My father died 2 years ago and my mother still is having a hard time coping.
She is seeing a psychiatrist that is prescribing her 6 mgs of Ativan (2 mg 3 times per day).... She is often times so out of it, she stumbles and seems doped up.
I am worrying about her being around my children because of this.
Is 6 mg a day too much? Why would a psychiatrist prescribe a drug that will tranqulize her, 3 times a day?
2006-12-24 15:35:11 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Well, it sounds like 6mg of Ativan per day is definitely too much for her. It's not an unusual dose for people, but everyone reacts differently.
I would try either 2mg twice a day or break them in half and give 1mg three times per day.
The best thing to do is to contact the doctor and tell him what's going on. Me may try a different medication or he may do what I have suggested or something similar.
Good Luck
2006-12-24 15:41:17 · answer #1 · answered by TomB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a large amount of Ativan. Your body builds up a tolerance to that type of medication so if you tried to take that amount you would be out, she can be functional on that amount would be my guess. The problem is it is HIGHLY addictive and normally only to be used short-term. They are very dangerous to be left on long-term. I also had an idiot doctor who put me on a similar drug (same family of benzos) for 4 years until I was so highly addicted to them that when I got to a real doctor and weaned off of them I had lost all of my coping skills and had to learn to deal with all social situations again because you lean so heavily on the medication.
Being around your children should not be a problem, although I would not leave them alone with her or certainly not let her ride in the car with her if she drives.
I would see about finding a new doctor, although she will fight it tooth and nail. Be sure it is a psychiatrist, not a general practitioner. She will not want to get off the Ativan.
Also, it is not safe to just stop the drug cold-turkey. She could have seizures, try to commit suicide, or die. They have to gradually lower the dose until she is off of it. There are other alternatives out there. Good luck!
2006-12-24 15:49:11 · answer #2 · answered by LeAnn C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Listen there are a lot of people on more then that. After a while taking them, it just seems like taking nothing. Unless she is abusing them i would not worry about her being around your childern. I am around my grandchildern all of the time. If i feel i should not be around them, i will not be around them. Ask your mother, as the doctor, go to the drug store and ask. You may find that you are stressing yourself out , more then she is . You know some people take a heck of a lot more then that a day. I think you need to see someone about over whelming and stressing yourself.
Merry Christmas again.
2006-12-24 17:52:44 · answer #3 · answered by Ladyofathousandfaces 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6 mgs a day?? That is way much. I believe the recommended maximum dose is 2.5 to 4, and they come in 0.5 pills. She's popping a lot. As a comparison I have a prescription - meant mainly for anxiety and sleep - which allows for up to 1.5 mg a day, but in truth, I only use it for anxiety, and even then, it's rare to do 1.5 mg a WEEK, much less a day. Most weeks I don't go near it at all.
Ativan (Lorazepam) is very addicting. She probably is doped up.
Sorry to hear about your father, but even more sorry to hear about your mother. She needs some help, and being submerged in Ativan isn't going to do it for her. See if you can get her to switch to a different doctor, or see one for yourself that you can talk to about your options in this area.
2006-12-24 15:52:28 · answer #4 · answered by T J 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i have taken ativan before myself and had to take 1 mg at first then they moved me to 2 mg, but i only took them in the morning and the evening. i have children so i cant be zombied out. it didnt end up working for me, so they switched me to xanax which is better for me. it does sound like an awful lot, but if he prescribed it to her, he must think it is alright. maybe she needs a bit more time to adjust to the meds. if not, go back to her doc and influence her to try a different med. good luck.
2006-12-24 18:04:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please take your mother to get a second opinion.6 mg of Ativan seems like an awful lot to me.Especially 2 years later unless something really tragic happened like he committed suicide in front of her.
2006-12-24 15:52:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contact your mother's doctor with your concerns. He or she may not be aware of the effects this medication has on your mother. For her safety as well as your children's, I hope she's not driving a car.
2006-12-24 15:55:27 · answer #7 · answered by dudette 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
today seems like a good day for that, and now that you mention it tomorrow probably will be too.
2006-12-24 17:59:05 · answer #8 · answered by nodumgys 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋