posted
I wont be able to swallow and my shoulder will feel completely weak and then i take a combination of ativan and some pain killers and I am able to function again. Does anyone know why ativan works like this?
-Luke
Posts: 167 | From Los Angeles | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Ativan is a benzodiazapene (like valium)) Be careful it's addictive. it's also a muscle relaxant.which is why it works on swallowing probs etc. Getting off it can be hell. It takes about three weeks to become reliant on it, so try to get off it before that? kt
Posts: 740 | From BC Canada | Registered: Mar 2003
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Been on it for 2 months now, I need it twice a day so that i can swallow so i know its addictive but what can i do. Swallowing comes first.
Posts: 167 | From Los Angeles | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Hi. I know benzo are addictive but I am on Klonopin like Ativan and it does help a lot. When I first had swallowing problems I was put on a benzo it was the only drug that worked. I say stay on it until you feel your symptoms have really subsided. Good luck.
Posts: 260 | From Long Island, New York | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Hi Luke, swallowing comes first for sure. When I came off ativan after 2 yrs (before I knew about Lyme) I did the cold turkey thing..Bad idea...now they wean you off it slowly, taking less and less til you can stop comfortably.kt
Posts: 740 | From BC Canada | Registered: Mar 2003
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
Hi Luke, Xanax works like that for me. Early on I was on it 4 times a day.
Eventually, I didn't need it anymore and was able to ween myself off it. (With Xanax it's reducing the dosage by 1/2 mg every 3 days.)
I didn't take it for years and eventually after trying almost everything for sleep started taking the Xanax again.
I only take it at bedtime. It relaxes everything and reduces my pain so I can sleep. It also minimizes a lot of my other symptoms. I don't know why but it works better than anything else for me.
On really bad days I can't wait until it's time to take my bedtime meds to get some relief.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298
posted
Agree with krazykt1 and shelley 100%. Before I was dx'ed I was put on Ativan for an "anxiety problem". It made many lyme related problems go away but only to have them come back later. I was up to 2 mg/d at one point.
-------------------- Mathias Posts: 1242 | From New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2004
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Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979
posted
Not sure if it's the same type stuff...but hubby was put on Lexapro by a neuro. He got So much worse over the next couple of weeks. Went to LLMD shortly after that.......
Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
Ativan is great for daytime anxiety as it has a shorter half-life than most Benzos. It's also good if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, but don't want to sleep late. Be careful, to reiterate, it's addicitive.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Hi Luke I dont know if you saw my reply to your swallowing trouble post yesterday but I had suggested that you try and ativan durring the say to see if it helps you swallow
I too have severe swallowing problems to the point I only eat substantially 2 times a day and thats after I've woken up and it all has to be mushed up..
From what I can gather the ativan relaxes the muscles in the throat and it helps us in swallowing food.
I know they are addictive but when someone needs them they take them. Thats why they were made. Be sure you have a good doctor, make him or her aware of how it's helping you and make sure they are willing to keep you on it if it helps and if you should decide to come off them make sure the doctor is willing to titrate you down in dose slowly so you won't go into withdraw..
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Thats what the hospital gave my wife when she had all the itchey rashes then it turned into she couldnt breath, When she took one ativan calmed her completly she went to sleep could breath fairly quickly angxiety can do a lot to a persons body.
Its no different than say getting angry every muscle tightens etc.Different physical responce but the mind controls it all and the spirit soul should control the mind.
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What is Ativan?
Ativan (lorazepam) is a sedative medication that is most generally used to treat anxiety. Other accepted uses include treating insomnia, symptoms of severe alcohol withdrawal, relieving serial seizures in children (sublingual form), as a muscle relaxant, and reducing the suffering of chemotherapy patients who experience vomiting during treatment. Ativan is not generally recommended for long-term use, over 4 months duration, as this may increase the likelihood of physical withdrawal symptoms. Ativan works by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which inhibits the nervous system, reducing states of mental and physical overexcitement. Lorazepam is a member of the benzodiazepine group of drugs, a class of antidepressants, anti-panic agents, sleep medications, and muscle relaxants.
Ativan is only available by prescription.
Ativan Side Effects Ativan (lorazepam) is generally considered to be a safe medication with a low risk of adverse side effects. If side effects do occur, they are likely to happen at the beginning of treatment, and are typically reduced with continued treatment or lower dosages. If any side effect should persist, become bothersome, or if an allergic or paradoxical reaction should develop, contact your doctor.
Expected Ativan Side Effects: Drowsiness and mild nervous system depression during the day following use at bedtime are normal and expected side effects of this medication. Normal use may cause mild central nervous system depression, but dosage should be managed to minimize this. Do not drive or perform any other potentially hazardous activities until you are familiar with your reaction to this medication and know how long it takes to clear from your body.
Common Ativan Side Effects: Dizziness, poor coordination, sedation, and weakness, are the most common lorazepam side effects. These effects are usually mild, but you may want to speak to your doctor if they bother you or persist.
Mild Ativan Side Effects: Altered appetite, amnesia, blurred vision, confusion, constipation, decreased hearing, depression, slurred speech, and sweating occur rarely to infrequently. While these side effects are not generally serious, you should discuss them with your doctor to determine the best course of action. Hives or rash caused by Ativan treatment indicate an allergy to the medication, and possibly to all benzodiazepines. You should inform your doctor and discuss discontinuing treatment.
Serious Ativan Side Effects: Difficulty breathing, hallucinations, low blood pressure, low white blood cell count, excitement or anger, porphyria, and seizure or tremor are all rare but serious symptoms and you should contact your doctor or seek medical treatment. Yellow skin and eyes, while rare, indicate a severe allergic reaction and liver damage. Treatment should be discontinued immediately.
Withdrawal: If you take Ativan for longer than four weeks, or at higher dosages, physical withdrawal symptoms are a possible result. Ativan treatment should never be stopped abruptly; instead, you should gradually decrease your dose according to the advice of your doctor. Possible effects include insomnia, ringing in the ears, shaking, tremors, sweating, and nausea, depending on the dosage and length of use before withdrawal. These effects are not generally dangerous, but their likelihood and severity can be greatly decreased by following your doctor's advice.
Overdose: An overdose is possible with Ativan, though is much more likely in combination with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants. Symptoms range from drowsiness, weakness, or an unsteady walk, to depressed breathing, stupor, and various levels of coma. Very rarely, death is a possible outcome.
Ativan Dosages Ativan (lorazepam) starting dosages in adults being treated for anxiety are usually 1-3 mg daily, divided into 2-3 doses. A typical maintenance dose is 2-6 mg daily, taken in divided doses, with a maximum dose of 10 mg per day. The usual amounts prescribed for insomnia are 2-4 mg taken at bedtime.
This medication is available in the following forms:
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