitive to meds. Because I take it so sparingly, I have not developed tolerance, but I am dependent on this medication for my agoraphobia and panic attacks. This drug allowed me to go outside and socialize, make new friends, and hold down a job. This job allowed me to live! I don't want to become dependent on it, so I started tapering. I take .25 once or twice a week. My goal is to go off this drug completely and use it only for emergencies."

• ker...
• January 4, 2017

"I've been on/off benzodiazepines for about 20 years. I am now back on Ativan 1 mg 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."

• Win...
• February 6, 2016

"I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, along with all the other issues that come with it. Anxiety and stress easily are two of the things. Ativan over Xanax for me big time, for some reason Xanax would make my ankles swell. Then I tried Ativan, and it worked great. I put it under my tongue, and it melts under there and helps me within 15 minutes. I can go some weeks or months without ever taking it, and then if I have a bad issue with the family or a panic attack from a flare, it works fabulously. The most I've had to take it was 10 days in a row. I've had a prescription since 2004, and it's 2016. I get 30 1 mg a month. I don't use them all, but I do get a refill every couple of months just to have some on hand."

• Bos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2016

"This response is for the person whose doctor won't prescribe Ativan because it's an old drug. I went to a psychiatrist, and that's the med he prescribed for me to help me sleep through the night. It had been 3 months since I'd slept more than 6 hours, and usually it was 4 hours each night. Ambien got me to sleep but wouldn't keep me asleep. My PCP prescribed trazodone, and that was horrific. She then prescribed doxepin, and that sedated me but never put me to sleep. After 3 months of this, my PCP said for me to go to a psychiatrist to hear my symptoms and prescribe the right med. He got it spot on. By the second night, I was sleeping like a baby and able to nap during the day if I felt sleepy. I have gotten myself back. I also take Zoloft."

• zig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2013

"I had a SEVERE panic/depression episode and was contemplating suicide (didn't tell Dr. about that part though) with uncontrollable crying spells and was prescribed 2mg Ativan. It was effective within just a few minutes. I calmed down and the racing thoughts, thoughts of suicide, and other feelings went on hold long enough to compose myself. I was on these for a few weeks and it saved my life. I was already on 2mg Xanax ER at the time but it didn't touch the episode I was having at the current time. However, the Xanax ER was very effective for what it was for, I just had an episode triggered by a bad event that overrode the power of the Xanax at the time."

• pit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2012

"I lost my darling husband 5 weeks ago. My doctor gave me Lorazepam 0.5 mg. I still get upset, but I'm much better than I was. The crying and not eating was making me feel so much worse. These pills are a godsend."

• ANX...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 1, 2017

"I forgot how well this stuff works. I've been using Ativan every so often for six years. I hadn't taken it in ages, but had a panic attack tonight, and I feel really good now after taking it. I know when my anxiety was a lot worse, it didn't bring me down to 0 anxiety but took the edge off. At one point in the past, I was taking it pretty much daily but never became dependent on it (I only take the 0.5 mg dose). I do feel kind of sleepy, but pleasantly so. In my experience, the sublingual (under the tongue) type works a lot better than the normal swallowed pills."

• MM ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2013

"I used this medication thirty years ago for anxiety, and recently, I had to get another prescription for it. I have always felt near-immediate relief when taking it. I weigh over 200 pounds, and the 1 mg taken as needed gives me relief from occasional anxious or panicky feelings. I've had no other side effects, such as drowsiness, etc., even when taken in the daytime."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• July 8, 2009

"Ativan at 0.5mg works for me. No side effects. I just feel calm. My doctor gave me a prescription for 1mg but that causes drowsiness, which finds me napping and losing part of the day. So I am not going to take that strength. He said I could take the 0.5mg 2 to 3 times a day if necessary. I find twice a day is working well."

• And...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2012

"This is by far the best anxiety medication on the market for immediate help. It takes about 10 minutes to feel the effects, and it is wonderful-it's immediate relaxation. I had anxiety about 5 years ago, and Ativan cured it. Unfortunately, I have been under a lot of financial stress lately, and it started bothering me again, so my doctor put me back on them, and it has already killed the anxiety again. Definitely a miracle drug, but be careful, they are for short-term use only."

• 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."