i have been on ATIVAN for my anxiety for about 3 months now..its time for a new refill & my doctor says i?

Question

should think about switching to an antidepressant for my anxiety since ativan is habit forming..so far i dont think it has been habit forming but its only been a few months..so over time it might..but it works really good for me..and im scared too switch b/c one i hate takin pills..especially new ones that ive never taken before..and also im afraid that if i switch..then whatever i switch to wont work..so does anyone know any good anti depressants for anxiety?? and is anyone else on ativan and how do you like it?

i have went a few days without takin it..like now..ive been out for four days and so i havent taken any..& i feel fine thats why i know its not addictive to me..yet anyways..and no im not seeing no counselor.

Answer 1

Are you also working with a counselor or therapist to try and figure out what you are so anxious about and how you can deal with your anxiety without medication. That should be your goal.
I know how debilitating anxiety can be, there are some antidepressants that help with anxiety disorders (buspar is one of them) but again it depends on what your symptoms are and what your situation is (if you have to drive for example ) you need to be careful about taking these meds.
The fact that you are using words like "I'm scared" and "I'm afraid" tell me that you are already anxious over the thought of losing the ativan and just because something isn't "addictive" doesn't mean people can't become emotionally dependent on meds, just be careful that you don't trade one crutch for another. I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

Ok, I got addicted to my Ativan because I was to take it 'as needed'. I 'needed' it all day long. Of course, I loved it but I loved it too much. It took almost 4 months for me to really get addicted to it. I didn't have withdrawal symptoms from it, I just took too many pills throughout the day. That was my addiction, just pill popping every time I felt stressed. I was also on 20mgs of Lexapro. The Lexapro was for my depression and it helps a little bit with the anxiety/panic attacks but not enough. Lexapro works really well for me with the depression (Zoloft did NOTHING for me) but it's still not enough to take care of my anxiety, etc.. That's why I had the Ativan as well.

Because I got addicted to the Ativan and went through a months supply in just over a week, I was switched to Klonopin which has a longer half-life. It stays in your system longer and that kept me from feeling like I needed more all the time. I was also recently put on Abilify as a 'mood stabilizer' but that's beside the point.

I'm now up to 30mg of Lexapro with 1.5mg of Klonopin PLUS 5mg of Abilify. It's a very good combo for me. My depression is almost gone, the anxiety is almost non-existent and I don't have any more panic attacks. The Abilify is helping a bit with mood swings but I think the dose is still too low.

Don't be scared, just relax. You didn't say if you were supposed to be taking the Ativan every day or not. That's the problem. It's not a medication that doctors like to keep people on for too long if there is an alternative. Lexapro is a good antidepressant for me but it might be terrible for you. You've got to listen to the doctor and just try what he/she gives you. If it's not working, they will take you off of it. Don't worry.

Answer 3

If you have not tried going a day or 2 without taking ativan then how would you know if you are addicted or not? If you try and stop taking it and suffer the severe and mental side effects of a tranquilliser or sleeping pills withdrawal syndrome (sedative hypnotic withdrawal), you will know all about it and why your doctor is concerned.
To be honest your doctor if he is aware of the addictive potential of these drugs I do wonder why he kept you on it for 3 months. These drugs should only be used for a couple of weeks maximum to avoid the severe physical addiction these drugs can cause. By the way you should just instantly switch from ativan to an antidepressant. You should gradually reduce your lorazepam. Stopping lorazepam abruptly even after a few months runs a risk of seizures if a severe physical dependency has developed. Seizures from benzo withdrawal can be life threatening.
Pills are not always the answer to lifes problems. Antidepressants can also be addictive, although they lack abuse potential. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can occur from coming off of antidepressant but they are not usually nearly as bad a benzodiazepine withdrawal. Ativan is a benzodiazepine by the way.
If you want to know what an alcoholic goes through during withdrawal continue on with your ativan as benzo withdrawal is similar to alcohol withdrawal and it aint pleasant. Been through a benzo withdrawal myself twice.
Long term use of drugs like ativan can actually cause mental health problems. See this page http://www.benzo.org.uk/ashbzoc.htm
If you want to learn about how benzodiazepines work and their long term effects and addictive potential, read this link http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

Good luck with your decisions.

Answer 4

You guys need to stop saying she's addicted she's obviously not and you would know that it you paid attention to the facts. She said she's doing 5 a day, not that she was doing 5 and now wants 6 from her doc. If you have tolerance that plateaus higher that other people that may just be your body and and it's differences. I bet someone else in your family is on xanax or should be. Some people don't get that it's a genetic thing and if you become stable (ie taking 5 pills a day and not going any higher because of numbness) then good for you. Your doctor shouldn't have brought you up or let you go up to 5 a day of she wasn't thinking or that possibility, it sounds like she was setting you up for really bad withdrawals. Either that or she doesn't know the drug very well. Sorry you're struggling.

Answer 5

Ativan is HIGHLY addictive. I would recommend trying an anti-depressant instead. Long term use of Ativan is not good and I'm quite surprised that your doctor has prescribed it for this long.

Anytime you make a switch you need to give it time for the new med's to work. Some med's are immediate, others need a build up. But I do think its time to switch.

Answer 6

My daughter takes Lexapro for anxiety and it has been very helpful for her. Ativan and Xanax are used for anxiety and are controlled substances because they are habit forming. Many doctors will start you on an antidepressant and keep you on a low dose of Ativan or Xanax until the 3-6 weeks it takes for antidepressants to start working. Speak to your doctor about this to see if he will do this in your case. This might help with your worry about the transition.

Answer 7

Anti depressants do help with anxiety; the difficult part can sometimes be finding the one that works for you.

I don't know anything about Ativan so I'm sorry I can't advise there; if you're doubting your doctor's advice about stopping this medication, do seek a second opinion.

I was on Prozac for six weeks and found it really did reduce anxiety; I felt very relaxed. Any anti depressant that works for you will do the same.

I completely understand your nervousness about changing medications - I think any normal person would feel the same way. Speak to your doctor again and tell him/her about your concerns; you're the patient and you have every right to ask questions!

Answer 8

Listen to your doctor. In fact he should have started you on antidepressant and used the ativan short term while antidepressant kicking in.

DO NOT continue to take ativan except on rare occassions....you WILL BE very sorry.

Answer 9

If Ativan has worked okay for you, ask your doctor not to switch to an anti-depressant. If you swtch to a different medication, your condition may get worse. Besides, I do not know whether Ativan is habit-forming.

Answer 10

What makes you anxious?
Why do you need Ativan? Work, school, friends, social interactions?
Depression is loing term like your dying of cancer over a period of 5 years, anxiety is temporary, you need an Ativan every couple of days.