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.

[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