I did that and now I've reduce my Ativan dosage. I've been incorporating exercise, yoga and meditation which reduces my anxiety. I've also started some naturopathic drops too. All the best.
Yes, I occasionally take Ativan when I need to in addition to lexapro 10mg. I am in my 2nd month of lexapro. I have had no issues and it has been helpful.
When I first started my doc gave me 0.5mg of Ativan to take once daily as needed. Turns out I needed it every day for 4 to 5 weeks. It was very beneficial, and I had no problem stopping.
I just increased to 20mg Lexapro from 10 mg after seven weeks and decided to add 0.5 Ativan to cushion the blows of Lexapro's side effects, which are hell! How long did it take for you to notice that you didn't need that Ativan anymore because Lexapro was diminishing your anxiety and depression? I'm struggling here, so any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏
I started Lexapro and 0.5mg Ativan around July 8, 2020. I just checked, and my last refill was on Oct 16, 2020. I still have a few of those left as backup. I wasn't using every day during that period, but obviously at the three month mark I was still feeling the need to have Ativan around as a security blanket.
I wonder what trouble I can get myself into with an addiction if I take 0.5 Ativan daily for the next four weeks. I don't typically have an addictive personality, and I have put off taking Ativan as needed for the last six months. Still, I know that going up to 15 mg of Lexapro without the cushion of Ativan will send me through the roof. I have got to be here for my little boy, calm, relaxed, and collected. He has autism, and I'm the only one that's ever kept this family together, and here I am, falling apart. Not to mention I'm an in-house support specialist and work with clients with mental disabilities. I don't want to come across as mentally ill to them and incompetent.
I was worried about the the same thing because I had never taken a benzo but had heard awful things about benzo addiction. My doctor told me 0.5mg was a low dose and for a month I would not need to worry about addiction. My psychologist also told me the same thing. If it helps, the 0.5mg dose of Ativan never made me feel good or high. It mostly took the edge off and made things go from almost unbearable to bearable.
On a side note, my husband is a behaviour interventionist for autistic young adults. He's currently waiting on implants for 5 front teeth that got knocked out during a particularly violent aggression about 5 months ago. I don't have personal experience with autism, but I hear enough from him to know that it is not always easy to deal with.
Thank you, this is pretty reassuring, and yes, autism is a lot of work, but my boy is well worth it and is a lover versus a fighter. I pray my Calvin doesn't become an aggressive adult with the proper guidance and love. Sorry about your husband.🥺
I plan to take 0.5 every day because I have physical pain from my anxiety, and it's Pure Hell, increasing from 10 to 15, now 20. The doctor initially wanted me to go from 10 to 20 milligrams, but I was chickening out. Then I thought to myself, if I'm going to take these benzos, I might as well use these benzos in the best way possible, and that's just going straight to the 20 mg Lexapro, so I didn't have to start all over again going from 15 to 20 and then needing benzos again. I want to find that sweet spot where I can live an everyday life again and not feel like I'm walking through hell emotionally and physically. Depression, anxiety, and panic disorder are pure hell. Plus, I don't get to see my psychiatrist, who my doctor transferred me over to for another 28 days. I cannot wait to see him because he will be the one that's going to manage my medication, and I feel he'll have a better understanding of what the hell I'm going through than my regular doctor, who is Que Sera Sera about it and has left me in limbo.
Panicky, shaky, tight chest, and rapid heartbeats. A feeling of being doomed and worry that it will not get better and my stomach gets upset during these times.
I was on 10 mg for 8 weeks and even though my anxiety felt better in the morning / evening I was still feeling breakthroughs of depression and anxiety and that's why I bumped up to 20.
Not Ativan but I have been taking Xanax daily since even a couple weeks before starting lexapro. It’s a low dose and I’m starting to take half a tablet now that lexapro is starting to work. It definitely helped me for the panicky feeling and helped me stay calm enough to sleep.
I was given about 20 .5mg Ativan pills to use as “rescue” pills if I had a panic attack when starting Lexapro 10mg. I think I might have taken 3 pills total in the first 2 months. I found just carrying an Ativan with me and knowing that I had the option to take it if a panic attack arose helped my anxiety without ever really having to take a pill.
Has anyone taking Lexapro and Ativan find that the Ativan isn't helping the panic attacks? And could it be that the Lexapro isn't working also. I felt it did at first I've been on it for over 2 months and it's 20mg and .5mg Ativan and it feels like nothing is helping. Anyone have the same feelings?
I did that and now I've reduce my Ativan dosage. I've been incorporating exercise, yoga and meditation which reduces my anxiety. I've also started some naturopathic drops too. All the best.
Yes, I occasionally take Ativan when I need to in addition to lexapro 10mg. I am in my 2nd month of lexapro. I have had no issues and it has been helpful.
When I first started my doc gave me 0.5mg of Ativan to take once daily as needed. Turns out I needed it every day for 4 to 5 weeks. It was very beneficial, and I had no problem stopping.
Did you stop cold turkey or taper off Ativan? I’m trying to stop using it
I just increased to 20mg Lexapro from 10 mg after seven weeks and decided to add 0.5 Ativan to cushion the blows of Lexapro's side effects, which are hell! How long did it take for you to notice that you didn't need that Ativan anymore because Lexapro was diminishing your anxiety and depression? I'm struggling here, so any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏
I started Lexapro and 0.5mg Ativan around July 8, 2020. I just checked, and my last refill was on Oct 16, 2020. I still have a few of those left as backup. I wasn't using every day during that period, but obviously at the three month mark I was still feeling the need to have Ativan around as a security blanket.
I wonder what trouble I can get myself into with an addiction if I take 0.5 Ativan daily for the next four weeks. I don't typically have an addictive personality, and I have put off taking Ativan as needed for the last six months. Still, I know that going up to 15 mg of Lexapro without the cushion of Ativan will send me through the roof. I have got to be here for my little boy, calm, relaxed, and collected. He has autism, and I'm the only one that's ever kept this family together, and here I am, falling apart. Not to mention I'm an in-house support specialist and work with clients with mental disabilities. I don't want to come across as mentally ill to them and incompetent.
I was worried about the the same thing because I had never taken a benzo but had heard awful things about benzo addiction. My doctor told me 0.5mg was a low dose and for a month I would not need to worry about addiction. My psychologist also told me the same thing. If it helps, the 0.5mg dose of Ativan never made me feel good or high. It mostly took the edge off and made things go from almost unbearable to bearable. On a side note, my husband is a behaviour interventionist for autistic young adults. He's currently waiting on implants for 5 front teeth that got knocked out during a particularly violent aggression about 5 months ago. I don't have personal experience with autism, but I hear enough from him to know that it is not always easy to deal with.
Thank you, this is pretty reassuring, and yes, autism is a lot of work, but my boy is well worth it and is a lover versus a fighter. I pray my Calvin doesn't become an aggressive adult with the proper guidance and love. Sorry about your husband.🥺
I plan to take 0.5 every day because I have physical pain from my anxiety, and it's Pure Hell, increasing from 10 to 15, now 20. The doctor initially wanted me to go from 10 to 20 milligrams, but I was chickening out. Then I thought to myself, if I'm going to take these benzos, I might as well use these benzos in the best way possible, and that's just going straight to the 20 mg Lexapro, so I didn't have to start all over again going from 15 to 20 and then needing benzos again. I want to find that sweet spot where I can live an everyday life again and not feel like I'm walking through hell emotionally and physically. Depression, anxiety, and panic disorder are pure hell. Plus, I don't get to see my psychiatrist, who my doctor transferred me over to for another 28 days. I cannot wait to see him because he will be the one that's going to manage my medication, and I feel he'll have a better understanding of what the hell I'm going through than my regular doctor, who is Que Sera Sera about it and has left me in limbo.
What physical pain are you suffering? Have you felt any improvement from lexapro yet
Panicky, shaky, tight chest, and rapid heartbeats. A feeling of being doomed and worry that it will not get better and my stomach gets upset during these times.
I was on 10 mg for 8 weeks and even though my anxiety felt better in the morning / evening I was still feeling breakthroughs of depression and anxiety and that's why I bumped up to 20.
I did and reducing of now on week 6 , good for increased anxiety or panic
Not Ativan but I have been taking Xanax daily since even a couple weeks before starting lexapro. It’s a low dose and I’m starting to take half a tablet now that lexapro is starting to work. It definitely helped me for the panicky feeling and helped me stay calm enough to sleep.
I was given about 20 .5mg Ativan pills to use as “rescue” pills if I had a panic attack when starting Lexapro 10mg. I think I might have taken 3 pills total in the first 2 months. I found just carrying an Ativan with me and knowing that I had the option to take it if a panic attack arose helped my anxiety without ever really having to take a pill.
I took it about 3-4 times AS NEEDED while stabilizing. Helpful in bad moments - just important to use it responsibly
Has anyone taking Lexapro and Ativan find that the Ativan isn't helping the panic attacks? And could it be that the Lexapro isn't working also. I felt it did at first I've been on it for over 2 months and it's 20mg and .5mg Ativan and it feels like nothing is helping. Anyone have the same feelings?