Ativan

[Cat Dancer]

I've been taking ativan since April of 2013. Before that I was on Klonopin. I am allowed up to 1.5 mg per day. I only take 1 mg a day and it does help with the anxiety. Lately though it doesn't seem like it helps the way it used to. I have read that your body can become used to it. I took my 1 mg today and right now I am just shaking and sick with anxiety. I don't want to take more. I do try other things besides medication such as breathing exercises and things to try to distract me such as going outside, walking, playing with kids, animals, reading, etc. But lately not much seems to help. I just feel sick with anxiety so much.

I only am on Prozac and ativan right now. I can take risperdal again if I want to, but it seems like that sometimes makes me jittery, but I don't know if that is in my mind or for real. I want to try it again, but it also makes me really sleepy. I just want a break ffrom this anxiety. I don't even know what I am asking and I saw my doctor this past week and she didn't have any suggestions. I am fairly anemic and have been taking iron for that, but it just keeps going down.

I don't know. I just am trying, but failing.

I guess I"m just venting?

 

[Retired]

I am allowed up to 1.5 mg per day. I only take 1 mg a day

Take the 1.5 mg as your doctor prescribed. 1.5 mg. per day is a low dose, so the additional 0.5 mg may just be what you need to manage your anxiety, and which is why the doctor prescribed it that way.

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

If your iron is getting lower, has your physician tested you and advised about anything that could help that as well?

 

[forgetmenot]

CD try taking 1.5mg ok it may just be what you need to rid yourself of anxiety it is a small dose really so give a try ok

 

[Cat Dancer]

If your iron is getting lower, has your physician tested you and advised about anything that could help that as well?

She just keeps checking and prescribing different iron supplements.

 

[PrincessX]

Hi Cat Dancer! You will be surprised but from what I read Anemia and Anxiety manifest with very similiar symptoms. Not only that, but anemia in fact can cause or worsen anxiety due to the physiological changes it causes. Talk to the doctor about the connection between both. I think iron deficiency should be taken seriously and make sure you take your supplements and get treated. All the best.

Check this page:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/471225-iron-anxiety/

There is also scientific articles ot there if you are interested.

 

[Cat Dancer]

I had not even thought about the anemia being related to the anxiety. That makes a lot of sense. It's weird because I have struggled with anemia and usually when it gets really low like this I get the shortness of breath and I don't have that right now. Just really tired and my heart is really pounding.

Thanks for the articles.

 

[PrincessX]

Thank you, I am glad you found my post helpful. I thought, if you look at the nutritional deficiencies involved in anemia and anxiety, you basically lack the same nutrients in both - like vitamins from the B group (B12), iron, magnesium, all or some of these are low in both anemia and anxiety. I think both diseases are correlated. The usual approach is that you first get treated for the disease and then for the mental health symptoms, or alternatively you can aim treatment for both together. As to whether Ativan 1.5 mg is a low dose, it is person-specific and you monitor your own response to it. I know for myself that 0.5 mg is a high dose, as I have high sensitivity to benzodiazepines. Good luck! P.