Lorazepam and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

For Insomnia "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!"

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2018

For Anxiety "Was prescribed this after a nervous breakdown left me with severe insomnia for 2 weeks, leading to daily panic attacks and severe depression. I took 0.5 mg at night and finally passed out. I still had some residual anxiety for a few days, but I was able to cope. Now, after 7 days of 0.5 mg at night, I started to taper off to 0.25 mg per night to get off the med and am experiencing minor withdrawals. Last night, I had nausea and anxiety attacks, leading to some sleep loss. I plan to fight through it at 0.25 mg per night for the next 4 days, then go down to 0.125 mg for a week, then stop... Be careful with this stuff, it works wonders, but make sure you have an exit in mind. I am frightened to think of how the withdrawal would be had I not started tapering so soon."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2018

For Anxiety "Was prescribed this after a nervous breakdown left me with severe insomnia for 2 weeks, leading to daily panic attacks and severe depression. I took 0.5 mg at night and finally passed out. I still had some residual anxiety for a few days, but I was able to cope. Now, after 7 days of 0.5 mg at night, I started to taper off to 0.25 mg per night to get off the med and am experiencing minor withdrawals. Last night, I had nausea and anxiety attacks, leading to some sleep loss. I plan to fight through it at 0.25 mg per night for the next 4 days, then go down to 0.125 mg for a week, then stop... Be careful with this stuff, it works wonders, but make sure you have an exit in mind. I am frightened to think of how the withdrawal would be had I not started tapering so soon."

• 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."

• the...
• July 1, 2016

For Insomnia "Ativan/Lorazepam provides a very sound, sustained sleep with few, if any, dreams. I have never had problems getting to sleep, but staying asleep was a real issue. Waking up at 4 AM with an active mind and watching the sun rise, knowing that I would crash at midday, was a pain. Ativan (.5 mg or 1 mg splurge) helps me sleep until the alarm, and I never feel weird or dopey in the AM. HOWEVER, be aware that your body and mind get conditioned, so don't take it nightly (or sleep won't come without it). The pros are the effectiveness and the lack of side effects. The cons are dependency/poor sleep without it. I use it maybe three times per week, and it's fine, alternating a night or two. Never taken it in the day, likely never will."

• Kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 20, 2013

For Anxiety "It does help to cure anxiety, for a while at any rate. No side effects, except sleep, but you don't wake up drowsy in the morning. Good!"

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2011

For Anxiety "I have been in many situations, but once my company went bankrupt and the bills started piling up, I began to have such severe anxiety attacks that I have lost my vision. Had numbing in my lips and trouble sleeping. I take 0.5 mg when I notice my anxiety coming on. I take 1 mg before I go to bed, it helps me relax enough to sleep naturally without being tired the next day. I started taking some supplements and exercising and noticed that I need less and less throughout the day."

• Sad...
• October 2, 2019

For Insomnia "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."

• Mos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 23, 2019

For Anxiety "I had horrible anxiety for years and tried numerous drug treatments. I wanted something I could take as needed, which would give fast results. Many of the other anxiety drugs I tried had negative side effects, but Lorazepam had none (with me anyway). It would immediately make me feel calm and helped me to sleep at night. I was taking 2 mg/day. I stayed on it for over a year and feel like it was a lifesaver. When my doctor retired, I decided to wean myself off of Lorazepam, mostly over concerns of these types of drugs being linked to dementia in later life. I went through horrible withdrawals (very bad anxiety, insomnia, agitation, quick to anger, etc.) that took over a month to stabilize. I quit cold turkey, which you're not supposed to do. Now, months later, I still have bouts with anxiety, but I'm trying to manage it without drugs. I wish there was something safe and effective that I could use long term."

• 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."

• Fig...
• January 11, 2017

Lorazepam for Sedation "52 years old, diagnosed with ovarian cancer in July 2016. Received chest mediport in August and went through 12 weeks of chemo. Only side effects were constipation from chemo and sleepless nights from Decadron. While these steroids made me feel strong and allowed me to work while taking chemo, they also kept me wired at night. Only on those days of chemo did I take 1 mg of Ativan at night. So blessed to get some much-needed rest and was at work by 6:00, ready for my workday. Feeling rested and getting that quality sleep is very vital when fighting this disease and taking chemo. I just had IP port surgically implanted into my abdomen today. Starting the next 3 cycles of IP chemo after having surgery December 8th. Ativan has helped me, no side effects."

• Tha...
• September 9, 2015

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This medicine has saved my life on several occasions. I developed physical anxiety issues (severe tingling, losing balance, trouble driving, insomnia, etc) a year after my 3rd child was born. My physician tried several SSRI and tricyclic antidepressants. They all made my symptoms worse. Ativan/Lorazepam helped immediately for all symptoms. In my opinion, it is a miracle and I hate how it is demonized in the media and medical community. When you suffer a month without sleeping hardly at all and can barely function in a normal setting due to crippling physical anxiety symptoms, and something provides relief, you take it. Yes, when you are ready to stop the medicine you have to reduce very slowly over a long period of time. Godsend!"

• Sun...
• May 9, 2014

For Anxiety "Lorazepam has saved me from anxiety many times. I personally believe this medicine is best used when needed rather than every day. When I take 0.5 mg, I feel relaxed and my mind is clear, all my worries seem minuscule. It seems to slow down my cycle of constant worry. It does take about 45 minutes to really kick in and peaks about 2 hours after taking it. The effects last 4-5 hours. If I take 1 mg, the amount it lasts stays roughly the same, it's just a stronger feeling and does make me very tired. Taking it when needed is a lifesaver. However, I have taken 0.5 mg every day for a week once, and when I stopped, I felt a slight increase in anxiety and other symptoms such as insomnia and diarrhea that lasted 1-2 days. GREAT when anxiety is unbearable."

• Anonymous
• March 18, 2012

Lorazepam for Nausea/Vomiting "This is amazing! It helps so many things. But the 3 main ones are nausea, insomnia, and panic disorder. I also have fibromyalgia. I do try to keep the dosage as low as I can. I am prescribed a 1 mg pill 4 times a day. I take 2 of those at bedtime with a muscle relaxer, and I sleep all the way through the night. I try to keep it to only 3 pills a day. I also take 60 mg of Cymbalta a day. Combined with the Ativan, it keeps me and my husband sane. I also do yoga 2 to 3 times a week and walk. Exercise is a must with fibromyalgia."

• too...
• November 21, 2008

"Without this, I am not quite human, nor quite sane. After my mom passed with an acute illness, I developed a horrible case of insomnia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A psych prescribed this, and with it, I feel that I can calmly exist and think clear thoughts. Without it, I am a tight jumble of nerves, I cannot think straight, am paranoid, mean, physically ill, and feel like giving up. I tried to go without it for about 6 weeks, and all my symptoms returned to me 10-fold. Taking a few pills a day is a small price to pay for your sanity, the ability to smile again, work, look forward to seeing your family, and actively pursuing life. Although I don't recommend this for everyone for a long time, I will probably take it forever. Excellent."