Lorazepam and Depression: What Users Say

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2019

For Anxiety "I suffer from anxiety and depression and was prescribed 0.05 mg. Unfortunately for me, it made me very depressed and very sleepy. Not suicidal, but just horribly sad and self-loathing."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2019

For Anxiety "I suffer from anxiety and depression and was prescribed 0.05 mg. Unfortunately for me, it made me very depressed and very sleepy. Not suicidal, but just horribly sad and self-loathing."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2019

For Anxiety "I suffer from anxiety and depression and was prescribed 0.05 mg. Unfortunately for me, it made me very depressed and very sleepy. Not suicidal, but just horribly sad and self-loathing."

• kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2019

For Status Epilepticus "The hospital gave me lorazepam after having seizures. I was hoping this would be a better medication after the bad experience I had with the other seizure meds I had taken. This one was even worse, caused bad depression, racing heartbeat, my head felt strange, was not what I had expected. I took it for a week, said never again, and went back to taking the seizure meds, Keppra."

• Ped...
• February 18, 2019

Lorazepam for ICU Agitation "I was given this for post-op pain in recovery instead of narcotics because an anesthesiologist deemed me a drug user because I requested no morphine due to severe itching and scratching until I bled. I could not take ibuprofen due to renal disease. I was given 2 mg Ativan IV and told it was pain medication. I could feel every bit of the pain but could not speak... people were walking by me and would say, “she is asleep now,” but I was screaming inside. All it did was drug me to the point I could not speak but could feel every bit of the pain. On the way home from the hospital, I went psychotic in the car trying to hurt other people. This left me with nightmares for 2-3 weeks, depression, anger, and memory loss. It was not disclosed what was given until I kept pressing them because it was the worst surgical experience ever. The cover-up was the worst. It hindered my healing from the surgery."

• 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."

• DsB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2018

Lorazepam for Panic Disorder "I have lived with panic disorder since I was 16 and have had experience with various benzodiazepines. This has got to be the worst drug I have ever taken for a panic attack, it made me feel even more disconnected and stupid. I ended up in the back of an ambulance after taking this drug for a panic attack. I also struggled to sleep after taking this medication and was having suicidal thoughts. So far, I would have to say when it comes to the elimination of a panic attack, it goes: Xanax > Clonazepam > CBD > Valium > Bromazepam > Ativan."

• Pau...
• April 20, 2017

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Have been taking this for situational anxiety for many years. It worked to some degree, but I would always feel depressed afterwards, which was awful. Last year, I used it daily, up to 1.5 mg, while I was changing my antidepressant. This was a huge mistake. I soon reached the tolerance and began to get rebound anxiety, which started up every morning. I've been off of it for 10 weeks now and still suffering. This is really hard to come off of. My advice is don't take this more than once a week, and that may be too much. My anxiety is so much worse because of lorazepam."

• 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'."

• 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'."

• cle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 2, 2016

For Anxiety "This drug nearly ruined my life. But, you don't have to believe me. Just go Google 'lorazepam withdrawal' or 'Ativan withdrawal,' and you can see it for yourself. I was never told how horrific the withdrawal would be from this medicine. I have spent nearly five months in extreme anxiety that is nearly fifty times the intensity of the anxiety I had when starting this med. The doctors are not educated on the w/d of this med because the pharm companies do not release these studies because then they wouldn't prescribe it! I became agitated, suicidal, depressed, and had PTSD-like symptoms from this drug. Not one person warned me, and I just took it every day like the bottle said, many times LESS than prescribed. PLEASE do your research!"

• Ros...
• January 31, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I started taking this medication at 0.5 mg and thought I was okay. I had to get the dose upped to 1.0 mg to sleep, but what has been happening is I cry all the time, am angry and sad. I cry most of the day, every day! I am having what a doctor called PTSD from seeing my mom pass 2 years ago and am dealing with anger issues there still, but now all I do is cry! Does anyone else feel this? I feel so alone! Rose"

• Til...
• December 5, 2015

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Highly addictive medicine. Very angry I was put on this. I have worse anxiety and hand, feet, and head tremors. Docs give out benzos too easily. Then they do not want to help you get off them. It is awful. They treat you like a pill seeker instead of slowly weaning you off. More doctors need to use the Ashton Method of withdrawal. Taking someone off benzos too quickly can induce anger, crying spells, depression, and even seizures. Too many doctors do not want to help patients get off these pills, and it is wrong."

• Ast...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2021

For Anxiety "So I had to take some Ativan for the first time yesterday, as I was having a persistent anxiety attack throughout the day. 0.5 mg under the tongue. Now, mind you, this is my first time ever trying this drug, so maybe that's part of why my reaction was as it was. Almost immediately, I felt a slight heaviness on the body, though the anxiety wasn't really affected. I'd explain the effect as feeling more like a Band-Aid to stop the anxiety from continuing back into another attack, but it didn't get rid of the general anxiety, and I found at times it actually felt like it enhanced it. Ended up laying down to go to sleep. Woke up the next morning fairly depressed with stomach issues. I'd say I'd recommend this only on the worst of days. While it did help keep me from persisting into my fourth anxiety attack, the anxiety itself didn't go away."

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

For Insomnia "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."

• Lad...
• October 11, 2018

Lorazepam "I was given Ativan for anxiety due to TMJ (temporomandibular disorder) chronic pain. It ended up taking away the pain itself. However, being in the mental health field, I'm well aware of the addictive qualities of this drug. I was appalled at how quickly I was put on 1 mg/day for 3 weeks and given a renewed prescription without question every time I went in. Users must beware of the high addictiveness and that it can take years to taper off this medication and years for the brain to return to a normal state. Severe withdrawal can cause psychosis, depression, seizures, and death, and rebound symptoms are very common even at low doses (rebound symptoms is when you go off or taper down the medication, you experience a worsening of the condition it was intended to treat in the first place). If you've been prescribed this by your GP, please do your research and talk to a specialist about it and follow their advice. Benzodiazepines have ruined many lives and are still continuously over-prescribed."

• Hsd...
• January 10, 2014

Lorazepam for Anxiety "It works sometimes, while other times it makes me more depressed."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan is an amazing drug to take for sleep and for anxiety, however, proceed with caution if you struggle with depression and are not on other meds for depression. I started taking Ativan for insomnia and for anxiety, but it unmasked depression for me and put me in a real dark place, and all I did was cry before I would finally go to sleep. I slept amazing, but like I said, it made me feel more depressed. :( So for that reason, I had to stop taking it. But it is the best for sleep. I always woke up feeling super refreshed if I took Ativan the night before, and it didn’t make me have any crazy dreams like some meds for sleep can do. Like I said, the only side effects for me were worsening depression and sometimes upon waking, feeling confused. Other than that, I highly recommend Ativan ❤️."

• ocd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 23, 2014

For Anxiety "I suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. It has worked wonders when I start to suffer. I take 1 mg in the morning, and I feel like my old self again. However, I'm starting to wonder if it is causing some of my depression. Once the medicine wears off, my mood crashes. I get very emotional, anxiety creeps up, agitated, and very depressed. I pop another one, and my mood stabilizes. Another thing, it is very habit-forming, so don't stop taking it abruptly. Consult your doctor first for a plan."

• Kra...
• August 12, 2019

For Insomnia "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."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2016

For Anxiety "The withdrawal of this medicine was very close to my image of hell. It was awful and lasted one whole month. Awful. Sweats. Insomnia. Shakes. Hallucinations. Panic. Spaced out. Pain. Depression. Not worth it at all. So sad humans have to experience such pain."

• Nut...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 28, 2023

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I’ve been on this medication for anxiety and anger since 2018, it immediately takes away panic rage and lets me think clearly. However, my psychiatrist took me off cold turkey 9 days ago, and I feel miserable!!! I’m having constant blackouts, anxiety, intense paranoia, rage, no energy at all to even get up and use the bathroom, and insomnia. I’m afraid of feeling like this for years or forever, I don't know how to deal anymore. This is so unreal. I’ve had many crying fits and moments of depression because of this awful feeling. Pros: 10/10 Cons: 0/10"

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

Lorazepam 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."

• Anonymous
• December 24, 2009

Lorazepam for Anxiety "With proper dosing, i.e., enough mgs, Ativan works very well in controlling my irritability and anxiety. The only temporary, mild side effects that occurred were a slight lack of motivation, slight feelings of disorientation, which dissipated quickly."

• lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

For Anxiety "This is the only medication that I have taken for anxiety that actually works. I was experiencing severe anxiety with brain fog and mild depression. After taking one 0.05 mg, I was feeling like my normal self again. I had almost forgotten how it felt to be myself. This medication has really helped me. Sucks that it’s hard to even get prescribed these days. I only have 10 pills to use for the month. Hopefully, I can make it through."