ATIVAN Reviews (LORAZEPAM)Average Rating: 3.3 (709 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ATIVAN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 |
More on ATIVAN: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ATIVAN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Bipolar 1 with rapid cycling panic | M | 53 | 15 years 1.0 mg 1X day | 7/17/2011 Patient History | 1 | Anxiety Attack | This is the worst thing I have ever taken before. After taking the drug about 2 minutes later I was feeling very funny and out there. I could not feel my legs for about 3-4 minutes. I felt like I was going to throw up. I could not hold off for a short period of time to go to the bathroom. For 2 hours I walked my house till that funny feeling went away and I was finally tired. It was terrible. | F | 43 | 1 weeks 1MG 1X AN | 6/20/2011 | 1 | anxiety | Was very relaxing when I took it, but 12 hours later anxiety was very extreme.....I have to definitely add that the anxiety was far worse than what I'd ever come close to experiencing prior to ever taking the drug. Then I realized this was in fact withdrawal. And this was after only 20 days on a low dosage...........Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry additictive. | I went off of it cold turkey. Should have tapered.......First month was terrible......Four months later it was still tough. 1 year later it was pretty good....Take heart. Time and the Grace of God can heal you......Now it's been 20 months.........And everything's back entirely to normal. Entirely, 100% back......My advice, Pray, taper off slowly, stick with it, you won't feel better in a month, but you will in a year, absolutely. | M | 56 | 20 days 1X day | 6/10/2011 | 4 | Extreme anxiety and panic attacks | Tremors when getting off too quickly. Spaciness when first taken. Dry mouth. | I started taking ativan when I had many terrible side effects from anti-depressants. I was very scared to take it at first, but after the first dose, I was convinced. After feeling terrible for months, I took my first ativan and felt awesome. It did not make me too sleepy but just relaxed me extremely and put me in a good mood. Usually this is the effect that I get from it. I also keep it in my purse for panic attacks and take it to go to the dentist, doctor, etc. The only issue I think with this med is that you cannot take it too regularly or your body will become physically addicted. When I tried to get off it too quickly i would sometimes have the shakes very badly. If this happens, you know that you need to ween yourself off of it. Otherwise, it really helps me and I wish I could take it around the clock. | F | 41 | 3 months .5mg 1X AN | 5/28/2011 | 5 | Anxiety/insomnia | We all know this stuff is physically addictive, so only take low doses and do not take it every day. If you follow this advice, there should be no problem whatsoever. That said, this drug worked miracles for me: it dispersed anxiety so I could work, assisted with social anxiety, insomnia, and shut my mind off when it wouldn't quit. I have a history of drug addiction and have had no problems with abuse, for one simple reason: it doesn't get you high. Rather, it's medicine, and if you treat it with respect, it will help you. | M | 34 | 7 months 1-2mg 1X AN | 5/14/2011 | 4 | Anxiety / insomnia | No side effects. | Only took as needed--went for many weeks without taking. Seems to calm things down. | M | 54 | 5 months .5 mg 1X day | 5/12/2011 | 1 | Went to ER for PVC's | Tachycardia, Panic attacks, Horrific thoughts, Agoraphobia, crawling out of skin, severe weight loss. | For me this became the drug from hell. What started out as a trip to the Dr's to deal with some harmless PVC's became a living nightmare. For some stupid reason instead of just letting me see a cardiologist to ease my mind he decided it was likely these premature ventricular contractions of the heart were caused by anxiety so he prescribed Ativan. Within 24 hours I was experiencing a racing heart along with a feeling of doom and gloom. In 48 hours I was experiencing horrible thoughts, vertigo and claustrophobia. In three days time I had become so agoraphobic I was hiding in my home and had to call friends to drive me back to the E.R. because I couldn't even drive. I felt like I could burst out of my skin. When I explained to the Dr what was going on all he said was to stay calm and just take my new little med. When I started researching this stuff on line I found that for some they can have an odd adverse reaction and actually acquire all the symptoms it's suppose to fight against. I told the Dr this and he said stop looking on the internet and just keeping taking the med. He could see my heart was racing at 132 resting and did nothing. So for an entire month I begged for help. By then I had lost 35 lbs. I looked like I was dying and felt like I was dying and had begun making out my will. I was scared to death to give it a try but I weened myself off breaking it down a 1/4 of a tab every three days. The withdrawal is so vile I wouldn't wish it on anyone. | M | 35 | 30 days 3X day | 5/3/2011 | 4 | Panic Disorder | Tired, irritable on occasion. | Great drug for anxiety\panic attacks. Few side effects. But, there are many people who can't tolerate it & get dizzy, nauseous, etc. Alot of the people here telling you how bad ativan is have probably been cut off by their dr.s. & they are bitter. Yes, it would be best if we didn't take any drugs. But many people need this drug the same way another person needs meds for high blood pressure. DO NOT drink while taking this drug. But then, you all knew that..I hope. | F | 57 | 14 years 1 mg 3X day | 4/30/2011 | 5 | anti-anxiety/ anti-nausea | A bit foggy and dizzy, slept well, refreshed in morning. | I was prescribed Ativan for insomnia and anxiety after a breast cancer diagnosis. This just helped me calm down enough to sleep, clear my head and forge on. No side effects but I took it maybe once or twice a week at the most. | F | 38 | 2 months 1 1X AN | 3/26/2011 | 5 | Nothing but slight sedation | Don't listen to fools who abuse this drug and then come on here and complain about it! Dont take it everyday-period!!! Lorazepam like many drugs causes the body/brain to become dependent if taken all the time. This stuff is GOLD for those of us with anxiety/panic disorders-but please treat this drug with the respect it deserves-learn to only use it when absolutely necessary not because you feel a little edgy. And to the docs out there- please tell your patients to use this drug properly. | M | 60 | 30 years 1 1X day | 3/19/2011 | 5 | general anxiety | Great as an alternative to anti-depressents. Takes the edge off gently. React poorly to many meds. xanex makes me sleepy and anti-depressents cause too many side effects | Highly recommend to people with drug sensitivity | F | 36 | 1 years .5 1X day | 3/11/2011 | 4 | anxiety, insomnia | felt sleepy once medicine wore off | I take lorazepam as needed. I currently take .5mg and usually take it once or twice a week when I am feeling anxious or have insomnia. My only complaint with the medicine is I felt very sleepy the next day. This medicine has really helpednd is great when used as directed and not abused. | F | 28 | 3 weeks .5mg 1X AN | 3/10/2011 | 1 | ER doctor said I had anxiety | Tinnitus, brain zaps, psychosis, insomnia, muscle twitches, muscle cramping, numbness, confusion, shakes/tremors, paranoia, anxiety, suicidal/murder thoughts, fear, panic, seizure | Taking the drug feels great, it's amazing how at ease this stuff makes you feel. Being on the drug was not a problem for me, coming off of it was and I only had TWO 1mg in 2 week period, two 1mg doses which even still a year later is messing with me as far as side effects go. I went to the ER for anxiety, a near panic attack because of a traumatic event. The ER doctor gave ativan, it felt great. A few days later the ativan started to wear off and I woke up in the night covered in sweat as if I had been swimming in a pool, was shaking, dizzy, paranoid, scared and felt insane, like nothing I had ever experienced. IF you experience this I suggest soaking your feet in warm water to calm down, rub them and maybe eat some chocolate (It helped me, it sounds silly but TRY IT) I was rushed to the ER again and they gave me 1mg ativan. I was then evaluated by a shrink at the ER and diagnosed with generalized anxiety (WHICH IS ABSURD!) I have never had anxiety panic attacks before this and now I have random panic attacks all the time which are gradually tapering down as I am recovering from Ativan. Coming off Ativan is hell, literally hell! being on it is heavenly and what goes up must come down. I suggest not taking this unless it is a medical emergency and you are panicking beyond reason to start with. The withdrawal effects of this drug aren't worth it. There's more, too much I can't fit it all here. | M | 28 | 2 weeks 1mg 1X AN | 3/4/2011 | 1 | stomach problems | Dizziness, lethargic, heart palps, muscle twitching, brain fog, shortness of breath,agoraphobia,insomnia.....many many more!! | This drug is horrible. At first it was great, but after only a few weeks of taking it, I was having all kinds of crazy symptoms. Now, 5 months after stopping it, I am still struggling with absolutely horrific symptoms!! I wish i had never taken this drug and strongly advise anyone against ever taking it!!!!!! | F | 43 | 3 months .5 mg 1X day | 3/3/2011 | 5 | anxiety | None | Has helped me manage..I became a new mom at 52 and I have twins | F | 56 | 3 years 1mg 3X W | 2/28/2011 | 5 | Sleeplessness/anxiety | Drowsy. Calming. Addictive in that it is so wonderful and easy for bringing relief for my sleeplessness and occasional high anxiety. | I am highly sensitive to drugs and this is the only medicine prescription I currently have filled. I love being able to take .5 to 1mg Ativan before bed, sleep well all night, and wake up refreshed. For my occasional PTSD type symptoms(self diagnosed)this helps me be calm and helps me put out the sudden fire of thoughts. I am going off caffeine, don't drink alcohol, and will stop late night dining to see if I can sleep without Ativan because I have been taking it more regularly this month. I don't want to depend on any medication that becomes addictive and my Dr advised me to be aware of this possibility. However Ativan works and I will continue to take .5 to 1 mg when necessary. I prefer a regime of good nutrition, herbs, teas, and yoga but since perimenopause/menopause I have needed more help for sleep and anxiety. I am grateful for this drug's availability and affordability. | F | 53 | 2 years 1mg 1X AN | 2/15/2011 | 5 | Anxiety | Drowsiness | I was prescribed Ativan to help with anxiety, and told to take it only as needed for an anxiety or panic attack, along with an antidepressant. Since then, Ativan has been a comfort just to even have the bottle in my purse! It helps immensely with my anxiety and I have hardly any side effects. I don't worry about the habit-forming properties since I only take it as needed, which is usually only 1-2 times a week. Ativan, along with my anti-depressant (Lexapro) has made my life manageable again! | F | 27 | 2 months 5 MG 1X AN | 2/14/2011 | 5 | Anxiety | Mild drowsiness | I took this medicine as needed after my mother died. I only used it a few times a week. It worked great to make life more manageable and help my mind and body relax. My doctor warned me though to only take it when needed and I listened. | F | 42 | 1 1X AN | 2/14/2011 | 5 | Anxiety | Mild drowsiness | I took this medicine as needed after my mother died. I only used it a few times a week. It worked great to make life more manageable and help my mind and body relax. My doctor warned me though to only take it when needed and I listened. | F | 42 | 1 1X AN | 2/14/2011 | 4 | panic attacks | Forgetfulness, sleep hangover | Bottom Line: Ativan has few side effects when taken in smaller doses and if taken WITHOUT other drugs or booze. It has allowed many of us to live a 'normal' life. Of course it's addictive, hello..? When you are truly ready to stop this drug always get help and do not attempt to do it alone. You must wean off very slowly, literally chipping away at the pills until all you take is a crumb. I was taught this by a very good psychiatrist. Panic is a very real and physical condition that can tear your life apart. Taking this drug is no different than taking insulin for diabetes. My advice, stay under 4 mgs. daily, preferably 2-3 mgs. and you should be fine. I hear all this hoopla about how scary ativan is, etc. But many of the people who say this are also drinking or taking other drugs. If the drug doesn't click with you stop taking it but Don't tell others they need to stop too. God Bless and may He give you the Peace you deserve. | F | 57 | 14 years 1 mg 3X day | 2/13/2011 |