Lorazepam/Ativan/Klonopin

Hey All,

I was wondering if anyone was on Lorazepam for anxiety/panic and then switched the Klonopin. I heard it works wonders for most people, but some reason, my psychiatrist wont give me anything but Ativan. The Ativan does nada for me :( She must think im lieing or something, who knows.

[kimmi3333]

hi i take lorapam my doc switched me to klonopin  but i have dont  it yet till tues are wed  so i dont know how it works your doc just wants you to stay on what your on so she have to switch.....ask her why she wont do it.

[Mark TX]

I was prescribed Ativan (lorazepam) for several years before my doc switched me over to Klonopin.  I found the lorazepam to be effective... but with less drowsiness than the Klonopin.

I'm not sure why you'd get no relief from Ativan.  It's a tranquilizer like all the benzodiazepines.  Perhaps your doctor is concerned that Ativan doesn't seem to be helping... which is a real question.  I suppose some people might respond better to one benzo than another.  But I can understand your doctor's caution.

In any event... you should consider the likelihood that you will become addicted to benzodiazepines after a relatively short term use (months.)  Some choose to downplay the negative aspects of this since these drugs are so effective.  But if you read these boards you'll see that some who've been taking these drugs long term develop new sets of symptoms and problems.  Be very careful.  If your anxiety is manageable... perhaps pills aren't your best solution.

Have you looked carefully at all other aspects of your life?  Are you alcohol and tobacco free?  Have you eliminated caffeine and other stimulants from your diet?  Do you exercise properly and manage your life stress well?  Is your weight normal?

If you've got other problem areas in your life... benzos will not make these issues go away.  They can mask them or cover them... but not resolve them.  I would suggest anyone suffering anxiety establish a healthy lifestyle first, and manage each and every possible source of anxiety, before even considering taking a pill.

Good luck!

mark

[ManicPanic247]

well, the pill is mainly for when im about to have a panic attack, i dont take them often. She says benzo's are very addictive and she doesnt want me to get addicted. I am 5'6 218 lbs. i just gained 30lbs from pregnancy :0 I quit smoking as soon as i got anxiety because with the shortness of breath from anxiety it was hard to smoke. I have been alcohol free for soo long. I eliminated caffiene, i dont know about any other stimulants but i belleive i have.

[loucee82]

I have taken lorzepam, it knocked me out...i now take klonopin when needed also an antiflamatory...seems to work well together for me....and i think caffeine makes aniexty worse..

[Mark TX]

Are you still pregnant or did you already have the child, and how long ago.  I don't know what pregnancy can do as far as triggering anxiety, but it certainly can trigger depression.  My sister had a sever post-partum depression six years ago and has been on ADs and Ambien ever since.  Seems like once people get on these things... it's for good.  My sister is addicted to the sleeping pills, btw.  And her sleeping schedule is still completely screwed up.  Plus she's tremendously overweight and very sensitive about it.  You'd think the doc would focus on that... you'd think.  But I suppose writing a prescription is easier.

mark

[ManicPanic247]

i have anxiety from a bad side effect of prozac and celexa (ssri's) i only took them for about a week. I got horrible panic attacks, and as it slowly went away day by day it turned into physical symptoms of anxiety.I have never experienced panic/anxiety until i took an antidepressant....I deliver my baby on Februrary 13th of this year. She is now 8 months old. Ive always had depression but knew i wanted to be on meds so i waited till after my pregnancy to start therapy.

[Randy450]

Klonopin 2mg twice a day has worked wonders for my Panic Disorder. Only side effects are eye irritation and increased salivation. But the benefits outweigh the risks/side effects.

[Randy450]

Plus, Klonopin is longer acting and has a  long half-life.

[barfer]

Ok, Let me get this straight after reading all the postings on this subject so far:  You have and do suffer from depression, you do have panic and anxiety now.   SSRIs didn't work for you and from your prospective created a problem of panic and anxiety.  

Klonopin is great for the long term and is prescribed for GAD and panic attacks.  Lorazepam is short acting and is prescribed for GAD but primarily especially the sublingual kind is for panic attacks.  I'm going to take a guess here and suggest that she is hoping that the odd lorazepam will help with the panic, you my just need to increase the dose.  Klonopin is often prescribed for those people who have ongoing GAD and panic so it is often prescribe to be taken twice a day.  What you have to understand is that neither of these drugs is going to help depression.  They are benzos and are specifically for anxiety disorder.  If your doctor thinks that your anxiety disorder is possibly just a short term or not full out GAD then she may be right in prescribing it for you.  Down the road, you may have to look at another antidepressant if you feel you need it.    There are many other antidepressants out there that may be better for your condition than the two you tried.  Sometimes it takes a long time to hit on the right medication but, for right now, lorazepan doesn't sound like a bad option to me unless you want to try something like xanax which is in the same family and again, is short acting.  You might want to discuss it with your doctor.  Just make sure you are getting treated for what exact it is you have...depression or anxiety or both...It makes a big difference as to your treatment.    

[freddy2]

Im 21 years old and i just started having anxiety attacks went i went to the emergency room they gave me ativan and over the next couple days it worked wonders then my doctor perscribed me klonopin and it went down hill from there I also suffer from depression and the klonopin's do not mix well with depression for me the klonopin's do nothing for me but make me tired i know they say ativan is more addicting but it did miracles for me.

[OVUgirl]

My shrink put me on Lorazapam when I was in the "mental health unit" (better known as "the psych ward").  Anyway, it was effective with Lithium and Celexa (for bipolar disorder and depression, respectively).  I stayed on the Lithium and Celexa when I was discharged from the hospital, but he switched me to Klonopin then.  This trio seems to be helping although I am still suicidial two or three times a month.  Not sure what to do about that, and neither is my doc.