Posted by cache-monkey on October 9, 2004, at 1:55:15
In reply to Re: Help with anxiety/benzos: Xanax/Ativan? » cache-monkey, posted by Fred23 on October 8, 2004, at 19:33:47
> > So I'm wondering about Ativan. Anyone have experiences with it? Efficacy? Any sort of "hang over" effect?
>
> After spending a few months working with it, and getting my GP to up the dose once, so far, it seems that it may be the trickiest one to take effectively.
>
> Therefore it is likely that it is not being prescribed in an effective way, leading patients to think that it "doesn't work." Which then means they have to "choose" between Xanax or Klonopin.
>
> What I've learned so far:
> 1. I takes at least as four time as much Ativan to be as effective as Xanax.
> 2. Its duration of action is much shorter than its rated half-life, so a dose is needed every 6 hours or so.
> 3. Real Ativan is needed; the generic is useless.
> 4. It takes longer to find the "right" daily dose, so more upping of the dosage may be needed along the way.
> 5. Ativan has a more human "feel" to it than Xanax, which is somewhat distancing.
>Thanks for the input! For me I find that the lowest dose of Xanax (0.25 mg) immediate release has usually done the trick. (Although I took two at one point for my Cymbalta-induced freak out...)
So I'm wondering how to translate that to Ativan. Could you tell me what dose and frequency worked for you with both Xanax and Ativan? That might help with the translation, although I suspect it varies from person to person.
Thanks again,
cache-monkey
poster:cache-monkey
thread:399779
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041007/msgs/400646.html