Ativan and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Hyp...
• March 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I was diagnosed with panic disorder at 8 years old, and when I was 13, the panic attacks became severe. My psychiatrist finally prescribed me 15 pills per month of 1 mg of Ativan. I’m now 18, and just went through a really hard time. I relapsed into severe anxiety, had to quit all my schooling. My panic attacks can last for hours, and this is the only thing that provides relief during those sleepless nights. If it weren’t for Ativan, I’d have gone to the hospital 30 times now. It is pretty easy to become dependent. I’m tapering off, went from 0.5 mg per day to 0.25 mg, to skipping days. The withdrawal symptoms are not terrible, but they’re definitely uncomfortable. I suffered vertigo, insomnia, and increased anxiety. Advice to anyone taking this medication: Never cut cold turkey. Although rare, it can cause seizures if you stop the medication suddenly. Also, it’s very easy to become dependent on it. Please be careful."

• MHE...
• 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."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2012

For Anxiety "This chills me ever so slightly. I was suffering from anxiety, feeling dizzy, and in a panic that I was really sick. It ruined my summer. I took a half of an Ativan, and it made me feel like myself again. It doesn't make you high, crazy-like, or out of it. It just makes you feel nice."

• Got...
• June 8, 2009

For Anxiety "This drug gave me my life back, seriously. I suffered a minor heart attack a couple of months ago, caused by a blocked artery. After taking a month off, I was feeling fine. However, once I went back to work, I would experience severe attacks where I had severe shortness of breath and dizziness. I also had similar attacks while driving. I ended up in the ER 3 times in 3 weeks because I thought I was having another attack. Turns out the severity of the panic/anxiety attacks was the root cause. I take one 1mg a day (2nd 1mg ONLY if necessary), and my life is back to normal."

• Slo...
• September 1, 2017

For Anxiety "For immediate relief, this drug is great. I take 0.5 mg when I absolutely need it (2-3 times every couple of months), but the only reason I wouldn't give it a 9 or 10 is because I did have a bad experience with this drug. I took it for 7 days straight, 3 times 0.5 mg per day, as prescribed by my doctor for generalized anxiety disorder. I abruptly stopped taking it because I didn't want to have to take it every day, and I ended up going through withdrawal. I then got vertigo for a couple of months, which was absolutely terrible. BUT I think if you use this drug responsibly and do NOT take it for multiple days in a row, it can definitely come in handy. I also have high blood pressure caused by anxiety, and usually get effective relief after about 30 minutes. Hang in there!"

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2012

For Anxiety "I've been taking Ativan for almost 4 years now. I take 0.5 mg 2-4 times a day, depending on how my day is going. It works very well for me. When I start feeling anxiety, I start getting gaggy, and I take a pill, and within 15-20 minutes, I am calm. The only side effect I had was a little dizzy the first time taking it and sleepy, but it went away after the first day. My only problem now is I have social anxiety, and it doesn't help with that. I give this medicine a 10."

• Vic...
• March 19, 2016

For Anxiety "I take Ativan for panic attacks caused by loud noises or medical tests and the dentist. It is very effective within 30 minutes. It makes me sleepy and relaxed. I get off balance and dizzy, so I usually need help walking. It is a great medication for panic attacks."

• Vic...
• March 19, 2016

For Anxiety "I take Ativan for panic attacks caused by loud noises or medical tests and the dentist. It is very effective within 30 minutes. It makes me sleepy and relaxed. I get off balance and dizzy, so I usually need help walking. It is a great medication for panic attacks."

• DKa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 4, 2019

"I have been taking 0.05 mg for nearly twenty years for my inner ear condition called Meniere’s disease. I would suffer with debilitating dizziness (vertigo) to the point that I would have to roll out of bed to the floor and crawl to get to the restroom or any other place in my house. If I stood up, I would fall over. Ativan has given me my life back. It is a miracle drug for me. A couple of years ago, I had a mental breakdown due to extreme stress from my job, loss of parents, and a son. This made my Meniere’s worse, and I was put on 1 mg. This was the only thing that helped me function until an antidepressant (Wellbutrin) kicked in. I am now back on the 0.5 dose, 1 daily in the morning, and able to live a very normal life. I am very thankful for this medication."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2023

For Anxiety "The only word I can use to describe how I feel after taking only 0.25 mg of Ativan is 'weird.' It has ramped up my anxiety, but I still feel a calming sensation on top of it. It's making focusing harder, and I'm a bit uncoordinated. I expected some side effects, but I definitely didn't expect it to make my anxiety worse. It's really unpleasant."

• diz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For Light Anesthesia "I was prescribed 2 mg Ativan to take 2 hours before a dentist appointment (I’m a 110 lb woman). I took it 2 hours prior, and within a half hour, the whole room was spinning, and I was getting nauseous. I was only not dizzy if I was laying down. It seemed like an impossible task to walk to the car and be driven to the dentist and endure an appointment in that state. I stayed home and immediately fell asleep for 5 hours. I felt nauseous upon waking, and it got better after eating a small amount of bland food. It is now evening, and I feel better, just very groggy and a little slow feeling. I would rather endure the dentist appointment than go through this again."

• TH1...
• June 26, 2016

For Anxiety "Do your research before taking! Consult with your doctor, but also be aware of the side effects involved. Symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, slowed speech, muscle spasms, twitching/fidgeting, and nightmares. Not for everyone."

• Wor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 24, 2018

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Ativan 1 mg every 4 to 6 hours approximately 6 years ago. This was given to me by my primary care physician as I was randomly shaking and feeling sick without provocation. I am so confused by this drug. You see, the withdrawals are the same as the symptoms it was prescribed for. I fear I am addicted to it. I work every day and am a functional person, could I be addicted to this med? I try to wean off, but it doesn't work. I feel dizzy, sick, and shaky every time I try. This is an awful feeling. I wish I never needed it."

• xdo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 16, 2022

For Panic Disorder "I have very severe anxiety and panic attacks 24/7. It never goes away, and I’m too scared to take antidepressants. I also have a phobia of vomiting, fainting, and having a panic attack, haha. I also have 24/7 dizziness. I’ve only ever taken 0.5 mg of Ativan (under tongue) a few times when I was having a panic attack or when I had to go to the dentist. It made me feel almost more anxious when I left my dentist appointment, and I thought I was going to have a panic attack. That was a little over an hour after taking it. The other times I took it, it worked and didn’t peak my panic attack, but made me feel groggy and more anxious when it wore off. For me, any benzo is a hit or miss, and I never know if it’s going to work this time or not."

• Chi...
• November 16, 2007

For Anxiety "I have an intense fear of going to the dentist, so they prescribed Ativan to me. It didn't do a single thing. I dissolved it under my tongue, as instructed by the pharmacist's note. Half an hour later, nothing. An hour later, nothing. Even now, 8.5 hours after taking it, nothing. It didn't work on me. I was quite upset. The only thing it did was make my cheeks feel slightly poofier than usual. And maybe dizzy once while walking down some stairs a few hours ago."

• Ler...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2021

For Anxiety "It didn't work for anxiety at all. It didn't make me feel calm, but anxious. I felt nauseous, dizzy, itchy, and couldn't sleep. It literally did nothing but side effects."