Ativan and Withdrawal?

Question

I just wanted to get your opinion before I go and see my doctor next week. I have anxiety and my doc. prescribed Ativan 5 mg sublingual (under the tongue for immed. effect) to take when I have an anxiety attack. I do not take it on a reg. basis, as I only take it when I have an attack which is about once a week. I was given a pres. of 30 tablets at the end of July and have taken 11 in total since then, so as you can see I am not a regular user. I have noticed now, that if I dont take one in a day or two after my anxiety attack, I am suddenly very dizzy, cannot sleep because of dizziness, have constant shakes and am nauseaus and my anxiety feels worse. Is this withdrawal? Just wanted to get your opinion as I feel worse now then I did before, and I am concerned about stopping the med. as I dont now how I would wean off of it when I am taking the lowest dose. Thanks for the help!

I just wanted to make it clear, that my med is prescribed to take when I have an anxiety attack, and not on a reg. basis, and I was just asking for advice because I wanted to see if other users have had this happen to them. I do not wish to take this med, which is why I have taken so few, and I will be weaning off of them. And I would like to note I am a neonatal nurse.

Answer 1

I would recommend you see your doctor or another medical professional before you consider any deviations, but if sounds as if the cure for your problem is worse then the anxiety attacks themselves! You may wish to consider a non-medical route such as therapy rather then continue taking a powerful psychotropic medication (I'm personally wary of anything that effects the natural workings of the brain so strongly).

This said, I'd go see your doctor, and you should seriously consider taking yourself of the medicine entirely, going off a medical professionals instructions on proper weaning.

Answer 2

you are a nurse and you are non-compliant with your meds? you should know better than that. Your answer YES, BDZ cause withdrawal. Lorazepam is a benzodazepine and they need to be tapered when you quit them. You should develop a strategy to make sure you don't miss any doses. Take a pill at the same time everyday. Perhaps with your breakfast. If you want to quit talk to your Doc or Pharmacist about a taper. There are some partial agonist (Midozolam) and antagonist (Flumanezil) that can possibly help. There are other anti anxiety drugs that don't cause withdrawal. Have you tried any kind of behavioural therapy? Also ask your Doctor or Pharmacist about Extended release BDZ products or long acting products that cause less withdrawal symptoms.
To the person who wrote "you don't sound addicted" note that withdrawal and addiction are two totaly different things. Withdrawal is due to a receptor interaction commonly refered to as a shift to the right on the dosage response curve, addiction is a permanent craving associated with positive experiences from drug use.

Answer 3

Hey there,

I use xanax in the same manner. I am also a health professional. I don't think it's likely that you are experiencing withdrawal from such infrequent use. You haven't really developed a habit to withdrawal from... although, it could be just the after effects of the drug?

Answer 4

That certainly sounds like withdrawal symptoms, but you don't take it enough to be addicted. I would look at it rather as a drag. For instance with benedryl, it will help you sleep, but when you wake up, you'll be low on energy for about 8 hours.

I'd ask your dr. about it, because I take klonipin with no drag. I do get a headache when it's time to take it, but that's because I take it regularly.

Take care.
Debbie
Not an expert