Questions for users of Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, Valium

I am in the waiting game with Zoloft, I already know from past experiences that it takes a full 8 weeks for it to really work. Meanwhile I'm taking 1 MG ativan as needed - and I need it pretty often. The Doc says I can take it 1 to 4 times a day, the most I've done in a day so far is 2mg

My initial strategy was to go into each day trying not to take the Ativan at all, suffer as long as I could and hope to make it through the day without it. But more than half the time I would cave-in and take it, sometimes mid morning, sometimes I'd make it to late afternoon. I'd be kind of proud if I got through a day without it, but that also would have been a day of suffering.

I've decided now to just take 1MG of ativan every morning with the zoloft along with my first meal. It really helps me get through the early part of my day, which is typically the hardest. and I usually don't need to take any more after that.

Of course I wish I didn't need the Ativan, but I'm taking just 1mg a day it's working pretty good for now. And I'm hoping the Zoloft takes over soon and I don't need the Ativan at all.

I guess I'm just looking for re-assurance that this isn't such a bad thing. The ativan feels like cheating, and I know there's the addiction concerns, and it's possible I'll build up a tollerance, etc.

Please share your situations and experiences with the fast-acting "rescue" drugs.

 

Thank you as always for sharing your experiences, you are always so kind.

It definitely helps me, I just wish there was some "acceptable" medication that provides instant relief. I guess we all wish that. Right now the ativan is the difference between miserable and "not too bad". Sometimes I wonder if I should just take more of it instead of trying to be conservative. I see it as I'm just buying time until the other stuff works, so taking it would help me not to suffer as much.

If you don't mind my asking, Have you ever tried to ease up on the Xanax over those 20 years? When you first got on it was it on an as-needed basis? I have tried xanax before and for some reason it does nothing for me. I wish you the best of luck in making your adjustment. I'll be praying.

I try to take my benzos on an as needed basis only. Using them daily is a recipe for disaster. You will become physically and psychology dependent on them after using them for long enough, eventually you will become tolerant to them doing much of anything for you. Most benzos with the exception of like Xanax, will aggravate depression, and when you find yourself on 4mg of Xanax a day, good luck getting off of it. You must taper extremely slow, that is counting on the fact that your doctor will actually care about saving you from withdrawal. Many doctors just simply remove your script all together, leaving you in an EXTREMELY desperate spot. Benzo withdrawal is worse than pretty much any habit forming substance I can think of and can even result in death through status epilepticus, a severe form of seizure. Benzo withdrawals can last for years if you do not properly taper off these type of medications.

I've tried Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Bromazepam, Midazolam, Temazepam, and Nitrazepam. They can be divided into two categories, those that are primarily hypnotic(helps put you to sleep), and those that are sedatives(calm you down). Besides that, some just start to act quicker or last longer than others. I prefer Klonopin because it is one of the most potent per mg, so you can usually get more per usefulness out of a script of them for what a doctor would be willing to prescribe than you would out of any other benzo, plus they taste like candy and you don't need water, just melt them under your tongue.

I've needed anywhere from 0.25mg to 4mg at a time throughout the years I've been on benzos.

Hey there, ExProud,

Thought I might as well jump in and give you another perspective on these types of anti-anxiety meds. I was first prescribed Xanax about 20 yrs ago and have been on one form or another of benzodiazepines since.

I've heard all the horror stories and asked more than one doctor to help me come off of them. That's when I realized the vast difference of opinion doctors can have concerning them! So who do you listen to, I thought? For the most part, they did help, but I was afraid of possible addiction or the rebound anxiety I'd read about. The thing is, I have what's referred to as 'treatment-resistent' depression, along with a major anxiety disorder. Soooo, apparently, the latest concensus in these situations is that the doctor can use them because they at least offer some relief. Now, I've had a doctor who wanted me to take them as you've been prescribed: up to 4mg/day as needed. BUT, my most recent psychiatrist has a different take, suggesting I take them regularly, at the same times every day.-- Her reasoning is that, first, you stay ahead or on top of the anxiety (because it takes a while for them to work), and you learn to think of them as any medication you take regularly for a purpose. This, she feels, also reduces the potential for impulsively taking too much (because one can panic when the anxiety comes on quickly and overwhelms you). I'm sure there's a certain amount of a placebo effect with this methodology, but 'whatever works' is my mantra. So far it's worked pretty well for me.

...Still, it is worrisome when you know other doctors you respect who believe these are the worst kind of drug! I don't think there's any "actual" truth; it's more about the individual doctor's perspective. For example, a GP who feels this way about Ativan at the same time prescribed me Oxycodone for my fibro!! (I went through Hell once I developed a physiological dependence and had to go cold turkey to get off them! AND they're now off the market in Canada!) Like I said -- perspective.

The first thing is that you respect and trust your prescribing physician and that they're someone you can talk freely to about any concerns. The next is that only you know yourself and your body best, how long you've been sick and the importance of achieving/maintaining a decent level of functionality & quality of life. But, I admit, my worst fear is finding myself in a situation where a doctor refuses to prescribe them -- stories of the withdrawal terrify me!! There really needs to be some regulated consistency in prescribing policy...
...Until then, self-educate and stay aware, but remember that sometimes you just have to live a day at a time as best you can.