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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 8, 2009, at 12:04:52
I started taking Ativan 1mg and I just have no idea when does it start working, what does it do, or whether it is working or not.
I just feel more sleepy on it. I was so tired that I decided to cut the dose in half and take 0.5mg instead and that's ok but still makes me a bit sleepy.
I used to take Xanax and Klonopin and I could tell when I was sedated on them. But not with Ativan.
Does anyone here take Ativan? Could someone sort of tell me what it does for you and any details about when it starts working, how long it lasts, how does it compare to Klonopin and Xanax, etc?
Does it really help for social anxiety, or are Xanax and Klonopin superior?
Thanks
Posted by Phillipa on September 8, 2009, at 12:18:51
In reply to Not understanding how Ativan works, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 8, 2009, at 12:04:52
I've taken ativan many times as well as the other benzos. Ativan is a lot like xanax to me only longer acting. Very relaxing and calming at the time. Interesting you find it stronger and more sedating than the others. I've had the opposite experience. Could it be the meds you're combining it with? I know sometimes ativan is used to calm certain conditions fast when given IM. Worked right away in me. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 8, 2009, at 12:23:11
In reply to Re: Not understanding how Ativan works » Girlnterrupted78, posted by Phillipa on September 8, 2009, at 12:18:51
hope this is a helpful link. Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on September 8, 2009, at 13:35:51
In reply to Not understanding how Ativan works, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 8, 2009, at 12:04:52
i used to take 10/ 1mg a day, now if you have never been in wonderland an venus at the same time thats how to do it. i still take 4/ 1mg a day i am addicted but i dont mind they still give me sedation,ativan i think is the mother of all benzo,s it draw,s you in then your hooked,they use ativan in england to sedate people in hospital, to calm there nerves ,before an op, or just to sedate you. but we are talking 2mg,you should be sedated an illated at the same time, in a state of high anxierty 2mg an the world is calm an peaceful in the space of 15 minutes , not like valium half a day later, the blue cobra is me my best friend an worst enemy.but its a love affair i dont wish to leave.
Posted by Fred23 on September 8, 2009, at 16:36:58
In reply to Not understanding how Ativan works, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 8, 2009, at 12:04:52
Are you taking the name brand or generic?
They act differently.
Posted by manic666 on September 9, 2009, at 4:00:25
In reply to Re: Not understanding how Ativan works » Girlnterrupted78, posted by Fred23 on September 8, 2009, at 16:36:58
do you mean lorozepam,it atually says that on my script , but i dont think loz is as affective as ativan, if you go into a chemist in england ,if it say,s ativan some will give you loz an argue there the same, but i use one that gives me ativan , i have a thing about white tabs an loz is white, even on my sertraline i wont except white only yellow an blue,even white sertraline to me seems weak,
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on September 10, 2009, at 21:41:29
In reply to Not understanding how Ativan works, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 8, 2009, at 12:04:52
It's used in overnight hospital (psycheward's, mentalhospital) usally. I had to take Zyprexa 20mg, Ativan 2mg, and Geodon 40mg. I said "no" please! that's thorazine! they said take it! so i did;(
They leveled me out. Ativan, I think from my presepevtive it levels the mood out. Yet if you take it while your depressed, won't help much. I've taken Ativan in the past, it causes muscle relaxtion, klonopin, xanax don't.
Xanax XR works good.
Posted by yxibow on September 12, 2009, at 4:01:52
In reply to Not understanding how Ativan works, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 8, 2009, at 12:04:52
> I started taking Ativan 1mg and I just have no idea when does it start working, what does it do, or whether it is working or not.
>
> I just feel more sleepy on it. I was so tired that I decided to cut the dose in half and take 0.5mg instead and that's ok but still makes me a bit sleepy.
>
> I used to take Xanax and Klonopin and I could tell when I was sedated on them. But not with Ativan.
>
> Does anyone here take Ativan? Could someone sort of tell me what it does for you and any details about when it starts working, how long it lasts, how does it compare to Klonopin and Xanax, etc?
>
> Does it really help for social anxiety, or are Xanax and Klonopin superior?
Benzodiazepines aren't all the same -- Xanax for some people tends to be a bit uplifting, Klonopin is often used for panic disorder, though there's nothing exclusive about that.Xanax has a fairly fast acting time so either with or without the Klonopin you probably would know. In fact its sort of superfluous I would think to double two benzodiazepines up if you're using it just PRN for anxiety.
Klonopin for me I found was very subtle and not noticeable.
Ativan is also somewhat fast acting, and like Xanax has a short half life... Xanax has a very short half life, Ativan has about a 12 hour half life, give or take.
How long have you been prescribed benzodiazepines ? Perhaps there's some habituation -- I mean for some people it could take months, some years... I still have to take one even though it doesn't work as well.
That's one sign that you don't "feel" anything on it... or the other sign, the subtle sleepiness is maybe you just dont respond to Ativan like you do to Xanax.
As mentioned by a poster, Ativan has often been used in hospitals to "calm" patients, at least I know in the past.
-- Jay
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