Ativan and Sleepy: What Users Say

• Mni...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2020

For Anxiety "Has gotten me through many sleepless nights and panic attacks. I only take it if I absolutely need to, to help me at night time when my anxiety is at its worst and only a dose of 0.5 mg. It almost always makes me sleepy and helps me sleep, and normally I don't feel too groggy the next day."

• 732...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 1, 2025

For Anxiety "I give this anxiety medication 50 out to 500,000,000 trillion percent. I had Ativan before multiple times back when the pandemic happened. I was in the hospital getting over an infection. My anxiety had gotten worse, so I had asked them to give me something that would help me calm down but doesn’t make me sleepy at all because I wanted to be awake and alert at all times. Once I got on that medication at the hospital, my life had changed drastically because of that medication. I had used it again at the same hospital last year, and it had helped me so much that I had asked my family doctor to prescribe it to me as my new PRN medication if my anxiety gets really bad again. I want to say that if anyone has anxiety, get this medication, it would help people a lot. I have other types of medications to help with my chronic illnesses, so I have to be extra careful and cautious about how much I’m able to take this type of anxiety medication."

• Mah...
• November 2, 2016

For Anxiety "I am on Lexapro since I was 16, so for the past basically five years, I've struggled with anxiety. My doctor decided about three weeks ago to give me Ativan as a 'break the glass kind of emergency' immediate anxiety relief. I've only used it twice since then and I don't know how to describe this medicine other than quiet. It makes everything so quiet, and for someone with anxiety, it's a miracle. I've learned what the onset of an attack looks like, and by taking this medicine within thirty minutes, I am calm, collected, and have completely avoided what might have been a mental breakdown. Honestly, this drug is such a lifesaver. It does make you a little sleepy, but nothing at all unbearable. I can take it any time of the day. It's amazing."

• 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."

• DFn...
• December 6, 2013

For Anxiety "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."

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

For Anxiety "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."

• n81...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2013

For Anxiety "Most subtle of the benzos I have tried. It made me sleepy the first hour or two, but then stabilized my anxiety and mood for about six hours. Much longer lasting than it is given credit for. Good PRN medication. Other benzos cause some moodiness or depression even. Although I think Lorazepam can, it is much smoother than others. It is again too sedating for many people, though. I liked it about as much as Clonazepam, it is better than Valium, in my opinion."

• mar...
• February 23, 2013

For Panic Disorder "My experience with a serious panic attack was thought to be the onset of a heart attack. I was monitored, had lab work, even x-rays. No heart attack, my heart was found to be totally clean of blockages. So the doctors conferred that I was indeed having a full-scale panic attack. I was given a single 1 mg pill of Ativan. Within minutes I was calmer, breathing returned to slow and regular, I felt warmer and secure, clear-headed yet a little sleepy. The other meds I take are one 75 mg Effexor XR nightly and a single capsule of raw thyroid nightly. I do take a vitamin and mineral supplement when I think to. The Ativan prescription was issued for short-term and serious times of panic only. It was recommended I receive counsel, as well."

• Tuf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2016

For Anxiety "I recently experienced a week of panic attacks. The first 3 times I took a pill...they were .5, it worked, and I could calm down. After that, the small dose did not work, and I landed in the ER. I take nothing else and haven't taken any other benzo in years. I'd like to give it a lower rating due to the fact that dependency happens so fast if you aren't careful and can't cope other ways. They are definitely a bandaid. They do work, though, to stop panic. Just be careful and only take as necessary. Side effect: calm and sleepy...in a daze. Took an hour for them to kick in also."

• Gar...
• July 24, 2017

For Anxiety "Female, 21. Developed a panic disorder and hypochondria at 16. I did CBT therapy for a long time, which helped immensely. I would go to the ER and doctor constantly. I would have a hard time falling asleep because I would panic I would die. I have been on this for 6 years, 0.5 mg-1 mg as needed. I only took it when in the throes of panic during a time when I did not know how to cope. It has done absolute wonders for me. I take 0.5 mg only a few times a year now, just when my GAD gets to be too much or anxiety disrupts my sleep for more than a few days. It's wonderful in small doses, as needed, and combined with CBT. I have had no side effects or withdrawal, except if you take it when you aren't panicking, and on occasion, it can make you quite sleepy."

• 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."

• Boo...
• June 29, 2016

For Anxiety "I have severe flight anxiety and was prescribed Ativan 5-10 years ago to take before flights. It works really well, and gives me this deep feeling of calm that helps me not panic on planes. I used to shake for an entire eight-hour flight, and while my anxiety doesn't entirely disappear with a 2mg dose, it's vastly more manageable. I haven't really noticed any side effects aside from feeling sleepy and having my mind wander a bit."

• 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."

• 515...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2017

For Anxiety "If I take 3 mg, this works very well for anxiety, and it works quickly. The only thing is it usually also makes me sleepy, so I try to only take it when I know I can go take a nap if need be. Other than that, no complaints."

• Ely...
• March 16, 2012

For Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "This medicine makes me feel, for lack of a better description, 'wavy', although it makes me sleepy and off-balance, it does do well with decreasing nausea, although occasionally I still do get the urge to vomit, but it's easily controllable."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2011

For Anxiety "I was on 1 mg of Ativan at night as needed. It worked pretty well. Once the side effects went away (a little sleepy and off-balance), I started taking half a pill in the daytime whenever I felt stressed and it seemed to last most of the day. It also helps whenever I feel angry at work. If not for Ativan, I would probably have quit my job or knocked someone out."

• Cry...
• October 21, 2011

For Anxiety "I take 0.5 mg of Ativan as needed, and it works wonders. Anytime I get 'wound up' and tense and can't catch my breath, I will place one under my tongue, and it does the trick! I don't seem to get sleepy from them either. Fortunately, I don't need it very often, but when I do, it calms me down quick."

• Ati...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I have tried just about every benzo for chronic anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and panic attacks. Klonopin 0.5 mg 3x a day made me depressed and sleepy, and made me want to take extra. Valium 10 mg 3x a day worked great but resulted in excess daytime sedation and far too much muscle relaxation. Xanax was perfect, except for the rebound anxiety, the potency, and the extremely short duration of action. My Dr. suggested Ativan. I agreed and switched to 1 mg 3x a day, then 0.5 mg 3x daily. I found Ativan the least addicting of the benzodiazepines I’ve tried, although it’s supposedly very addictive. I also thought it was relatively easy to come off of, at least compared to Klonopin or Xanax! Finally, it has the lowest number of side effects relative to the main effect. Ativan doesn’t make me drowsy but does get rid of my anxiety. And 0.5 mg is enough for a bad flare-up of anxiety, 1 mg enough for a panic attack."

• Mak...
• September 19, 2011

For Anxiety "I rarely take it, but it has saved me from a few panic attacks. Makes me a bit sleepy, but overall the side effects are tolerable. I actually find 0.5 mg effective."

• Pla...
• October 26, 2010

For Nausea/Vomiting "This medication did not work at all to control my nausea. It made me intensely sleepy, but I was still nauseated."