Ativan (lorazepam) dosage for insomnia due to anxiety

[wxguy1]

Does anyone have experience with taking Ativan (lorazepam)?  I was given the medication for insomnia and was asked to take 0.5-1mg, but it didn't seem to work too well.  Is it safe to up the dosage? Can you take Restoril (temazepam) at the same time if Ativan doesn't work?  Thanks.

[anxietyellie]

I was on Ativan for a while.  I was taking 1 mg.  I don't know how safe it is to up the dosage.  I didn't really see any results with mine either.  It didn't seem to make anything better.  I think it gave me more side effects that relief from symptoms.  Good Luck!!

[socgirl]

hi there,

you should not up the dose without speaking with you doctor about it first.  I have had some clients that take 2mg.  That being said, I wouldn't really reccomend taking ativan if you're having trouble sleeping.  Ativan is great to take as a PRN (as needed basis) for when you're having acute anxiety.  It can make you a little drowsy or a little more mellow, but is generally not used as a sleep aid.  Ask your doctor about trazadone.  Technically, it's an antidepressant, however it's super effective as a sleep aid...it's not all that effective as an antidepressant.  Oh...and I wouldn't reccomend taking restoril at the same time as ativan....one or the other.

[wxguy1]

Thanks for your replies.  I talked to my doctor and she asked me to try taking up to 2mg of Ativan and a couple of tablets of benadryl for sleep last night.  At first, I thought it didn't work, which made me even more anxious.  But I woke up almost 7 hours later without knowing I slept.  Lately, I have been getting this jolt/twitch/falling sensation right before I could sense I was about to fall asleep, which wakes me up.  It sacres and worries me (didn't help with my insomnia anxiety).....almost like I have lost the ability to sleep.  I know sporadic fatal insomnia (not the kind that runs in the faimly) is rare but it has come across my mind.

[rasticle]

A good drug you might also look into is Atarax.  I use that at night when I know I am going to have trouble sleeping, due to anxiety.  It works good for me and it is not a narcodic so you won't become dependent on it or develop a tolerance either.  It works well with panic attacks too.

[MariAAB]

I was recently prescribed 1 mg Antivan as needed.  Does it just make you drowsy and mellow, or does it really reduce your feelings of intense anxiety?  I have an anxiety-inducing situtation coming up and don't want to feel sleepy but still freaked out.

[toasty]

on and off, since the mid 70s, i have been allowed to take
lorazepam - (P R N!!!) - in the 1/2  to 1 mg dosage ranges.
  
usually it was to start a couple days a week with a little
more calm. twenty or so minutes later this little knot in
my tum-tum relaxed. i could _feel_ the change.
  
1/2 mg was just fine with an occassional 1-mg when i was too
lazy to cut the tab into two or felt more anxious than usual.
  
and in about 20 mins, tum-tum relaxed. mid-day anxiety was
(prn) treated approx the same way though _rarely_ on days
that started with lorazapam.

through the 70s and 80s and early 90s things were nominal but
then added grief/stress made me think a bit because my sleep
pattern/cycle changed adversly.

so i changed from wake-up meds to go-2-sleep meds (doc
approved). realize, also, that 2-beers a night (over
3-4 hours) is a diet mandate of mine. the lorazapam  
helped with the sleep but i had to titrate up to  
3.5 mg to get a whole, reliable quality night's sleep.

this surprised me, actually but i'll use that regimen in
the future if the situation seems to suggest it. btw,
4-beers a night was no help. more than that i am not willing
to exceed, and never loraz+beer>2!!

[mackenkie]

lorazepam due to severe panick attacks could not get on with my life.I have been taking them for 20 years these are the only tablets that help me get on with my life. Is ther any other medication I can take that will help me. I tried meditation and antidepressants and natural medication also accupuncture. The only thing that helps is 1mg lorazepam 3 times a day. Would the Dr ever just stop my medication. As I know I could never cope. Not had an easy time.

Yours Sincerely

[nursegirl6572]

I agree that a sleeping pill would probably be more effective than Ativan.  If you try the same dosage tonight...and still have troubles, I would see your doc about other options.

Mack...USUALLY Ativan isn't the best sedative to take long term, because you build up a tolerance and eventually end up requiring a higher dose to acheive the same effect.  There are other benzodiazepines that are more appropriate for long-term use.  

Whatever you do...do not ever stop taking the Ativan abruptly.  You will need to be tapered off of it.  As for if your doc ever decides to not prescribe it for you?  I don't know your doc, but a lot of physicians will only prescribe Ativan for short periods of time (months to maybe a year), for the reasons I listed above.

If it is working for you, and your doc has not given you any indication that he will be pulling the plug anytime soon...I suppose you should just go on as you have.  If it really concerns you, by all means, discuss it with your doctor...a lot of times, for long term use, Klonopin is prescribed.  It is a longer acting benzo, and patients do not develop the same kind of tolerance that they do with Ativan, Xanax, etc.

Good luck to you.

[surfergirl10]

I take ativan about 2-3x a week for sleep.  However, I had to take two .5 tablets this saturday for my attack..which it didn't work. YEsterday, I used one tablet...today I am no tablet and then I am weaning off.  Yes, alcohol may work for a bit, but then it willinterrupt my sleep.  Plus it is calories....which is another problem for me as well. Also, I have a severe headache today....I am not sure if it is the after effect of the attack (3 hours) or if it is the ativan. It feels like both. I am just excited for my appointment at 4 tomorrow. I just don't want to take meds.....I feel so ultra sensitive to everything. I just want to be the way I used to be and rely on exercise and diet. Any tips?

[itsjackie2003]

i'm triying to get on an handle of my life - it's not that i'm a bundle of nervves all the time, its just i feel totaly lost  I have no drive or desire to get out of bed most mornings.  i've been trying to lose some weight  this past month, and with seeing some results, i'm getting pretty excited.  but on day like this, i feel like i could very well take 4 or 7 of my lorizapans hoping this will give me a kick start...what pathdo iseem to be cgoing down???  someone please answer me...

[pat04064]

Try to remember that this feeling is passing. Taking a lot of Ativan is
not going to make you feel better, and it is not safe. Call a friend, go for a walk. Remember that you have accomplished something you wanted by losing some weight.

[Lodow]

I have been on  lorezapam .05mg for  yrs for  anxiety  due to a mitral  valve  problem. This  o5 mg  helped me to sleep at night for all these  yrs  --After having  some difficult  problems  with  cholesterol and  heart problems  Dr put me on   20 mg of Lipitor and  50 mgs of atenolol. I wonder if the  Lipitor  wrapped itself around the  .05 mg lorazepam and caused  me to  not get the sleeping  effects of it  taking it a t night? What  is the  largest  dose  usually  given  for sleep without  causing  problems? Dr  told me to  up the dose to 2mgs but it still after all these yrs on just .05 does not  help me to go to sleep. Are you saying that (Klonipin which is clonazepam) is safer  and used  more for sleep? I am trying to  work  out the best solution  here-- Dr  has tried  me on  these --  now prescribed  trazadone--which  gave me a migraine  headache--can't take this one--heard of that?
Lodow

[RUGGER257]

Thanks for your input..  Also how long did it take when you first tried it??
I need to give it to my Mother in law before a bath. I need to know how long it
takes to work and what time I should give it to her????