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Ativan And Xanax

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Posted 11/26/2014 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I recently started hyperbaric oxygen therapy. My doctor prescribed Ativan 1 mg for anxiety. Each session lasts 2 hours. about 1/2 way through a session I feel the medicine wear off and have to be removed from the chamber. My doctor advised me to take 1-1/2 Ativan before therapy but it still does not work. I have some Xanax .5 mg from another illness that I have not taken in awhile. Can Xanax be taken with Ativan?
Posted 11/26/2014 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
It took Ativan like 10 years ago and it had absolutely no effect on me. I was even prescribed 2 mg tablets! Xanax works for me and at a much lower dose. I wouldn't take them both together. Butane just try the xanax next time.
Posted 11/26/2014 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've also taken Ativan and it doesn't seem to work as well as Xanax. I was actually in the hospital recently and while I was there I started to panic. They asked me if I wanted something for it and I said yes. They asked what I normally take and I said Xanax and she said she was giving me Ativan and that since I take Xanax the Ativan may not work as well. Maybe see if you can make the switch to Xanax.
Posted 11/26/2014 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi D.,

You should definitely not take these together....especially because they were not prescribed as a pairing.

Call your doctor and ask about Diazepam, another long acting benzo that may help you on your threapy days better than the Ativan.

Best wishese! Post with us anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 11/26/2014 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor prescribed Xanax .5 mg today. Any opinions on .5 mg's keeping my anxiety contained for (2) hours or should I double it?
Posted 11/26/2014 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Ativan doesn't work for me either, in fact it made me very grumpy. Xanax has really been the only thing that will take my panic attacks away and they can stay away for at least 4 hours for me.

If your doctor prescribed you the .5 and you haven't taken xanax on a regular basis, I would believe it would last for a few hours, I think I would talk to him to be certain, some people have a higher tolerance for medication, so it is hard to say how long it will last, but I would check first.
Posted 11/27/2014 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Disabled,

It's best to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions. Take the Xanax as prescribed. I asked the pharmacist if I could take two of my .5 mg's simultaneously if I was having a bad, bad day,and she referred me to the doctor.

John
Posted 11/27/2014 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
The prescription reads; "Take 1-2 tablets by mouth 30 minutes prior to HBO."
That's why I asked if I should take 1 or 2.
It has been awhile (about 2 years) since I have taken Xanax so I don't remember what it does or for how long. And, they were .25 mg (I thought they were .5 mg).
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Posted 11/27/2014 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
Disabled,

I stand by my previous post.

John
Posted 11/27/2014 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
D.,

I think that I would start with one pill. At .5 mg, you are upping quite a bit already from your previous dosage.

Taking 1 mg (two pills) is a fairly hefty starting point...

If you find you need the two, rather than one...you have somewhere to go...and can up it for the next time.:)

Best wishes!

S.C.
Posted 11/27/2014 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm also curious if I can take 1 mg instead of my prescribed .5 once in a while.
Posted 12/10/2014 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
UPDATE

I tried the HBO therapy with (1) .5 mg Xanax and could not make it through 30 minutes of therapy. I then tried (2) and made it through almost an hour. I then tried (2) Xanax .5 mg pills, and (1) Ativan 1 mg and made it through 90 minutes of therapy.
I usually take my medicine (1) hour before therapy. I get in the chamber and drift in and out of sleep/daze, but, never am fully asleep. I am aware of my surroundings. Then, all of a sudden, I feel as if I want to get out of the chamber but can't because I am sealed in. This is when my anxiety ramps up and the medicine stops working, or, I think it stops working.
I have talked with my doctor about it and he states he cannot give me anything that will "knock" me out, due to having to be able to clear my ears during therapy.
I am thinking about trying (2) pills of each medicine. confused
Posted 12/10/2014 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Jeeesh, being sealed in a chamber would make just about anybody anxious. Good luck!!
Posted 12/10/2014 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
D.,

Just clear it with your doctor first of course.

...and I agree with M2g&q...this would really challenge my anxiety as well...

...you are a rockstar for hanging in there!

I hope you find the right dosage/relief you need!

S.C.
Posted 12/11/2014 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor seems to think I am suffering from depression and has prescribed ZOLOFT to me. Can anyone here that uses Zoloft tell me a little bit about it? Will it effect my other anxiety medicine I am taking for my HBO sessions?
Posted 12/11/2014 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
D.,

Is this the same prescribing doctor? SSRI's and benzos are usually okay to be taken together...but if you have two different docs prescribing these Rx's...just get the clear from them to take the combination...so they are aware of your total dosage of both, and ultimate intake of medication.

We also have some good self-help material for anxiety and depression in our Resources. I'll be happy to print some links you may find helpful...just let me know.

Best wishes,

S.C.
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