HELP!- I took ONE emergency Ativan after 7 months off. Please please READ!

[[Wi...]]

I ended up taking a .2 mg ativan last night for an uncontrollale blood pressure spike that wouldnt go down-196/110. BP spikes is why i got on ativan to begin with but i have been able to control the spikes with other medications for the 7 months ive been benzo free until last night. I couldnt get the blood pressure down so i HAD to take the ativan for fear of having a stroke. I feel so bad because i had 7 months without any benzos up til last night. Ive been feeling MENTALLY much better yet still have physical symptoms like severe tinnitus and numb burning patches- wiggly feeling inside etc. Has anybody been off benzos for 6 months or more but then ended up doing a rescue dose? If so-how did that one does affect your continuing withdrawal? Im so bummed after doing so good yet i had to take the dose to lower my bp to quite possibly literally save my life. Anyone with similar circumstances who can share how one dose 6-7 months out and into withdrawal affected their WD? Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[[Da...]]

I think the most important thing is that it happened already, so there is no use beating yourself up or feeling bad for doing it. I doubt this will make any difference or restart your WD, it was one dose. I have Clonidine for blood pressure and it works . If your BP goes that high you should see a doctor. My doctor wanted me to take my BP three times per day and if it is high take clonidine for it. I have to admit I rarely do that I just take it instead (laziness).

[[Ch...]]

I am 100% in agreement with Davis1...that 1 dose is not going to send you to hell, but that you need to get your bp under better control because it can be spiking when you don't know it, and benzos are not the long term answer.  Good luck and please don't fret over one single dose.

[[Su...]]

Hi there --

 

I actually came back to this forum (thank god it is here) because I have been struggling today with wanting to take a rescue dose of Valium.

I am feeling at odds with myself - I have a chronic pain autoimmune disease and my sleep is suffering with painful awakenings.  I called out of work today and really trying to recover from this current flare.  I do have other medications I can take to help.. But I know I will sleep through the night with Valium.  It really sucks.

 

Remember to forgive yourself.  You took a rescue dose because you felt you had to, what's done is done.. No sense in beating yourself up about it.

 

Forgive yourself.

 

It sounds like we both need to take a trip to our respective doctors.  Your post actually gave me some support.  Hope you are well.

[[Na...]]

Windwalker -

 

You certainly haven't done any damage with a single ativan.

 

Is there any way your doctor could prescribe a beta blocker to help you with these blood pressure spikes?  I wouldn't want to take a beta blocker daily if I could help it, but one now and then would be better than more ativan.

 

 

 

[[Ma...]]

Hi Windwalker,

 

Don't panic, just don't take another. The Ashton manual says that a one off dose won't hurt you. I'd go to the hospital though to get another method to control your blood pressure. That kind of pressure is a hypertensive emergency. Are you on beta blockers?

[[ji...]]

This time last year was the worst time in my life. I ended up taking some rescue doses and though I wish I hadn't it didn't not ruin my recovery. I'm still healing but I think my prolonged recovery is almost entirely due to this being my second time of getting off of benzos.

 

So as long as you don't make a habit of it you will be be fine. I was able to stop once I got back into a less stressful situation and only took a few doses spread out over 2 weeks. If I'm recovering and I did worse then you. You will be fine. Hang in there.