nihil
Journeyman
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 70
Loc: New England
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Recently, I was at the hospital for a panic attack I suffered and (two nurses later and after a very long wait) the physician finally saw me and prescribed me some lorazepam (ativan) in case I had another occurance that night or in the near future. I'd told one of the nurses I had met with that I had another anxiety disorder (social anxiety) so the doctot knew. He told me that the lorazepam would not only work to quell my panic but also the anxiety as well (since they are both related to each other). He also said that when I took a pill it would feel like I had "drunk three beers." The thing is, though, that since I've used the lorazepam I haven't felt a major decrease in my anxiety, even when I've taken as much as 3mg (three pills). I also didn't feel like I had drunk three beers (more like half a beer after I took 2mg of lorazepam and 60mg of dihydrocodeine). So I'm wondering how good lorazepam is supposed to work for social anxiety? I know there are much better benzodiazepines for social anxiety (klonopin, valium, xanax) but I'm wondering about ativan, since that is all I have at the moment.
Edited by Melody (03/03/04 03:10 PM)
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pescado1
Journeyman
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 86
Loc: The Southwest
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I have both general panic disorder and agoraphobia (social aniety). I take Ativan at the first sign of a panic attack and for me it has been a life saver. My doctor gives me 60 a month of the 1mg ones. This is plenty enough since I do not take them daily. However, they are adicting so do not take them daily or for preventitive reasons, only take them when a panic attack occurs. If 1mg does not work I feel fine taking up to 3mg at once. Just my thoughts.
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"One man gathers what another man spills"
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drewsmerdel
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/14/01
Posts: 1137
Loc: Nap Town
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Have you ruled out all and any medical conditions? JMO, but I would make sure it isnt something else, and several physicial conditions can appear on the surface as a panic disorder, or even social phobias.
Most docs dont want to perscribe valium, or xanax, due to the euphoria it delivers. Ativan and klonopin were developed to not be "habit forming", in other words they dont give(most) people that "high" feeling. You shouldnt have a problem getting a doc to try you on klonopin, they may be hesitant to try Alprazolam or Diazapam. Just keep in mind the half life on klonopin is a nasty one, also remeber that there is no benzo that you will not build a tolerance for. Eventually all social phobias I have dealt with are best treated in 2 parts 1. proper medication and 2. Behavior modificiation(behaviroal science).
Good luck
Drew
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Are you hungry?
Are you sick?
Are you begging for a break?
Are you sweet?
Are you fresh?
Are you strung up by the wrists?
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1222
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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I think that the main drawback of using short-lived benzos (like Ativan and Xanax) for a chronic anxiety problem on an as-needed basis is that the person often develops anticipatory anxiety, worries about not having pills with them at all times, and has to suffer while waiting the time it takes for the pill to take effect. That's why i like Klonopin better. If you chew them both up, a Klonopin will take effect almost as fast as an Ativan. The main difference is that the Klonopin lasts so long that it's hard to notice it wearing off. A psychiatrist had no problem switching me from lorazepam to clonazepam when i explained how depending on lorazepam for relief actually caused me to have anxiety. It's been three years now and i've never felt the need to increase the clonazepam's daily dose. It's for daily use, day after day. But after a week i stopped feeling any effect from it besides the absence of anxiety. The first week it was sedating. That went away.
It's nothing like having a beer, not even a sip. I prefer not feeling drugged and can do mental work with no problem. That would be impossible on some other benzos.
Your mileage my vary from mine. Find a good doctor. There are some out there.
Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
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nihil
Journeyman
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 70
Loc: New England
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Quote:
Have you ruled out all and any medical conditions? JMO, but I would make sure it isnt something else, and several physicial conditions can appear on the surface as a panic disorder, or even social phobias.
There's really nothing else it could be. I have all the symptoms and I fit the description perfectly. I'd also say my social anxiety is pretty acute as it has resulted in me becoming extremely withdrawn from society and avoidant of any sort of social gatherings.
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You shouldnt have a problem getting a doc to try you on klonopin, they may be hesitant to try Alprazolam or Diazapam.
That's the funny thing. My psychiatrist hasn't ever prescribed me benzodiazepines. I've been going there for almost a year now and all they give me is a new SSRI when I tell them the one before didn't work. Considering that I've been told by other people with social anxiety that they've been prescribed benzodiazepines (along with an SSRI or other augmentation med) from their first visits with their psychiatrists, I'm beginning to think that they are giving me faulty meds to keep me coming back just to take my money.
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pescado1
Journeyman
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 86
Loc: The Southwest
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nihil,
I can't believe that your doctor would not give you some sort of benzo at least until the SSRI has a chance to kick in. I didn't even ask my doctor about Ativan he just gave me the prescription for that and zoloft and every month I get the scripts renewed. Personally I haven't noticed the Zoloft working any wonders (I take 50mgs a day) and I still get panic attacks. Are you treated by a psyciatrist or a general physician?
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"One man gathers what another man spills"
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neonsign2003
Old Hand
Reged: 12/26/02
Posts: 468
Loc: midwest
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YOU NEED TO TELL YOU DOCTOR "THE MEDS ARE NOT WORKING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TO ABOUT IT?" BE SPECIFIC AND TELL THE DOCTOR WHY YOU NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM/HER AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A NEW DOCTOR. THEN SIT BACK AND LET HIM TALK. IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, GET A NEW DOCTOR. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED HOW THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION CHANGE THEIR TUNE ONCE THEY REALLY KNOW THAT IT IS YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN HEALTH ISSUES.........IT WORKS!
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Reel_X_4U
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 255
Loc: Queens, New York City
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From my experience, Ativan to me is a weak benzo, it right there with Serax and Librium. It's more frequently used with the elderly, who don't "REELLY" require a strong benzo like "Valium" (My Favorite) or "Xanax". Your experience sounds similiar to mine, just a slight anti-anxiety effect with no "REELLY" sedating qualities or attributes attached to it. That's why the docs prescribe it so readily, he knew it wouldn't much for you and no one is going to notice a script of Ativan, like they would if it was was for "Valium" or "Xanax". Sorry dude, that's why I always stick with stronger benzos, you get more bang for your buck. Good Luck on your next try!!
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Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
I've dreamt of things that never were, and say "WHY NOT"!!
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plotinus
Enthusiast
Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 273
Loc: California
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Neither I nor anyone I've personally talked to about it has ever reported any benefits from SSRI's when used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. I'm willing to be corrected, if we have some DBers who have had good results with SSRI's.
To sum it up, I think Trampy's analysis is dead on. And I'd be very suspicious of any doc treating anxiety/panic conditions with an SSRI, who won't atleast give you enough (ideally) klonopin to give the SSRI 3-4 weeks to take effect.
I know a few people who have had good luck with Remeron, but personally I think it is too insanely sedating. Effexor XR in the AM and Rivotril/Clonazepam/Klonopin in the evening are a very effective combination for me. Don't think Effexor without the Klonopin would be effective, as Effexor can wind you up pretty tight. Suspect Wellbutrin SR ith Klonopin might work similarly to Effexor XR, though unlike Effexor XR, Wellbutrin SR is not actually approved for treating GAD. But Wellbutrin seems to have fewer sexual side-effects.
Unfortunately many of you, including the mods, have been less impressed by some of my posts written after washing down my PM Klonopin with a shot of vodka, then forcing myself to stay awake, because I was feeling so f'ing brilliant. Take comfort in the fact that there are many parallel universes where I'm sober (and maybe you aren't)
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"War on ...." is the wrong metaphor!
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nihil
Journeyman
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 70
Loc: New England
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Quote:
Are you treated by a psyciatrist or a general physician?
I'm treated by a psychiatrist and/or the clinician at the psychiatric place I go to. But if they continue giving me SSRI's then I'll take neonsign's advice and just go to another psychiatrist. Since they put me in a "med group" I've been growing more and more weary of that place. Considering that they know I have social anxiety I have no idea why the hell they put me there. Having me sit in a cramped room with 10-12 people and having my appointment in front of them all doesn't exactly do me any good.
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I know a few people who have had good luck with Remeron, but personally I think it is too insanely sedating.
They recently gave me remeron and you're definitely right about it being insanely sedating. Once I woke up from a 8+ hour sleep, took 15mg of remeron, and then within 15 minutes felt as though I hadn't slept for about a day. I had to keep walking in order not to fall asleep but eventually I gave in. When I woke up about 6 hours later, I wasn't tired initially. But then after about an hour I started getting tired again.
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Effexor XR in the AM and Rivotril/Clonazepam/Klonopin in the evening are a very effective combination for me. Don't think Effexor without the Klonopin would be effective, as Effexor can wind you up pretty tight.
I used to take Effexor. Out of all the SSRI's I ever took it was the best (even though technically Effexor is not a SSRI but a SNRI). It slightly-moderately chipped away at my anxiety every time I increased the dose (and then stop working). But eventually it stopped working completely for me. That's when I tried to go off of it and went through one of the worst withdrawals of my life (and I was tapering, mind you). I've had more pleasant opiate withdrawals...
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nihil
Journeyman
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 70
Loc: New England
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Great...I just returned from my psychiatrist after telling him I wanted to change my SSRI-based medication to a different class (preferably benzodiazepines) and the b,astard denied me this. Now what was worse about all of this was that he was PRESCRIBING AMPHETAMINES, STRONG OPIATE ANALGESICS (AMONG THEM METHADONE), AND OTHER BENZOS to other patients right in front of me. He agreed to switch me to some non-SSRI medication, tofranil, but I don't expect it to do s,hit. And I'm real f,ucking pissed off about all of this.
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neonsign2003
Old Hand
Reged: 12/26/02
Posts: 468
Loc: midwest
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Tell the "DOCTOR" you are dumping him. tell him you want ALL you records INCLUDING all psyco-thearpy notes he wrote.
Then read what the doctor wrote about you, locate another doctor ( don't tell him about the records) and I bet you will be posting more postive mail in a short while. I know exactly how you feel because I have been there, many times. good luck!!! 
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 914
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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Me! I am cautiously back on Prozac, the granddaddy of em all and I feel a little calmer.....but I am probably in the minority!  
He did also give me ativan, but I don't notice it and forget to take it....maybe that means it is working...who knows?
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Edited by prettyday (10/15/03 07:23 PM)
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nihil
Journeyman
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 70
Loc: New England
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Thanks for the advice, neosign. That is EXACTLY what I'm going to do and VERY soon. It's one thing to search for the "right" medicine for several months, but it's a totally different thing for a corrupt "psychiatrist" to have the nerve to lie to my face and tell me that benzodiazepines generally don't help for social anxiety (that is what he actually told me!) and then prescribe me old tricyclic anti-depressants which have been proven to be totally ineffective for this particular ailment.
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bill2002
Member
Reged: 10/30/02
Posts: 105
Loc: washington dc area
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dude, one of the main purposes of diazapam is for the treatment of social anxiety, nerves, muscle spasms. Its all right there in the PDR. You need to find a new doctor. Good luck, you deserve better
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Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 462
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Quote:
Thanks for the advice, neosign. That is EXACTLY what I'm going to do and VERY soon. It's one thing to search for the "right" medicine for several months, but it's a totally different thing for a corrupt "psychiatrist" to have the nerve to lie to my face and tell me that benzodiazepines generally don't help for social anxiety (that is what he actually told me!) and then prescribe me old tricyclic anti-depressants which have been proven to be totally ineffective for this particular ailment.
In my opinion, there is one trycyclic that is good for one thing only, and that is Elavil for fibro related sleep disorders...and even that makes you gain weight. Tricyclics....UGGHHH!!
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Better living through the pharmaceutical sciences.
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Skylark
Member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 114
Loc: California
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Quote:
dude, one of the main purposes of diazapam is for the treatment of social anxiety, nerves, muscle spasms. Its all right there in the PDR. You need to find a new doctor. Good luck, you deserve better
I wholeheartedly agree. I dumped my last psych for under prescribing me and not listening to my needs.
They are there to HELP you!! Not make your life worse...which is why I have a new psych, LOL. My last one, well, y'all saw the post about him.
Good luck!!
Skylark
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"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"....-E. Roosevelt
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keystone
Veteran
Reged: 09/05/02
Posts: 586
Loc: Arizona, USA
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 Re: Lorazepam (Ativan) for Social Anxiety? [Re: Skylark]
#165369 - 05/28/04 11:03 AM Attachment (37 downloads)
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[image]http://balder.prohosting.com/~agpa/home/ativan.htm[/image]
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The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he never existed.
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stevesmith
Reged: 10/01/04
Posts: 431
Loc: Southern
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Quote:
YOU NEED TO TELL YOU DOCTOR "THE MEDS ARE NOT WORKING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TO ABOUT IT?" BE SPECIFIC AND TELL THE DOCTOR WHY YOU NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM/HER AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A NEW DOCTOR. THEN SIT BACK AND LET HIM TALK. IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, GET A NEW DOCTOR. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED HOW THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION CHANGE THEIR TUNE ONCE THEY REALLY KNOW THAT IT IS YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN HEALTH ISSUES.........IT WORKS!
I AGREE 10000000%% . my dr. had me on Zoloft, paxil, wellbutrin, and tons of others for years, so many pills i cant remember. I finaly walked in his office and told him I had tried Valium and it worked for me. I told him I could order it off the internet and leave him outta the whole thing. He promptly wrote me a script for Valium.
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PPL don't argue over ideas or possible solutions, but instead argue to assert their egos and release frustration. Once U realize this, U will neither argue nor take arguments seriously
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voyager
Old Hand
Reged: 04/17/03
Posts: 413
Loc: United States Virgin Islands
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BE GLAD your doc does not prescribe benzo's. They are best used for SHORT TERM MANAGEMENT of anxiety only. You don't want to turn yourself into an ADDICT. Caring Doctors Wouldn't do a AWFUL thing like that. That is the Big BEEF against OP's. There is no close supervision of the patient which is important if you want to avoid DRUG ADDICTION.
If anyone in your family has ever been addicted to any substance at all you could understand where i am comng from.
Do your best to stick with meds like Effexor XR for LONG TERM treatment of anxiety. They work FAR better but in order to give them an honest chance you have to try them for at LEAST 2 months.
Good luck and CHOOSE WISELY,
voyager
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