Lorazepam and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2021

Lorazepam for Insomnia "Ativan can be a two-edged sword. I have a prescription for 0.5 mg to be used as needed for anxiety and/or sleep. It works really well for both. I just have to be careful not to use it too often (it's tempting) because there are uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. I want to have it on hand because when I have a days-long anxiety episode, it's the only thing that helps calm me down. However, my doctor told me that regular, long-term use of Ativan can increase the risk for Alzheimer's. Articles I've read on this confirm his warning. That's a good enough incentive for me to use it sparingly. 7/10 stars for Ativan due to its helpfulness, but with accompanying risks."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

Lorazepam for Panic Disorder "I was prescribed Ativan after I was catatonic when I had a psychotic episode. It helped with my anxiety. I had never had any withdrawals, and I used it as prescribed."

• Slo...
• September 1, 2017

Lorazepam for Anxiety "For immediate relief, this drug is great. I take 0.5 mg when I absolutely need it (2-3 times every couple of months), but the only reason I wouldn't give it a 9 or 10 is because I did have a bad experience with this drug. I took it for 7 days straight, 3 times 0.5 mg per day, as prescribed by my doctor for generalized anxiety disorder. I abruptly stopped taking it because I didn't want to have to take it every day, and I ended up going through withdrawal. I then got vertigo for a couple of months, which was absolutely terrible. BUT I think if you use this drug responsibly and do NOT take it for multiple days in a row, it can definitely come in handy. I also have high blood pressure caused by anxiety, and usually get effective relief after about 30 minutes. Hang in there!"

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2015

For Anxiety "I suffer from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and OCD. I take 1 mg twice daily and am on 40 mg of Prozac. My disorders are quite severe, and on a bad day I'm housebound. The lorazepam does work well, but I do get bad withdrawal in the morning, which involves being very anxious for about an hour or so till my meds kick in, which I'm going to try some different courses of action to try and counter this. I'm 36 years old and a solo dad, so getting well for my son is a big priority for me! My heart goes out to all the anxiety sufferers out there, and I suppose we can all hope that we can get the right balance of meds that helps us without too many side effects and be as well as possible! So overall review of this drug is 7/10. Good luck!"

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 26, 2021

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I initially took this drug to treat chronic nerve pain, as nothing else would work. This gave me some relief as I was experiencing continuous pain. I also suffer from anxiety and bipolar disorder. I believe this drug saved my life, even though it has actually worsened my anxiety. I take 1 mg once a day in the morning, so that I would wake up the next morning with severe anxiety. It took me a long time to figure out this came from Ativan and not my 'normal' anxiety, which wasn't that severe in the first place. As my neuralgia eventually got better over time, I tried to lower the dose to 0.5 mg per day. I was prepared to experience withdrawal, but instead, I felt as great as ever! I eventually went into a manic state and started to have psychotic symptoms. So bipolar people beware: stopping long-term use of Ativan can trigger a manic episode! Altogether, I don't regret taking this drug as I have a more productive life and more desire for social connections."

• Mik...
• August 29, 2019

For Panic Disorder "My first experience with anxiety attacks/panic led me to, and I lorazepam took them every day almost. After a few weeks and after much reading, I decided to get off them. The withdrawals were unbelievably bad, some professionals say worse than getting off heroin. Long story short, I got off on a withdrawal program. Still keep the drug close for the unexpected, but I pretty much never use it these days. But it’s just nice to know it’s there if needed. Recently, it seemed my world was taken from me when the rug was taken suddenly beneath our feet in our business. I started showing signs of a panic attack, which I’m used to by now. Then I reached into my med pouch and grabbed 2 x 1 mg Ativan tabs, and they settled me down, so now I’m able to think ahead calmly and plan my next move! It’s important to note many medical professionals tell you to put off any important decisions, whatever they may be in your life, for 72 hours, as your brain is still a bit out of sync, and this may lead one to making bad decisions."

• Jef...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 28, 2019

For Anxiety "Works great... no question about it, but I fear the day I go off it. That is the only reason I give it 8 instead of 10... because of the horror stories of withdrawal."

• Cyc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2019

For Anxiety "It works for me, originally for everyday anxiety. I now use it occasionally for anxiety and sleep at a dosage of 1 mg. A word of caution, it has withdrawal effects. I used to take 4 mg a day. Nobody intends to get on a large dose, it slowly crept up on me. And dealing with withdrawals made managing anxiety much more difficult."

• Jmf...
• April 11, 2018

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I recently developed panic attacks and anxiety. Just thinking about anxiety makes you anxious, at least for me. I was just prescribed 0.5 Ativan and 10 mg Lexapro for anxiety. I hope it works. I used to be on Celexa, but it never really did much for me, tbh. I'm hoping the withdrawals aren't bad."

• sky...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2017

For Anxiety "About 4 years ago I started having early-morning awakening/insomnia/anxiety after excessive alcohol consumption the night before. Discovered that I could prevent this by taking diazepam my wife had lying around. When this ran out my GP prescribed lorazepam 0.5 mg. Gradually this lost effectiveness (tolerance) so I quit, also cut down on alcohol. A year ago I had a stressful situation and started 0.5 mg daily for a month, but was able to stop again with no side effects. However, my early-morning awakening/insomnia/anxiety had become chronic and independent of alcohol. A month ago I started 0.5 mg daily for 10 days, had a severe withdrawal, had to taper off. So, yes, like others wrote here: it works great, but not for chronic use."

• Bob...
• November 4, 2017

For Anxiety "Miracle drug for short-term use. You get withdrawal problems after you grow a dependence on it. It will be dangerous like alcohol if you stop cold turkey. You have got to taper off, but it works really good if you use it when you get anxiety."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Ner...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Do not hype yourself up about addiction, but do know certain people will be at risk more than others, high-stress jobs (where people's lives are on the line), addictive personality, or using these to 'solve' problems should find other ways to cope. The .05 pills are gentle, they take the edge off. Things like alcohol and opiates seem like they are WAY more addictive. I had to deal with my mom, who had a high-stress job and was HORRIBLY addicted to Xanax, almost died taking them. I refused to take benzos my whole life for that reason until I just recently needed them due to a miscarriage. Will only use them as needed (during PMS). I had absolutely NO withdrawals or odd sensations the next day after taking. Have seen what benzos do to some people. I am hoping that not to be me, nor do I get the withdrawals people say they get the next day. Everyone reacts to drugs differently. I cannot tolerate MJ, most other people can."

• lis...
• December 9, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been dealing with anxiety now for about 2 months. I'm worried that it will never go away. When I take the medication, I feel so much better, however, I am worried about being dependent on the drug and withdrawal."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I take Ativan for panic attacks as well as general anxiety. I must say, it works very, very well. When compared to Xanax, I think Xanax is more effective in stopping the panic attack, but Ativan is better at just avoiding an attack altogether. It kicks in just as fast as Xanax but seems to linger in the system longer. So for me, when I took Xanax and was panicking, I had to take, then I'd be great, then have to take again, etc. Ativan, for me, has been smoother. I take it and I am good. I do have to take a higher dosage than I would of Xanax, but barely. I think this medication is great for panic and general anxiety, though never try to take a benzo as a regimen. The withdrawals are debilitating!"

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2015

For Insomnia "Took this with Zoloft to get me out of a black hole of anxiety and insomnia after a terrible few weeks trying Remeron. Withdrawals from Remeron were terrible, and I didn't sleep for about 6 days (I'm not exaggerating). Was about to give up, but my dad convinced me to try another med since I had an obvious chemical imbalance that wasn't correcting itself. Despite not wanting to rely on a benzo for sleep, I really didn't have any alternatives, and I needed help fast. Zoloft combined with this for a few months got me out of the hole I was in. Tolerance did set in eventually (about a year), but I'm working on finding something safer, but this med essentially saved my life."

• Jas...
• April 25, 2013

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan will definitely help calm you down, but stick to the script! If you quit cold turkey you will have withdrawals for a week. You build a slight tolerance for it and want more. If you give in and take more you will run out before refill time and then come the withdrawals! But it does do its job on anxiety!"

• Mac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 10, 2025

Lorazepam "After retiring from the military, I received help I had been dealing with for years. If you are too honest with any mental health problems on active duty, you can lose promotion opportunities or be discharged, so I waited. This drug is a lifesaver for my debilitating anxiety and insomnia. I have taken it for 3 years, and yes, you build up a tolerance, but it’s better than nothing. There were times I didn’t take it for weeks to see if the withdrawal was that bad. Honestly, it was about the same anxiety as I had to begin with. A couple of days you don’t sleep, but it wasn’t as bad for me. I take 3 mg a day, and it keeps me functioning normally. Without it, I’d be a mess. If I have to take it for life, so be it. It is addictive, but the alternative life isn’t worth living, so I’m glad for this therapy. It doesn’t make you loopy or comatose. The first few weeks will be drowsy, but if you are high anxiety, you will feel normal."

• Ali...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2023

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I’ve been taking Ativan on and off for almost 5 years for GAD. This year, I was going through Lexapro withdrawal, which emerged 90 days after I weaned myself off. Getting back on it was worse for the first few days. I now understand why people are terrified to stop taking SSRIs. I am strict with myself in not taking Ativan often because of how addictive it is, even when my doctor prescribed me 30 pills. I went to the pharmacy to see if they could help me, and the pharmacist was amazing and explained to me that taking .5 or 1 mg of Ativan isn’t addictive (just that it’ll lose its effect over time). She told me to take it every day for the next week, and it was a lifesaver. I had already been taking .5-1 mg of Ativan every day for a few weeks, give or take a good day or two. But when I stopped taking it after the last week ended (totaling a month), I was fine. It helped me be normal again while my body sorted itself out. I now take it once a week or two."

• But...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2022

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This medication is 10/10, if I could vote any higher, I would! I take 1 mg for anxiety, anger, PMDD, racing thoughts, insomnia, and social anxiety, and it works WONDERS!! It makes me feel very, very calm and relaxed and happy and giggly and outgoing, and it also makes me more creative! Sometimes, when I take it, I find everything funny, which is kind of weird. My arms and legs feel calm as I have restless legs, I have a softer voice, I’m more friendly and rational. The only things I HATE about this are the withdrawal symptoms and the fact that it also makes me feel sluggish and stumbling and cold at times, but that’s rare."

• Azg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 21, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I started taking lorazepam 3 years ago after my first panic attack landed me in the ER. I took Zoloft once a day and took lorazepam as needed for extreme anxiety or panic attacks. It did help great for anxiety. However, I started using lorazepam daily for a month after my son passed away, and when I tried to stop, I had the worst withdrawal symptoms. Racing heartbeat, pounding in my chest, nausea, dizziness, and felt like I was dying. I was only on 0.5, so tapering wasn't really an option. I checked out and researched some detox places, and the success rates aren't good with tapering. I finally found a rapid detox in Phoenix, and it cost me 9 thousand bucks, but it beats 30-day inpatient. Beware taking any benzo. I didn't think I was an addict and had never taken a drug, but I became physically addicted to this prescribed med. The withdrawals are horrific."

• Ana...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2019

For Anxiety "I started taking lorazepam after I developed panic attacks and severe anxiety. I didn't realize it was supposed to be for short-term use. Three years later, I want off this med so bad. I've tried taking myself off, but the withdrawals are horrendous. I'm going to have to get professional help to get off this. And once I'm off, I'm never taking another benzo ever again. Stay away!!!!!"

• 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."

• Wor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2019

Lorazepam for Insomnia "Ativan is the absolute best sleep medication. I sleep better the whole night and wake up refreshed. However, I try not to use it more often than twice a week. When taken more than 4 or more nights in a row and then stopped, I have severe withdrawal symptoms."