Ativan and Nausea: What Users Say

• 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
• March 18, 2012

For Nausea/Vomiting "This is amazing! It helps so many things. But the 3 main ones are nausea, insomnia, and panic disorder. I also have fibromyalgia. I do try to keep the dosage as low as I can. I am prescribed a 1 mg pill 4 times a day. I take 2 of those at bedtime with a muscle relaxer, and I sleep all the way through the night. I try to keep it to only 3 pills a day. I also take 60 mg of Cymbalta a day. Combined with the Ativan, it keeps me and my husband sane. I also do yoga 2 to 3 times a week and walk. Exercise is a must with fibromyalgia."

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

For Anxiety "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."

• Mic...
• June 24, 2020

For Panic Disorder "Medication works great and how it is supposed to. I was on generic lorazepam and would find the quality would differ based on manufacturer and it wouldn’t affect me. After switching to brand, the effects are more consistent and it seems so much more potent. It was a fight getting my insurance to completely cover it, but it was worth it. 0.5 mg, and I’m so tired and don’t have any anxiety to worry about. Calms my panic and helps with nausea quite a bit."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2014

For Panic Disorder "Ostensibly prescribed for Meniere's and vertigo, it had a huge impact on my panic episodes and anxiety, only slightly less effective than Xanax, but slightly longer lasting. Also, was a smooth, warm feeling taking it. The downside after a month's use, after a week of nothing, the nausea and vomiting kicked in heavy, so I shy away from this one... That time delay of withdrawal was awkward in public places. Still, if I were to ask for an adjuvant, I'd pick Ativan over the more powerful Xanax."

• Ran...
• March 24, 2009

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was completely non-functional as a result of persistent nausea (which seemed to be somewhat stress-related). A combination of therapy with Ativan, Phenergan, and Reglan has allowed me to resume somewhat of a normal life."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2018

For Anxiety "Got on this after a nervous breakdown due to my mom nearly dying and my job announcing they were closing. I started having my heart skip beats, which sent me spiraling into about two weeks of severe insomnia, depression, and panic. When I went to my doctor in tears, he prescribed me Ativan. That night I finally slept, and I kept taking 0.5 mg for a week. I then began to improve, so I began to taper to 0.25 mg, and on the second day on it, I had withdrawal symptoms of a headache, panic, and nausea. The symptoms lasted 2 days and have finally subsided. I plan to taper again after another week. This medicine works wonders, but you need to have an exit strategy fast."

• 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."

• FoZ...
• June 14, 2017

For Anxiety "I've been using Ativan for anxiety and insomnia for the last 5 or so years. Lately, I have been having side effects after taking only 1-2 pills at night for sleep. It does help me fall asleep, but the next day I wake up nauseous. And I'm nauseous all day. Another weird side effect that it seems no one else has experienced is that my skin feels weird, like my fingers feel like there is a coating on them... It's hard to describe, but it happens every time I take Ativan. I get no side effects like this from Valium or Xanax. I hope my doctor will switch for me."

• Kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2017

For Status Epilepticus "This med works well for calming my head after a seizure(s). I have partial seizures. Started using it 2 years ago, 'as needed.' Recently, I'm attempting to discontinue any use of this medicine. My dosage is only 0.5 sublingual. The withdrawal symptoms are absolutely brutal. It's a low dose. I'm not sure if my sensitivity to medication and time taken affect the detox. I didn't expect the nightmares, nausea, exhaustion, fuzzy head. I am glad this med helped when needed, but can say, I'll never return to using it."

• rav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

For Panic Disorder "I've had panic disorder for six years, and when I finally convinced my doctor that there was something wrong with me and got a prescription, I was really hopeful! The first time I used it, it worked relatively well. However, I woke up nauseous and groggy, and since nausea is my trigger, I decided that I'd only take it if it was ABSOLUTELY necessary. After two months of going without it, I found myself in one of the worst series of panic attacks I've gone through while not at home. My prescribed dosage didn't do anything, I was taking a high dose, and it didn't do anything. At that point, I stopped and rode it out for another four hours. When I woke up the next morning, feeling the same groggy and nauseous feeling I'd had last time, but worse. Not sure if that was the residue of the panic or not? The same thing happened a week ago, and again it didn't work, but still left me feeling gross the next day. Maybe it just doesn't work for me?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "Don't you believe it! I was admitted to the hospital for colitis. They gave me every nausea medicine, and it didn't work, then they gave me Ativan. It didn't work either. The only reason they gave it to me was by then they thought my complaint was psychosomatic and wanted to prove me a liar by showing that Ativan stopped my symptoms, so my complaints were not real, only anxiety. Useless drug, Ativan. Don't use it."

• 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."

• rob...
• January 10, 2009

For Nausea/Vomiting "Great for anxiety. Not great alone for nausea. Works well with other drugs like Zofran, though. Helps take the 'panic' out of being sick."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have anxiety-related nausea and loss of appetite constantly and found that Ativan is the only thing that helps. The problem is, it can be addictive, so I only allow myself 0.5 mg every second day."