Lorazepam and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Dru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2020

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan does the job. But you do NOT want to go through the withdrawal. It's very bad. I have generalized anxiety and panic disorder to the point where I can't leave the house unless I really have to. And Ativan makes it a lot easier to leave the house. The withdrawal makes your anxiety come back with vengeance. It's bad. For the short term, it's great, but long term you become addicted and physically dependent on it. And you build a tolerance so it doesn't help you as much as initially taking it. I love Ativan and recommend it to anyone suffering from anxiety. Just make sure you wean off it, or you will feel like life becomes a nightmare."

• ins...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

Lorazepam for Insomnia "Ativan ruined my life. My psychiatrist prescribed me 2mg to take every night while trying out an antidepressant. After about 7 weeks, I was addicted to Ativan, and when I tried to stop taking it, I had seizures and panic attacks. I had to keep taking it to stabilize. Then I had to switch to Valium and slowly taper off the benzodiazepines to avoid another seizure. It took me a year and a half to taper off, and I now have chronic fear, anxiety, tinnitus, and insomnia. I wish I never touched this drug."

• Sta...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 7, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I've been taking Ativan since 2008. For the last five years, I went up from 2 mg a day to 3 mg. I want to get off this drug because I feel my brain is cloudy. I went to my doctor, and he gave me a schedule on how to wean off, but his schedule is not working for me. I've been trying to wean off for the last 2 weeks, and I finally got down to 2 mg today. I feel a lot of anxiety, and I had to take another half milligram to calm me down. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do I need to go to a hospital? I have no family to help me."

• Jra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 17, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I like Ativan better than Valium but not Xanax. Be careful with any benzodiazepines. They will mess with your brain and cause memory loss. I've been on them for 20 years. There's no way I can go off them now. I'm in a tough spot. I tried to stop twice and it drove me insane. I managed to kick a 4-year opiate addiction with the help of Suboxone, and that was challenging. Getting off benzos is even harder than kicking opiates. Believe me, benzodiazepines are dangerous. My doctor never warned me about the addiction until I switched medications, after about 5 years. Isn't that nice? I rely on them to keep me calm. I suffer from very severe anxiety, but knowing what I know now, I would have preferred to have a shot of vodka a couple of times a day. I'm not a drinker, but it's better than dealing with the side effects of benzos. Moderation is the key."

• Rig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2022

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This medication has saved my life. I always suffered with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and anxiety. I wasn't taking anything for my condition and was simply surviving, not living. Three months ago, I tried a melatonin supplement that contained passiflora incarnata and had a really bad reaction. I couldn't sleep for seven days straight, and it triggered severe anxiety. On day seven, I stopped taking the supplement, but it left me with EXTREME anxiety that wouldn't go away. Doctors gave me Seroquel, risperidone, Zoloft, nothing worked. I am going to try Lexapro. I went through three months of hell. One of the doctors prescribed me Ativan, and I am so happy he did. It's the only thing that worked, I was contemplating suicide because I felt horrible dread feelings 24/7. Words can't explain how bad I felt, I was in hell. Ativan is the only thing that truly helped me and stopped the anxiety in its tracks. I couldn't sleep before it, I would wake up every 20 minutes and have horrible anxiety dreams. Ativan saves."

• Rig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2022

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This medication has saved my life. I always suffered with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and anxiety. I wasn't taking anything for my condition and was simply surviving, not living. Three months ago, I tried a melatonin supplement that contained passiflora incarnata and had a really bad reaction. I couldn't sleep for seven days straight, and it triggered severe anxiety. On day seven, I stopped taking the supplement, but it left me with EXTREME anxiety that wouldn't go away. Doctors gave me Seroquel, risperidone, Zoloft, nothing worked. I am going to try Lexapro. I went through three months of hell. One of the doctors prescribed me Ativan, and I am so happy he did. It's the only thing that worked, I was contemplating suicide because I felt horrible dread feelings 24/7. Words can't explain how bad I felt, I was in hell. Ativan is the only thing that truly helped me and stopped the anxiety in its tracks. I couldn't sleep before it, I would wake up every 20 minutes and have horrible anxiety dreams. Ativan saves."

• Rig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2022

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This medication has saved my life. I always suffered with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and anxiety. I wasn't taking anything for my condition and was simply surviving, not living. Three months ago, I tried a melatonin supplement that contained passiflora incarnata and had a really bad reaction. I couldn't sleep for seven days straight, and it triggered severe anxiety. On day seven, I stopped taking the supplement, but it left me with EXTREME anxiety that wouldn't go away. Doctors gave me Seroquel, risperidone, Zoloft, nothing worked. I am going to try Lexapro. I went through three months of hell. One of the doctors prescribed me Ativan, and I am so happy he did. It's the only thing that worked, I was contemplating suicide because I felt horrible dread feelings 24/7. Words can't explain how bad I felt, I was in hell. Ativan is the only thing that truly helped me and stopped the anxiety in its tracks. I couldn't sleep before it, I would wake up every 20 minutes and have horrible anxiety dreams. Ativan saves."

• Hyp...
• March 11, 2019

Lorazepam 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."

• Mia...
• January 15, 2020

For Anxiety "I've been on lorazepam for over 20 years. 1 mg twice a day as needed. Have to take one at night because my brain never stops. It was my savior med. If someone says they have something that will stop your paralyzing panic attacks and nonstop anxiety, what would you do? I jumped right on it. Now I can't find a med doctor who wants to prescribe it! They want to put me in rehab?? I've had two heart attacks from my panic attacks, so no, I'm absolutely terrified to get off the med. I also have very high blood pressure. So what I'm seeing is this could be the end of me because lorazepam is the only thing giving me somewhat of a normal life, and Dr. won't prescribe it. I'm agoraphobic, have such bad panic attacks that they wake me up. Sometimes twice a night. I also suffer from depression, PTSD, OCD. Looks like I'm doomed. Thx, doctors."

• Ben...
• July 6, 2016

For Insomnia "DO NOT take benzos for insomnia - they work great, until you reach tolerance, and then you go into full withdrawal unless you up the dose considerably. By then you probably will have already found the dirty underside of this terrible drug, which is agoraphobia, brutal insomnia, loss of motivation and stunning depression. Next, you'll find out that you cannot withdraw from this drug in a reasonable manner, and the required tapering-off methods could take years. During withdrawal you will have the worst insomnia imaginable, for months on end, and nothing will relieve it, except more benzos than any doctor will prescribe. Don't even start on this evil drug. If you think this is an overreaction, Google 'benzodiazepine withdrawal'."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2019

For Anxiety "I had a stroke, 9 actually. An artery filled with plaque broke loose after my unattended high blood pressure. Each of the pieces of plaque was considered a stroke. It changed my personality almost completely. I have daily anxiety attacks, and I started drinking which I never had before. It seems that I don’t care about anyone except me now. No empathy. I have a husband of 44 years, and he’s sick and a disabled son. I tried therapy, but he just kept bringing up the past about how my parents treated me, and I couldn’t handle that. So I started leaving once a month. I have too much anxiety. The doctor put me on 2 mg a day of lorazepam, and I can control it better, plus Zoloft. Zoloft alone did nothing. But if I didn’t have the lorazepam to take daily, I don’t know where I’d be. I wish the DEA would stop being so strict on it when it’s given to those who really need it and long term. Nothing else has helped me."

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 6, 2018

For Insomnia "I've had various meds over the past 31 years, on and off, for anxiety, insomnia, and depression. I've suffered two bereavements this year - one of them was my mom. Lorazepam was my saving grace. I have 1 before bed and 1 before lunch, if during a day too if I feel anxiety getting to fever pitch. Works really well, and I still function at work, etc. You can certainly come off it, but always under your doctor's direction. Little by little. You may feel a bit bad as your body and brain adapt. Sort of anxiety/insomnia symptoms as side effects. They do lessen. You can do it. I did. And I have the willpower of a cushion! Good luck."

• Sin...
• June 4, 2014

For Anxiety "I had a sort of nervous breakdown during a trip. I could not catch my breath and could not sleep for 4 days. It was a horrible feeling of anxiety. I dreaded the night. I started 1 mg Ativan at night only. It was a godsend. It worked like a charm and gave me my life back. I went to therapy and continued the nightly 1 mg for 3 months. I became dependent, as everyone does. I then 'pill chopped' my way off from 1 mg to less than 1/2 mg over the next 3 months. After 6 months, I was off completely. I feel good and am glad to be pill-free for 5 weeks now. Properly used, this medicine can be a lifesaver. I still have them for peace of mind, but I find now I can live without it."

• Pum...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 2, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I’ve been taking lorazepam for about 15 years for sleeping. It works wonders. Six weeks ago, I went through a very stressful time, and my anxiety went through the roof. I hesitated for weeks about taking another 0.5 during the day because of my fear of getting hooked on this. Finally, I gave in the other afternoon, and I was my normal self that night and all the next day. Then, the following day, I was back to being anxious. So disappointing because I had hoped something got jarred into place. I'll try cutting the daytime one in half and see if I can do that for a few days. I do like this drug."

• EJK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2018

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Yes, it will stop panic attacks, but good luck coming off it. I was having severe anxiety after a bad spell of taking Lexapro, which made my anxiety worse and gave me constant panic attacks, so my doctor had me taking 0.5 mg three times a day. I was so grateful to have some relief that I didn't question the dose, but the more I read about dependence, the more nervous I became. I started tapering off it after only a month, and I thought I was going to die. Hallucinating, insomnia where I didn't sleep for days, couldn't keep down solid food, crippling depression, and agoraphobia... it was a nightmare, and I was contemplating checking into a hospital. I eventually transitioned to buspirone and eventually Pristiq. Such a nightmare. I can't recommend Ativan to anyone who may be sensitive to benzos."

• cla...
• October 12, 2015

For Anxiety "I am 25 years old, and for the first time in my life, I had a severe panic attack so bad that I lost all feelings in my limbs. My breathing was so fast that my lips curled over my teeth and my hands were temporarily and uncontrollably clenched. My husband rushed me to the ER, thinking I was having a heart attack, and there my pulse was 180 and my BP was 170/100. I have never experienced anything so fearful and horrific physically. There, they gave me Ativan, which completely calmed me down. Ever since, I am prescribed Lorazepam .5 mg as a PRN, and when I feel anxious or agitated and it really amps up, I will not even hesitate to take one. I truly believe this drug has helped me get through my days and has 100% worked as a preventative for attacks."

• Ana...
• September 11, 2009

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan has a troublesome history of abuse and ignorance associated with it. People expect some magical pill to solve all their problems on a daily basis, following the advice of a doctor rather than their own body. I lead a stressful life, and sometimes there's no amount of relaxing, watching movies, etc., to get my body to calm down. I always want to get up and run, work out, etc. If used properly, it's a lifesaving medication for me. Losing my hair from stress, Gilbert's syndrome, etc., finally I am able to enjoy my life again, enjoy movies, etc. Used properly, it's a tool I wish to have at my touch at all times available. Responsibility and moderation to all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 30, 2021

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I have been on Ativan in varying dosages for a few years now. I had a terrible bout of anxiety after an illness years ago, and I was unable to eat anything for weeks due to extreme stomach pain. If I wasn’t prescribed Ativan, I don’t know if I would have survived. I don't think that benzos have such a stigma, but for those living with anxiety and all the terrible things that come along with it, it can make living so much better. At my highest anxiety, I was taking 3 mg/day. I could finally eat and get through the day without pain. When I am not having issues, I take 0.5 mg at night to sleep. If I don’t have it for more than 24 hours, I can tell because I will wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. I don’t love the fact that it is so addictive, but I don’t know where I would be without it."

• Syl...
• April 14, 2016

For Anxiety "Took my first Ativan today, and OMG, I feel great. This works amazing for shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, knots in the stomach, fear, shakes, and sweats. It's truly amazing. I only took 0.5, and I'm happy I did. I was afraid to take it, but I'm not anymore. It's a great miracle pill."

• Sar...
• October 3, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "I am going through chemo for recurring lymphoma. Naturally, there is anxiety involved, lack of sleep, nausea, and complete lack of appetite. I have a tumor on the trachea and difficulty breathing. In the hospital, I received Ativan, which so profoundly helped with all of the above: anxiety, nausea, and breathing. I am so grateful for this medication, it made my life bearable. Ativan enhances the effects of the anti-nausea drug by far. And the anti-anxiety helped me breathe better. It soothes the racing thoughts at night, and I can sleep. All this on 1mg at night, no more. This tiny under-the-tongue is a miracle for me."

• Min...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 12, 2018

Lorazepam for Nausea/Vomiting "I’ve been using Lorazepam for 22 years. I get a prescription of 60 pills 0.5 mg at a time. I take around 10 pills per month and only when I absolutely need it. I use them for my fear of vomiting and the anxiety I get at times due to this fear. It has been a godsend for me. You cannot drink alcohol with this medicine. I have taken it hours after I’ve drank because alcohol gives me anxiety and nausea."

• cha...
• November 1, 2014

Lorazepam for Sedation "Very helpful for short-term treatment of anxiety and insomnia. I found I only needed to take half a dose to have a good night's sleep and to feel calm the next day. Such a relief after 2 years of cancer treatment left me very tired and anxious. Only problem is the doctors don't like it to be used other than for short-term."

• Jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2018

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I was in a traumatic car accident. I ended up with severe anxiety. I ended up getting panic attacks also. Thought I was going to die. Never took any anxiety pills before this accident. Now I'm taking lorazepam - Ativan, this works great for me. Oh my goodness! I'm reading the reviews. Everyone is different. Some works for some, and some won't. It's a 50/50 chance like any drug. It depends on the severity of your diagnosis and how well your body can adapt to it. All depends. I can tell you this: it works for me. For now. My mom took it for 15 years. She's 64 years old. It works great for her. Anyone taking this should walk, exercise, or do a hobby you like. Sauna always helps. Anything relaxing helps. It decreases your anxiety, and remember counseling or going to a support group helps."

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2016

For Anxiety "Three years ago, we discovered a clot inside my heart. I went in for exploratory surgery and awoke from a coma 33 days later. It had broken while being looked at, and I had a mild heart attack on the table. I had to be put into a coma to survive. To make things worse, I was also paralyzed from the waist down. It was too much, and I had my first anxiety attack. Fast forward to now: I've regained part of my ability to walk, it's painful, and I can only walk so much. The clot is gone, but I still take maintenance meds for it. Sadly, I still suffer from regular panic, but this drug works great. When I feel myself slipping, I take an Ativan and feel better, breathe easier, in less than an hour."

• Mia...
• July 15, 2016

For Anxiety "I had hyperthyroidism, which was diagnosed when I was 37. The hyperthyroidism gave me anxiety, especially after knowing I had it. I would go to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack or stroke and was checked always, and nothing was wrong. My anxiety attacks were so bad I once was taken in an ambulance with my feet and hands numb and blood pressure through the roof. I was given 1 mg of lorazepam by a doctor in the ER and felt the difference within 20 minutes. My thyroid got burned off, and I take 1 mg in the morning and really can get through the day with no issues. I sometimes take .5 mg at night, as I don't have sleep issues. After almost 2 years, I feel like lorazepam has almost gotten me stable, and I'm going to start tapering off. It's a lifesaver."