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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nickguy on August 14, 2006, at 8:59:11
I'm curious as to other people's ativan dosages.
right now I take- 1.5 mg twice a day everyday
I'm not really sure whats the lowest, the normal, the largest, and the range of dosages of ativan people take.
Posted by dmlvt on August 14, 2006, at 10:22:51
In reply to ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by nickguy on August 14, 2006, at 8:59:11
My prescription calls for 1-2 .5mg tablets up to 3x per day, as needed.
I probably average about 2.0 mg per day. I sometimes use 3mg and sometimes only 1. It just depends on the day, I suppose. Wednesday and Thursday last week, I used only 1.5 mg each day. Over the weekend, I used 2.0 mg each day. One day last week, I took 1 mg early in the day and then took another mg two more times later in the day. I woke up feeling hung over the day after that one.
dml
Posted by Crazy Horse on August 14, 2006, at 11:39:15
In reply to ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by nickguy on August 14, 2006, at 8:59:11
> I'm curious as to other people's ativan dosages.
>
> right now I take- 1.5 mg twice a day everyday
>
> I'm not really sure whats the lowest, the normal, the largest, and the range of dosages of ativan people take.You are on a pretty low to average, yet very effective dose..i would stay right there as long as you are getting good benefits at that dose.
I was on Ativan for 25 years and for many years i was on 1 mg. t.i.d., i prefered the 3 times a day because of ativans short half life, i felt morning, noon and evening doses gave me good "coverage." After many years, i began to build up tolerance to ativan and my dose was increased to 6 mgs. t.i.d., sometimes 8-10 mgs (high dose) if my anxiety was really bad.It's a good benzo. I hope it helps you a lot. And my advice would be, keep the dose low, and don't stay on it too long (if possible). But better than my advice..do what your pdoc says to do. ;)
Monte
Posted by Phillipa on August 14, 2006, at 14:16:43
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages » nickguy, posted by Crazy Horse on August 14, 2006, at 11:39:15
I was on it years ago with luvox took 5-6mg at the time I didn't know it was high. Love Phillipa
Posted by SandyWeb on August 15, 2006, at 15:08:55
In reply to ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by nickguy on August 14, 2006, at 8:59:11
Hi Nickguy,
I've bounced around between Klonopin (longer-lasting) and Ativan (shorter-lasting). But I've come to find that even though the Ativan means dosing more times during the day, I find it to be a much better benzo than the Klonopin.
When I have things to do in the morning (such as going to the store, riding the bus, interacting with people), I'll start out with 6mg. That dose gives me the quality of life that I need to function. If I only take 4mg, I'm just on the border of being nervous, and I certainly couldn't get on a bus all by myself.
Anyways, depending on my day, my Ativan dose can range from 6mg to start and then 4mg every few hours...usually for a total of 14-18mg per day (again, depending on the stressors for each particular day).
The dose may be high, but I'd rather LIVE a life rather than sit at home scared to pick up the phone.
Hoping you all the best!
Sandy
Posted by nickguy on August 15, 2006, at 16:03:10
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages » nickguy, posted by SandyWeb on August 15, 2006, at 15:08:55
Sandy- I was just wondering how long you've been taking it for, and what your diagnosis is? if you don't mind sharing. I also find it to be much more effective than klonopin.
Does anybody ever take breaks from the drug, so as to lower your tolerance?
Posted by Phillipa on August 15, 2006, at 20:06:13
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages » nickguy, posted by SandyWeb on August 15, 2006, at 15:08:55
Sandy l4-l6mg of ativan a day? Love Phillipa
Posted by rjlockhart on August 15, 2006, at 20:14:17
In reply to ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by nickguy on August 14, 2006, at 8:59:11
When i was first prescribed Ativan i was scripted 3mg (1mg X3) daily
I then went to the highest to 2mg X 3 daily.
I have been in the benzo arena for a long time.
I will say one thing, it affects memory expecially Xanax.
I take 6mg of Xanax (2mg X 3) daily
I have been on diffrent benzo's since 2004 Klonopin, then Ativan, Then higher dose of Ativan, then off ativan and back to Klonopin on a high dose, now Xanax.Matt
Posted by nickguy on August 16, 2006, at 0:37:46
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by rjlockhart on August 15, 2006, at 20:14:17
2 mg 3 times daily is the highest dose?
I take 1.5 either 2 or 3 times a day.. I didn't have any response to .5 or 1 mg dosages.
Posted by spriggy on August 16, 2006, at 0:39:34
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by rjlockhart on August 15, 2006, at 20:14:17
Initially I was terrified of Ativan because my first dose ( given in a shot form in the ER) made me feel like I couldn't feel my legs and then I felt kind of like I was floating in a tunnel ( which makes me panic for some reason..).
BUT, it was my first dose ever and so I think they gave me too much for my small frame.
Now, I am prescribed 2 mg's per night for sleep and TMJ ( yes, TMJ- who knew?) but I keep it between .5-1 mg per night.
If I feel panicky ( rarely ever) I will take another .5
Once a month, I will intentionally wean myself down to .25 for 3 nights and then go 3 nights without it just so I don't get addicted to it.
I haven't had any problems at all getting off of it.
I went on a vacation/trip last month and forgot to bring adequate number of Ativan.- I went 5 days without any and had no issue. I didn't sleep well but I didn't have any withdrawals.
Posted by SandyWeb on August 16, 2006, at 10:39:20
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages, posted by nickguy on August 15, 2006, at 16:03:10
Hi again Nickguy,
I've been taking Ativan and Klonopin off and on for about 3 years now. My diagnosis is social anxiety, and it's bad enough that I'm pretty much homebound (except when I have a safe person to go out with, or I get enough Ativan inside me to get up the nerve to walk out the door).
I don't take the Ativan EVERY day. I can go days without any simply because I'm not leaving the house for any reason. When I leave with a safe person, I only need to take 4mg one to four times during the course of the day (depends where we are going, etc, etc). When I have to do something all by my lonesome....well, get 6mg into me right away, and then take 4mg each time as needed for the rest of the day.
So, yes...my dose can be pretty darn high sometimes. But that's not the norm. If I took that much EACH day, I would develop a tolerance to it and then I'd really be in trouble....suicide-attempt time again. Stress is NOT our friend. Lol.
Today I took 6mg because I need to make a phone call to a company to TRY and explain something that isn't working properly. I "hate" talking about things I don't understand! The Ativan takes about an hour to kick in, and then that will probably be the only dose I'll take all day since I have nothing else planned.
Amazingly enough, Ativan does not make me sleepy. That's GOOD! I wouldn't want to be wandering around like a zombie on the days that I take a high dose.
Best of luck!
Sandy
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 16, 2006, at 16:10:19
In reply to Re: ativan (lorazepam) dosages » nickguy, posted by Crazy Horse on August 14, 2006, at 11:39:15
I found Xanax and Ativan to be very effective, but not very long lasting and yes over time, as sometimes with others, I needed more. Last year when I was still on Ativan, it started to loose it's effect for me in about 2 hours, I was switched over to Klonopin. It seems to be a smoother, longer lasting ride, but it doesn't have the initial relief, almost like a drink that Xanax and Ativan has. I understand that benzos and alcohol effect the same part of the brain. So, they can be addictive and dangerous if abused. But, if you can use them as prescribed, they are immense help. They have been for me. I wish I would of known about them years past, as I struggled severely over business situations, presentations and other socail situations. I am seriously thinking about trying ECT as I have gone the just about all of the newer Antidepressants and my Psy. Dr. feels that it is very safe, though not a permanent solution. If I pursue with ECT, I will have to switch from the Klonopin to Xanax or Ativan, as Klonopin is also an anti seizure med. and the whole idea of ECT is to stimulate a mild brain seizure.
e
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