anyone tried atavan?

I have been back and forth between IBS, anxiety and heart issues. I think my doctor is at the end of his rope with me cause he gave me some atavan in the er and told me it was a smooth muscle relaxant and it would take away my chest pain. This was after I took an ekg and it was normal. I have taken a battery of tests for stomach, and heart issues all with nothing significant found the only test I haven't taken yet is an endoscopy. Am I just going nuts out of the blue? It seems like everything is giving me chest pain all of a sudden. My job is stressful most of the time but I am finding I can't even shop with the kids usual bickering without my chest paining me. I am usually the one in control and on top of everything but lately everyday stuff is just killing me. Any suggestions?

Do you have anxiety? I'm confused.

I've been on Ativan/Lorazepam for 3 months now, the chest pain may be related to your anxiety, and most likely is.

The drug simply calms you down, and gets you to stop thinking about your anxiety so much.

Ativan is NOT a muscle relaxant, it is a sedative, and will calm you down so you stop having the chest pain because you're most likely panicking about it and causing it to happen more.

Ativan is a benzo, in the groups of Klonopin, Xanax, and those kinds of drugs. It simply will calm you down and help you be able to think more clearly in times where you feel a lot of stress.

What dosage are you taking?

I myself take .5 mgs a day, sometimes 1 mg as needed if I'm having an anxious or panicky day and the one pill just won't cut it.

Hope this helps.

Twiggygal~

When I was in the er they gave me 1mg. I told my regular doctor about the visit and she said I should be on .25mg. I have taken .25mg when I feel a knot in my chest and within a half hour it seems to be better. I do think this is also a digestive issue maybe or maybe not ibs but when I get this chest pain it is usually after eating a moderately sized meal. Maybe the pain starts and I immediately think heart attack (my dad died at 52 of his second attack, first one at 39). Then I dwell on the chest pain and end up with shortness of breath, dizziness and more pain. I guess I am at this point fighting the fact that there is something wrong with me that can't be cured and I ought to be trying to find a way to live with this. It just bothers me that a year ago I was fine.

LCR- maybe it's gas? LOL I know that sounds silly, but seriously whenever I eat a large meal and I have severe chest pains or stomach pains it's usually.... gas.... hehe....

You just gotta fart one or two OUT or take a beano? That might be it. LOL

I know that sounds a bit grotesque but it's the honest truth.



Time-flies ..... please don't post any of that here as that is not necessarily true. 1 mg a day for years is not going to cause addiction. That is an EXTREMELY low dosage. I'm on .5 mgs of Ativan a day, like I said, I NEED it to function and not panic, and you can say OUR disorder is not as bad as the symptoms you experience with withdrawel.... but do you EVEN HAVE Panic Disorder/Anxiety Disorder????

Do you even know what it's like to have Panic Attacks for 3 hours straight EVERY DAY!?!?! That's what I would be like if I DIDN'T take the Ativan. Ativan is a helpful drug that helps me cope and learn new strategies when going to scary places that I couldn't go to before. Ativan keeps me sane.

Benzos are FINE in SMALL doses.

I'm sure harry4 would love to post on this one.

And really.. I'm not interested in getting off the Ativan at this point. I'm not stable enough.


Twiggygal~