medications

[reinventingmyself36]

my friend recently told me that lorazapam/Ativan is most effective in decreasing severe anxiety attacks and has no neg side effects? My psychiatrist didn’t want to prescribe it since it’s less effective than Klonopin but Klonopin barely helps me. Can any one share what their experiences have been?

[Starrlight]

in my experience ativan worked better for me than klonopin but all the benzos are habit forming so be careful

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Starrlight]

Oh good to know. Idk my friends mom has been on it for 30 years no side effects. But we all are diff. I’ll ask my doc again. Thank you

[Starrlight in reply to reinventingmyself36]

true we all react differently

[Mofro]

I echo Starrlight in saying to be careful with benzos. I was first prescribed Klonopin decades ago for panic attacks and I continued using it for anxiety after I was no longer having panic attacks. It was effective for me with the panic attacks and for my anxiety, but I honestly can't remember for how long. I do know at some point it had diminishing returns, and eventually I thought it was probably doing me more harm than good. I learned it isn't supposed to be prescribed long term because of the likelihood of addiction. I also learned if used long term it can cause cognition problems. I believe Klonopin is seen as the "go to" benzo because it is longer lasting and has a long half-life which is supposed to reduce the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms. It's also prescribed first and foremost for panic attacks. I was finally able to quit using it after repeated tries, as of the end of February, and I would never use benzos long term again.

I actually responded to another post of yours entitled "Depression", in which I gave my account of using Klonopin in more detail. I will tell you that I still have a lot of issues with debilitating anxiety, but I believe a lot of it is situational to where my life is right now. I wish you relief, but please be careful in doing so. At the end of the day, each one of us has to decide for ourselves whether something is going to be more advantageous or not for us in the long run, hopefully an educated decision. I found that Klonopin wasn't, but I had to learn that the hard way.

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Mofro]

thanks Micro. I believe my anxiety is situational too due to loneliness and a career I dislike .. etc

Klonopin is losing its effect on me I guess I have to go thru this debilitating anxiety that makes my chest feel like it’s filled with rocks and nausea and can’t breathe well each morning without relying on benzos:((

How do you handle the severity of the anxiety without pills?

[BlueLizard12 in reply to reinventingmyself36]

I completely understand that anxiety, I take an antidipressent that helps with anxiety and an anxiety med (Non benzos) to help. I also take a pain med which is a mood stabilizer and that helps.

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to BlueLizard12]

sorry for the questions. My psychiatrist said since I have bipolar no antidepressants will help. Which one do you take? I need a good mood stabilizer? I’m on seroquel and hate it .

[BlueLizard12]

Ativan was prescribed to me by a er hospital doctor and all my other doctors had told me not to take it. They told me that because it is highly addictive. (I am given it in hospital for bad episodes).

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to BlueLizard12]

oh wow. It is brand for lorazepam right?

[BlueLizard12 in reply to reinventingmyself36]

I believe so it was a while ago

[Lazy_dog_lover]

I really believe that medications work differently on different people. Each of our bodies have different neurochemicals. They are both benzodiazepines. Each should be taken with care. The biggest side effects are benzos can lead to respiratory depression. At high doses, you may stop breathing and fall asleep. Detox if you stop them is challenging.

Clonazepam (Klonopin) is longer acting and has only slightly less active ingredient per 5 mg. Lorazepam (Ativan) is short to intermediate lasting. Longer-lasting benzos are better for generalized anxiety while shorter-lasting benzos are useful for stopping panic attacks. (psychologenie.com)

I take clonazepam before bed. I used to be on lorazepam. When I switched a different med, the doctor switched this as well because it worked better together.

Keep a journal of how you are feeling. Dosages can be changed by the doctor.

Best wishes.

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

thank you for detailing your experiences with these meds. Sometimes I take more than needed and feel Klonopin barely helps me. My friend took lorazepam and she felt amazing when she was suffering from severe anxiety.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to reinventingmyself36]

Our biologies differ and our sources for anxiety differ. Only take prescribed amount. I take it daily, not as needed. I have been able to reduce my dose over time, as I learn more techniques to calm myself. If you go higher, you come down harder.

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

thanks! So true

[designguy]

I haven't tried Ativan but I did take klonopin for awhile and was able to tapper off of it without any problems and supposedly it is very addicting so it really varies and we all react differently to meds.