Old familiar feeling...It back!!!

[[he...]]

    Have been off of ativan for a month. Taking .25 of a 5mil. valium when needed. Which has not been to often, for withdrawl symptons.

 

  Well, had to go to a funeral today, woke up foggy, anxious (don't know if funeral excelled anxiety or withdrawl) Had not taken a .25 in 48 hrs. Soooooo thought, well I am anxious and in ativan withdrawl so will take a .25 valuim to get me through the funeral. I could feel the effects of the valuim, but my anxiety got worse as I sat through the funeral and had to leave.

 

  As the day wore on, I got depressed,more anxiety and angry that I had to leave the funeral because of anxiety. I was put on ativan in the first place because of chronic on going anxiety.  My drug of choice for the on going anxiety is ativan, because it totally did the job.

 

  The valuim just makes me spacey and light headed. Why did I have such anxiety with the valuim?  Was doing ok for days. I hate this anxiety crap!!!!!    Help!!!!

[[On...]]

My thoughts are that the < 2 mg. of valium(diazepam) is really pretty low in dose and since it's a long-acting benzodiazepine, it really doesn't work as well for anxiety as the ativan(lorazpam) which I believe is a much more short-acting benzodiazepine and is better suited for anxiety.

 

I think perhaps that your body is "use to" the ativan for anxiety, and when the valium didn't perform under an anxiety producing situation, the anxiety just fed on itself (as it usually does) making it worse for you. Just my thoughts on it.

 

This will get better as we get further away from this drug!

 

Take care!

 

<b>On The Mend</b>

[[Ne...]]

Couldn't agree more. When I decided to stop the Ativan the equivalent 15 mg of Valium left me extremely symptomatic....and therefore I doing the CROSSOVER , I am in day 6 , following REG PEARTS protocol the facial flush is gone as is the itching...I DO HAVE THE TINNITUS and Am anxiety which leaves after the .5 AM ativan.

 

I think when I am on the Valium only even with its longer 1/2 life it will not fun. Should that happen I might taper of the ativan and if it can be compounded to a liquid go that route to avoid inter dose w/d. Therefore smaller more frequent doses without EVER up dosing.

[[he...]]

  Hi onthemend,  You hit it on the head. thank you for your input.  good luck to you, let me know how you are copeing with your withdrawl.......Jude

 

  Hi needsomehelp,  I think that I am humming along singinging a song, then bam lightheaded,buzzy,depression,anxiety. Trying to ride the wave out. I have started back to my walk/jog and working out with weights which helps. Let me know how you are copeing too!!!.....Jude

[[Ti...]]

Needsomehelp--I am crossing over to Valium too from Ativan and find the equivalent dose dosn't cover the Ativan.  I am in severe withdrawal from trying to do this crossover.  So are you going back on the ATivan or the Valium now and are you taking extra Valium than Ahston says to cover for the ativan?

[[he...]]

Tina ca,    It is a beeoch taking the valium in place of the ativan, but I am sticking it out. The ativan took so much of my cognitive thinking away. The ativan did wonders for my anxiety, but screwed my personality......now I hope to get back to square one. And square one is a scary one, but is me and I want me back again. Taper as you can. keep looking at the ashton manuel. It is a great help. Try to remember that valuim stays in your system longer and works different on the brain than ativan.

 

  Cope the best way you can, replace alot with exercise,meditation, running, longwalks, what ever gets the mind to work better again. Take good care of yourself, you come first.  Best to you,  Jude