Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 435709

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Is Ativan addicting?

Posted by mmcconathy on December 30, 2004, at 12:27:40

I'm considering it, im not intrested in Xanax because i dont want to be temped to abuse it, since it does have a reputation in that catagory.

I take Klonopin 1mg, it is not very noticable at first, it just slowy makes things less "intense".But it's not helping with my panic attacks.

This is why im considering Ativan.

Can i have some Random input from experienced users?


mATT

 

Re: Is Ativan addicting? » mmcconathy

Posted by partlycloudy on December 30, 2004, at 13:06:41

In reply to Is Ativan addicting?, posted by mmcconathy on December 30, 2004, at 12:27:40

I have the same fear regarding xanax as you do. I've only been prescribed Ativan once, during a particularly anxious period. My understanding is that it has the same potential for addiction as Xanax does.
fyi - I started to take Trazodone as a sleep aid (less than 25mg/night) and it has a beneficial effect in lowering my anxiety too, at least through the following morning. It is a non-addictive medication.

 

Re: Is Ativan addicting?

Posted by gheld on December 30, 2004, at 14:31:02

In reply to Is Ativan addicting?, posted by mmcconathy on December 30, 2004, at 12:27:40

I understand that all of the benzodiazepene family can create dependency as they make us feel better and get rid of the panic so we depend upon them to do that. Some, like Xanax, hit faster and some can feel the "whoosh" as it hits and again as it exits. Ativan to a lesser extent and Klonopin even less.

If the difference between dependent and addictive is whether ever increasing quantities are required and if a "high" is obtained, I don't think the benzo's are addictive.

Perhaps you're not taking enough Klonopin to do the job. When you get the proper dosage you probably will not have to keep increasing it on a regular basis although an occasional extra for an especially rough period is certainly ok.

I suspect when and if your panic declines your body will tell you that it's time to slowly taper off any of the benzo's and you'll be able to successfully do that.

I've never heard of benzo's solving panic issues, however, so therapy should be added to the mix.

 

Re: Is Ativan addicting?

Posted by Maxime on January 2, 2005, at 0:15:55

In reply to Re: Is Ativan addicting?, posted by gheld on December 30, 2004, at 14:31:02

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

Keep in mind that this doctor is anti-benzo. But there is some good info how they work.

Maxime

 

Re: Is Ativan addicting?

Posted by Dreyfus on January 2, 2005, at 20:26:53

In reply to Is Ativan addicting?, posted by mmcconathy on December 30, 2004, at 12:27:40

> I'm considering it, im not intrested in Xanax because i dont want to be temped to abuse it, since it does have a reputation in that catagory.
>
> I take Klonopin 1mg, it is not very noticable at first, it just slowy makes things less "intense".But it's not helping with my panic attacks.
>
> This is why im considering Ativan.
>
> Can i have some Random input from experienced users?
>
>
> mATT

I take .5mg of Ativan twice a day. I also take 150mg Trazodone for sleep. I added the Ativan about 7 years ago because I would often wake up early even with the Trazodone ( I think I took 100mg then).

Ativan definitely is addictive. Fortunately, however, it has a short half-life. This makes it much easier to get off than say, Valium. I speak from experience. When recovering from a heart attack in 1999, I got off of it in two weeks. Of course, when I went back to work I went on it again. When a doctor took me off of 10mg of Valium in 1990, I went through about 3 weeks of hell.

I hope this helps.

Michael

 

Re: what about compared to Xanax?

Posted by mmcconathy on January 2, 2005, at 22:23:12

In reply to Re: Is Ativan addicting?, posted by Dreyfus on January 2, 2005, at 20:26:53

I know Xanax is bad. But compared to Ativan well, i dont think atian brings that sense of wellbeing as well as Xanax. Do you agree.

How does it make you feel?

 

Re: what about compared to Xanax? » mmcconathy

Posted by Dreyfus on January 3, 2005, at 11:52:59

In reply to Re: what about compared to Xanax?, posted by mmcconathy on January 2, 2005, at 22:23:12

> I know Xanax is bad. But compared to Ativan well, i dont think atian brings that sense of wellbeing as well as Xanax. Do you agree.
>
> How does it make you feel?

The .5mg tab that I take just before bedtime relaxes me somewhat. The .5 tab I take in the morning doesn't seem to do much, but I feel somewhat tense if I don't take it.

I only took Xanax for a short while many years ago and I didn't really like the way it made me feel. At some point thereafter, I found that many doctors wouldn't prescribe it because it was so addicting.

 

Re: Is Ativan addicting?

Posted by eeyorena on January 4, 2005, at 1:31:07

In reply to Is Ativan addicting?, posted by mmcconathy on December 30, 2004, at 12:27:40

Hi--

Hated Xanax and Klonopin because I would have little "rebounds" of anxiety, even when I took it.

Ativan...well. This is a med I have loved too well. I took it as a sleep aid for 8 (!!!) years. 3 mg per night.

Getting off of it (I initiated getting off of it) has been SO HARD in that I have not had the proper cognitive behavior therapy to deal with my anxiety without meds. So I miss being calm so quickly with a med. I have even wondered about taking some when I feel very, very stressed. But I don't.

What is dependence? Well, I don't have a clear answer for you on that one. Can I eventually get entirely clear of Ativan? I know I can. I've gone down to a half dose within 2 months. Do I enjoy letting it go? No, it has been an easy "fix" for my anxiety and insomnia.

But I need to slim down my med regimine so out it goes.

Ah well.


http://happynothappy.blogspot.com

 

Re: what about compared to Xanax? » Dreyfus

Posted by ramsea on January 7, 2005, at 5:55:02

In reply to Re: what about compared to Xanax? » mmcconathy, posted by Dreyfus on January 3, 2005, at 11:52:59

Xanax is thought to be more addicting according to my info, but not by a great margin. I suppose it is all very individual but through many decades from teenage years to middle years I would now and then be given valium which I only took for a short term and somehow didn't find it addicting at all.

Likewise Temazapam for sleep--itwas more of a stimulant for me and made me wired not sleepy and it held no attractions for me whatsoever.

Then once in my life I was prescribed Xanax--and took it only for one month. At the end of that month I was in hospital for mania--my SO told me later that it made me suddenly nuts, whic was very frightening for all around me. It was a nightmare.

But what Xanax did do is make me high. And I liked it.

Now I am prescribed low dose Ativan/ It doesn't make me "high", it seems only helpful for my severe agitation, and has an anti-manic effect.

Weird. For me--Xanax equals too much euphoria, and Ativan equals memory loss and low. I have no idea why.


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