Lorazepam for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 3)

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 8, 2020

Lorazepam "I have a fairly high medication resistance (or I'm allergic or develop tolerance after using meds... yes, it's been hell and still is... I'm writing this while admitted to the hospital psych ward). I have severe insomnia, and not one sleeping medication has worked for more than a week! I took Ativan sublingual and was up to 8 mg in a week... and it stopped working!! Now I'm on injections at night... it worked for 2 nights amazingly!!! I don't have withdrawal symptoms like others have described on here... I guess for me it's a great short-term solution, but then I build a tolerance... sigh!!"

• Ann...
• June 28, 2017

"I have taken benzos on and off for most of my adult life, for insomnia/anxiety/panic attacks. I will start off by saying I am terrified of hypnotic sleeping pills (Z drugs, etc.); they make me stupid the next day, which I can't deal with. I've been prescribed various benzos such as Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, and Restoril. Out of all of them, I find lorazepam (Ativan) is the best. I don't get a 'high' feeling from it; it just relaxes me enough to get some peaceful sleep, and I have no side effects the next day. Xanax makes me feel high, and Restoril makes me high and binge eat - not good at all. Unlike other benzos, you can take your Ativan pill sublingually as they don't have a bitter taste; this makes them work quickly."

• pop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2023

Lorazepam "Ativan is absolutely the best sleeping aid drug if you take it only as needed (on worst days only). Do NOT take it every night, do NOT abuse it just to get the best sleep results every night. I would say no more than 2-3 times a week, avoid taking in a row, and no tolerance or addiction should be developed."

• ms ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 16, 2023

"I have been taking Lorazepam for 20 years, 0.5 mg at bedtime. It has been effective and never been an issue. Never increased dose, never abused this medication. I was prescribed this medication when I was 46 because I could not eat nor sleep and my mind would not stop racing. I was physically violated at the age of 15 and don't think I ever recovered from the emotional effects. This medication saved my life. I only take one prescribed medication. Thank goodness for Lorazepam."

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2009

"I take lorazepam in the 0.5 mg dosage about once a week. It was originally given to me in the ER when I had a fast heart rate due to a bad asthma attack. It helped me sleep in the hospital. Then I asked that it be prescribed so I could go on a vacation with my husband, who snores. It puts me to sleep faster than he can really get to snoring, and I sleep through the night. Even if I get up once during the night, I go right back to sleep. Now I take it about once a week, and it also calms any anxiety-related racing thoughts that invade my sleep. I don't want to take it more than that as I don't want to form a habit with it. But it is nice to have that assurance that I'll get a good night's sleep and wake up happy."

• joh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 31, 2018

"As with all benzos and opiates, this drug was amazing at first. Solved all my problems, then became a big problem. A problem worse than the one I initially had. Trust me, be careful. After a benzo withdrawal, you will be begging for the little bit of insomnia that started this in the first place. Whatever you do, do not view this medication or any benzo as a means of maintaining or managing your condition, it's a bandaid, and any long-term use should be done only as a last resort."

• Deb...
• November 25, 2019

"Please be careful using benzodiazepines. I found 1 mg at night was very effective for severe insomnia, although it only gave me 4 hrs of sleep. I stopped suddenly after taking it every night for 2 months. Fell asleep one night without taking it and woke up at 2 a.m. feeling sick, with my heart racing/pounding like a drum in my ears. This happened 3 times over the next 12 hrs. Never had anything like it in my life and felt very ill. Saw a sleep specialist who said, “That’s addiction and withdrawal.” So I tapered off the dose over 2 months and stopped taking it completely. To avoid withdrawal now, I take 0.75 mg lorazepam 4 nights and then at least 4 nights off, taking zopiclone or nothing at all. This regimen works for me, and I’m getting some nights with no drugs, thank God."

• Jak...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 11, 2019

"My shrink has had me on lorazepam for approx 10 years, 4 mg a night before sleep. I have bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. Now I have Parkinson's disease, plus many other things. I am 72 years old, male. I want to quit because my Parkinson's doctor wants me to start taking Seroquel, but I heard getting off of lorazepam can be horrible?"

• Sad...
• October 2, 2019

"I have suffered from anxiety, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome for over 15 years. I was lucky to have started on Ativan .5 twice a day back then, and it has helped me tremendously. However, on the 12th of September, my big brother, age 55, committed suicide, unfortunately. And .5 was worthless for that. So, Dr. just raised it to 1g 3x's a day. And tonight it still hasn't been helping. I just hope I get some sleep soon."

• Kra...
• August 12, 2019

"Lorazepam helps 80% of the time. I say this because if I am extremely anxious, it won’t help unless I take more than a usual dose. Zopiclone works even better. Each person has a different experience. I only take half of their smallest dose. Also, I limit my usage to 2 times a week. What I take every night is Seroquel. It is usually used for mental illness (bipolar) but in high doses. In a very small dose, many docs recommend it for sleep, but unlike the other two, it is not addictive and you don’t have to increase the dose over time. If I take half of their lowest dose, I sleep very well 5 or 6 nights a week, but I am finding that half is too much for me and can be quite depressing first thing in the morning. I am trying a quarter as I am running out of solutions. As mentioned, everyone has a different experience depending on their physical and mental makeup. I have tried meditation, herbal teas, valerian root, not strong enough."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2019

"It works well... but getting off makes the original insomnia much worse, plus more. I was battling chronic pain and insomnia and prescribed this for 2 weeks, 2 to 3 days in a row max. Day 1, 1 mg gave me 7 hrs of great sleep. Day 2, thought I'd wind down slowly, 1/2 mg, 6-7 hrs, then 1/4 tablet I only got 2 1/2 hrs... even less than the 4 to 5 broken hours I was getting prior. I worked back to 4 to 5 hrs, then a few days later developed dissociation and anxiety. Worked through that, back on pills to combat pain and sleep. Then got hit with depression. It wasn't until it was too late I realized there was a pattern... 3 to 4 days after each time I stopped... that's when side effects are at the worst. Then I was screwed, cycled through various alternatives which made things worse and had to start taking Lorazepam daily as I could only sleep for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs a night by that point. Then finally, over a month I started paroxetine and CBT and I slowly weaned myself off. Stay away, especially if prone to anxiety or depression."

• Dow...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2021

Lorazepam "I have had severe insomnia for over a decade. I’ve always been a light sleeper, but the past 8-9 years have been horrid. I am 48 years old. Have been prescribed every drug under the sun. After years of horrible sleep, I now have severe anxiety. I have had to go on short-term disability 3 times in 5 years. I usually hinged my insomnia and anxiety on work stress. I was assigned a new project that was very high profile, and I started not sleeping for days on end. I went to the doctor before things got too bad, I did not want to end up on disability again. He prescribed Ativan. I started taking it, 0.5-1 mg a night. Soon I was taking it every night, then after about 6 months, it stopped working. I ended up in the hospital for a week and quit my job. Ativan works, but you better hope it always does. Now on Seroquel and cannot sleep at all without it. Terrified for my family's future as I am so unstable. I have a wife and 3 kids."

• Ver...
• October 10, 2017

"I have not put anything on sites like this but really want input. I have been dealing with medical issues for 3 months, which required taking meds during the night, which disrupted my sleep. My health is getting back on track, but I was not sleeping well. My Dr. prescribed lorazepam 1 mg at bedtime. It works pretty well by giving me sleep; however, I am out of it almost the entire day. Around 4 p.m., I start to feel okay again, so I get to have a 6-hour window of a good day. I have read so many of all of your reviews. I am concerned about addiction and withdrawal, as I have not taken very many meds like this. The Dr. wrote a prescription for 25 days. Would like suggestions: should I stay daily with 1 mg, or skip nights, or cut in half sometimes? I've used it for 1 week so far."

• P D...
• April 24, 2017

"It has worked well for about 12 years as treatment for insomnia at 2 mg, with no side effects. Lately, it has lost its effectiveness, and all other drugs I have tried, including Ambien, do not work at all. I am wondering if it is safe to take in higher dosage for a long term. Lack of sleep is a terrible curse, although oddly, I have little or no fatigue, even though I am 68."

• gOO...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 20, 2021

"From the first night I used lorazepam, I slept like a baby, and for 15 years, it has worked for me. I haven't had a single side effect from using it. The dosage is 2 mg. I took one pill at bedtime. I am so grateful that it worked for all those years."

• woo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 24, 2021

"Been on this over 30 years. I have never had a problem with it. I take it for insomnia - 2 mg at bedtime. I read all the lurid withdrawal symptoms, and I have twice been pressured into trying to come off, but then I got no sleep and couldn't function. I am in my mid-60s now, and there is no way I'd consider suffering up to 10 years of withdrawal symptoms. If it's a choice between sleeping or becoming addicted - I'll take my chances!"

• Ana...
• February 25, 2020

"My experience is for the lack of quality in the drug. I take 2 mg every night. Usually, that works, but tonight and yesterday, nothing. It's like the ones I have got now are fake. So I take a chip or half a second one. Still, nothing. I'm touchy about using this too much, so it's not a habit, it's the quality. Why does it have to be so hard to get a decent working medication? I won't continue to get this brand. I encourage others to stand up for yourself, if it doesn't work, it's because it's a bad drug. It's effective when you are actually getting the real deal. I really have insomnia, now I'm back up."

• dic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2019

"4 mg lorazepam + 6 mg prazosin + 150 mg hydroxizine... does nothing for my insomnia - I'm wide awake. My VA doctors are worthless, and so are these meds. The system is broken for combat vets with real problems. They only care if you have the 'sniffles,' and OOOOOH better get your flu shot. I haven't had a flu shot in 20 years, and I've spent 11 of those in Iraq and Afghanistan... still haven't been sick since 2006."

• Jac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 4, 2021

"I have been on Lorazepam since the '80s to help me sleep and for nausea. I can go several days without sleep. This drug has really helped. I have noticed the Watson Lorazepam just does not work for me. I do not know why. Shouldn't they all be the same? VERY STRANGE....."

• JMV...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 3, 2023

"I'm 69 and have had insomnia on and off for years. Read in many articles one should not take it for longer than about 4 weeks. I have been taking 0.5 mg, which does help me sleep. Everyone reacts differently, but after reading several of the reviews here, I feel more comfortable. Without it, I sleep perhaps 3 or 4 hours, which leaves me quite useless and foggy the next day. It is simply a question of quality of life, I suppose. Thanks, everyone, for your input."

• Low...
• June 18, 2023

"This medication is so much different from other benzos regarding effectiveness in all of its implications. It makes me sleep like a log and doesn't make me sleep so much like Seroquel. Once, I tried it for anxiety as well, and just for the first time I understood what an anti-anxiety med must make you feel. When it kicks in, I feel a real type of sleep. I came across it by chance. I suffer from insomnia and have tried every med out there, and I read that lorazepam is the best or at least one of the best hypnotic, anti-anxiety meds out there. Prior to taking this, I used to take Seroquel, however, I found this one more therapeutic."

• Mer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 15, 2023

"About 20 years ago, I caught a debilitating lung illness that hung on for months. My sleep was constantly interrupted by coughing fits. I grew so weak I could hardly get out of bed. They sent me to specialists, to no avail. Four months in, I took a 0.5 mg tablet of lorazepam (L) before bed. I slept 14 hours and woke feeling stunningly improved. The next night, I took another tab before bed. I woke feeling nearly recovered. Lorazepam (L) gave me the sleep my body so desperately needed to heal. Since that time, when I'm ill and not sleeping well (which isn't often), I take 0.5 mg before bed for good restorative sleep. This seems to promote healing. About a month ago, I broke a rib. It was so painful when lying down, I barely slept for nine days. My doctor retired, so I asked my new doctor for a few lorazepam so I could sleep and heal. He told me 'new regulations did not allow' him to prescribe L 'off label' as a sleep aid. He recommended I take Tylenol."

• won...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2024

"I only need to take 0.5 mg at night and get the best night's sleep and wake up ready to work! Doctor doesn't want me to keep taking it due to the addictive nature, but nothing else seems to work, or, I'm super groggy in the morning with other meds. I'll keep taking it until it stops working."

• J-1...
• May 13, 2023

"I have difficulty with insomnia and have taken a low dose of lorazepam on occasion. Each time, I wake up well-rested in the morning without having difficulty waking or feeling drugged in the morning. I have also tried Ambien, which was an utter disaster, and I will leave my review for it also. Believe me when I say lorazepam is a much safer sleep aid."

• Bea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 16, 2024

"I have been taking lorazepam 0.5 for my balance issues, but have realized it helps my insomnia. I'm 69 and tend to overthink many things when I go to bed, so I'm now taking it 30 minutes before I want to sleep instead of taking it with dinner. What a wonderful sleep aid with no side effects."