Lorazepam and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2022

For Anxiety "I once thought lorazepam was exactly what I needed, as it helped me stop the fight or flight and be able to sleep and crack on with things. I began using it more often, as the times I didn’t take it, my anxiety seemed worse than it had been before. I only went from 0.5 mg prn to having one nightly until that did nothing anymore, so I went up to 1 mg at night. I started moving the time earlier and earlier as the days went on, and something I once took at bedtime started being at 5 pm. This was over the course of a year or so. I would start having panic and fear until I had it. I decided, because of all the stuff about addiction, that I would stop it for a day or two. The first night, I experienced a tonic-clonic seizure. I completely stopped for about 9 months and then decided to try to have it as needed again. I took it for a day or two, then I experienced my second seizure. The seizures slowly ramped up. I now have epilepsy, which I 100% blame on lorazepam withdrawal and addiction."

• kky...
• September 21, 2011

Lorazepam for Anxiety "It worked well at first. I was on 1 mg as needed after being diagnosed with M.S. I built a tolerance very quickly, even though I was only taking 1 pill 2-3 days a week. Soon, I needed 2 at a time, then 3 at a time just to slightly calm my anxiety and panic attack, not fully taking it away (at this time, I had been on them approximately a year and a half). Even the first day that I started taking Ativan took 20-30 minutes to feel the effect. Anyone who has severe anxiety or panic attacks knows that is an unbearable amount of time to feel relief. I am now on 1 mg Xanax, which is a Godsend."

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2017

Lorazepam for Anxiety "My husband was 38 years old and committed suicide while taking Ativan. This medication was administered to him from two different psychiatrists. Ativan was prescribed for his anxiety. He took it in combination with Welbutrin for his depression. He was on Ativan for approximately three months. The medication made his heart race because of the lethal combination mixing with Welbutrin for his depression. He became manic, paranoid, and had extreme body tremors, insomnia, and many trips to the Emergency Room from side effects. This company knows it can cause suicide and writes it on the label. Do not take it."

• mus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2022

For Anxiety "So I was in a bad car accident back in July of 2021. I still am not back to my normal self due to the memory loss, lack of sleep, and overall issues with basic life tasks. It's been causing me major anxiety, frustration, and every emotion under the sun. My doctor put me on lorazepam for 10 days, ten days only to help sleep. My doctor didn't want me to stay on it because this can be an addictive drug. I didn't think it was an issue. It did what it was supposed to do. It was 0.5 mg and it did help me sleep. The first night I took it, I noticed a lot of heavy chest deep breathing, but the other 10 days I was fine. It was the withdrawal for me, which is why I do not recommend it. I do not drink, smoke, or do drugs. I do not have an addictive personality. The first day off of this thing, I cried and cried and cried. So emotional. The littlest things bothered me. I was shaky and irritable. I took everything out on everyone else. I would much rather take something else."

• Ced...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2021

For Anxiety "I started taking Lexapro 10 mg 35 days ago and increased it to 20 mg 21 days ago and hoped that it would have helped more than it did. I was still experiencing anxiety, tension, and clenching my jaw at work, home, and in my sleep, but Lorazepam sublingual 0.5 mg helped greatly. I was more relaxed at work, calmer in high-pressure situations. No clenching. Wasn't overly drowsy, just had a few yawns here and there. I could focus. But because they were sublingual, they are short-acting. Four hours later, jaw clenching and tension, my hands were back to feeling shaky. Took another one. The seven pills the walk-in doctor gave me didn't last long as a result. I have been waiting to see my GP. Appointment next week, but I saw the walk-in doctor again today and we determined that the regular (non-sublingual) would be a better option since it's longer-acting. Still at 0.5 mg, no increase, and I don't want an increase. If this is something that I take regularly with my escitalopram, I want the lowest possible dose."

• all...
• March 27, 2012

For Anxiety "My psychiatrist has prescribed this medicine for my acute anxiety for years. Rarely did I ever need it while I was on Paxil. About 3 months after I had weaned myself off Paxil, I started having anxiety attacks again, and rather than get back on it, I resorted to taking 1 mg lorazepam as needed for about a month. I got back on Paxil and found discontinuing lorazepam to be moderately difficult. I had some major sleep disturbances, along with elevated anxiety and paranoia. It took me about 3 days at 0.25 mg for these to go away. I recommend this medicine as a supplement to an antidepressant, but not as a stand-alone remedy."

• Fil...
• August 5, 2015

For Anxiety "Extreme weakness, nausea, problems with memory, lethargic, slow reaction times, constant thirst, stays anxious, very sleepy during the day, no energy, wears off quickly, sores at both corners of mouth, dizziness, and confusion."

• Scc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2016

For Anxiety "I took 2 mg one night at the ER because I was having a panic attack, and it worked quickly. But tonight I took 1 mg before going to the mall on Black Friday because I knew it would be crowded and I'd get overwhelmed, so I took 1 mg in advance before I went, and it did nothing for me whatsoever. I left overwhelmed and very irritated after 15 minutes. I'm home now and feeling very irritated by the whole experience."

• Dea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2016

For Anxiety "Before I explain, let me start off by saying I do not take meds, not even for a headache. This is a very rare circumstance. My Dr knows this and will ask me if I'm going to fill the prescription as to not waste either of our time. I usually say no, and we discuss non-medicinal ways to cope. This time I said yes and got 0.5 mg lorazepam, and in the 3 days I've taken them, I'm more anxious!"

• EEa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 15, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I absolutely hate it. I was given Ativan last summer when I was having a total mental breakdown. At first, I waited and waited and felt absolutely nothing whatsoever, then I realized that it made me even more anxious and caused me to lash out at my parents. They ended up having to take me back to my house because they just couldn't deal with me. I decided to get some drinks at the bar and then at the cider house, and that's when it finally started to kick in. I was having a lot of trouble talking and had all these weird muscle jerks and having maybe convulsions."

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2018

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Terrible and dangerous. Muscle jerking, auditory hallucinations, jumpy all day. Even worse anxiety. If it is not life or death, do not take!!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

For Insomnia "I took lorazepam about three nights in a row, and each time it did not help me sleep at all, which was very disappointing, but it did help with my anxiety, at least."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan amplified anxiety so bad I could not stop vomiting."

• Jea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2016

For Insomnia "In an hour, I felt speedy. I was up all night, like I had a late cup of coffee. Three weeks later, I tried it again. Speedy, jittery, all night, no sleep."

• Res...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 26, 2017

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Makes me more anxious. Higher doses are worse."

• kil...
• May 27, 2015

For Anxiety "worked great when I started... a year later taking 1 mg in the am and 1 mg at night... and anxiety is back... interferes with work..."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2018

For Anxiety "I took a 0.5 Ativan for anxiety last night. It increased my anxiety, and I couldn't sleep."