Posted by Jeff Silverstein on September 10, 1999, at 10:43:27
In reply to Still Need More Wellbutrin Info , posted by Pat on September 10, 1999, at 10:01:04
Pat, you sound like you're doing fine. We neurochemically-challenged have gotten it into our heads that if we take benzodiazapines we're going to end up like Marilyn Monroe - or addicted. The amounts of Ativan you're taking aren't "abuser" amounts and you're not washing them down with Vodka are you? You don't have to get off Ativan so fast - particularly if it's helping you tolerate an antidepressant which is helping your more major symptoms. But this is a common conflict - I'd fight myself when I needed the tranqulizer, and then I'd stay anxious. I used to have to tell myself "take the Ativan, stupid." Ivan Goldberg told me that these low dosages of Ativan are what he calls "pediatric" and it's far mor important to get the right antidepressant working. Of course he didn't want me taking Ativan if I didn't need it - but made sure I recognized that it was necessary when I did. I also have a theory that our increased self-hate, paranoia, and depressed thought may add to our beating ourselves up about taking the benzodiazapine - we've "picked" something "bad" to accuse ourselves of - and we've gotten into a double bind because if we took the Ativan appropriately, we wouldn't be so agitated about it.
poster:Jeff Silverstein
thread:10786
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/11340.html