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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mcp on June 12, 2004, at 15:31:48
I am in quite a quandry. Six months ago I was admitted into a program for alcoholism. When I went in they took my Ativan because it is "addictive." The withdrawals were hellish. Since then I have been on Lexapro, Depakote, and Zyprexa. They make me feel horrible. I am fogged up all the time and it feels like my brain is trapped in some sort of hell. My problem is that I felt fine while on the Ativan and I am now giving strong consideration to going back on it. I don't ever want to go through withdrawals from Ativan again, however, it is the only thing that made me feel fine. THe current meds just make me feel horrible. Has anyone else had this problem? I am worried that I will have difficulty accessing Ativan with the degree to which it has been demonized. I know it will be frowned upon by my AA cohorts. However, I just can't take feeling like this anymore when I know Ativan is out there and it really deals with my anxiety better than anything else. Any ideas would be much appreciated, especially if there are other medications out there that could help with my anxiety, which is all encompassing.
Posted by harryp on June 12, 2004, at 18:10:32
In reply to Ativan vs. Zyprexa. Need help, posted by mcp on June 12, 2004, at 15:31:48
Hi!
I also suffer from severe anxiety, and as you discovered, the benzos are probably the best antianxiety drugs out there.
It's popular now to put patients on antipsychotics for anxiety now. I had the same troubles you did with them, and my doc now accepts the fact that Ativan works for me and I don't abuse it. (I've been using it for more than four years. ~2mg/day now)
Could you say more about your history with Ativan--how long you were on it and your dosages?
As long as you avoid alcohol, and have a history of not needing to increase the dose of the ativan, I think you can make a good case that it would be the best choice for you.
Posted by mcp on June 12, 2004, at 20:02:57
In reply to Re: Ativan vs. Zyprexa. Need help, posted by harryp on June 12, 2004, at 18:10:32
I was taking about 3 mg a day of Ativan for about 10 years. The only thing I was abusing is the alcohol. The only reticence I have about going back on the Ativan is that I feel it may be semipermanent because I don't want to go through withdrawals from it again. Having said that, I just feel that something has to be done because I can't work or do anything in my current state. the last two times I tried to stop Zyprexa I had some bad withdrawals as well. However, I think if I am on the Ativan then that may not be the case. Thanks for your reply earlier.
> Hi!
>
> I also suffer from severe anxiety, and as you discovered, the benzos are probably the best antianxiety drugs out there.
>
> It's popular now to put patients on antipsychotics for anxiety now. I had the same troubles you did with them, and my doc now accepts the fact that Ativan works for me and I don't abuse it. (I've been using it for more than four years. ~2mg/day now)
>
> Could you say more about your history with Ativan--how long you were on it and your dosages?
>
> As long as you avoid alcohol, and have a history of not needing to increase the dose of the ativan, I think you can make a good case that it would be the best choice for you.
>
Posted by harryp on June 13, 2004, at 0:31:16
In reply to Re: Ativan vs. Zyprexa. Need help, posted by mcp on June 12, 2004, at 20:02:57
That's a pretty impressive record on the Ativan. If I were a doc, my main concern would be the alcohol, since as you know they don't mix well!
You said they just took your ativan at the rehab center. Did they taper you off it with decreasing dosages? Stopping a benzo (or antipsychotic) cold-turkey is very unwise. From what I have heard, benzo withdrawal is very bad (and dangerous) if done cold-turkey, but is usually not much of a problem if one discontinues the med slowly.
Personally, if you think you can stay off the alcohol (and I bet having your anxiety under control would make that a lot easier!) I think going back on the Ativan with a doc's supervision could be the best solution.
Docs vary, but I think that if you explained your situation and history in detail, and expressed a willingness to see him or her frequently for dose monitoring, he or she would be receptive to the idea.
I think benzos are much safer long term than antipsychotics, which can have nasty side effects.
Hope this helps.
Posted by chemist on June 13, 2004, at 19:54:09
In reply to Re: Ativan vs. Zyprexa. Need help, posted by harryp on June 13, 2004, at 0:31:16
> That's a pretty impressive record on the Ativan. If I were a doc, my main concern would be the alcohol, since as you know they don't mix well!
>
> You said they just took your ativan at the rehab center. Did they taper you off it with decreasing dosages? Stopping a benzo (or antipsychotic) cold-turkey is very unwise. From what I have heard, benzo withdrawal is very bad (and dangerous) if done cold-turkey, but is usually not much of a problem if one discontinues the med slowly.
>
> Personally, if you think you can stay off the alcohol (and I bet having your anxiety under control would make that a lot easier!) I think going back on the Ativan with a doc's supervision could be the best solution.
>
> Docs vary, but I think that if you explained your situation and history in detail, and expressed a willingness to see him or her frequently for dose monitoring, he or she would be receptive to the idea.
>
> I think benzos are much safer long term than antipsychotics, which can have nasty side effects.
>
> Hope this helps.mcp, in my opinion, harryp is right on track. the reason ativan works for you is that alcohol hits GABA receptors, as do the benzos. alcohol hits a lot more, but the effect you are feeling from ativan is not entirely unlike a couple of drinks. harryp's advice to look into a maintainance therapy with a benzo - perhaps even klonopin, which will provide the same relief with lower abuse potential - sounds spot-on. just me two-cents, and all the best.....chemist
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