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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jules354 on November 3, 2006, at 21:45:40
I just got a prescription for 0.5mg of Lorazepam for occasional use w/ panic & anxiety. I'm not taking it every day, just once in a while when needed. I've never taken medication for anxiety before, and, well, I'm a little anxious about it. Is there anything I should keep in mind or be careful of or keep an eye out for?
Thanks for any advice.
take care,
jules
Posted by yxibow on November 4, 2006, at 2:18:58
In reply to Lorazepam occasional use question, posted by jules354 on November 3, 2006, at 21:45:40
> I just got a prescription for 0.5mg of Lorazepam for occasional use w/ panic & anxiety. I'm not taking it every day, just once in a while when needed. I've never taken medication for anxiety before, and, well, I'm a little anxious about it. Is there anything I should keep in mind or be careful of or keep an eye out for?
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> take care,
> jules
.5mg of Ativan is a very small dose. You are prescribed it as "PRN" (pro re nata), as necessary. The worry over such a small dose would completely obliterate its purpose.If you take this like once or twice a week or however you would have very few problems. If you've never taken a benzodiazepine in your life, you will probably feel that transmitter activated since you haven't taken it before and it might seem euphoric once.
Beyond that, its just for your anxiety. The usual precautions, watch your driving, etc., but at that dose I can't really think it would impair much of anything.
At least my 2c anyhow
-- Jay
Posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2006, at 9:56:05
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » jules354, posted by yxibow on November 4, 2006, at 2:18:58
I agree they used to just make me feel relaxed and able to conquer the world. Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on November 4, 2006, at 9:57:50
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » jules354, posted by yxibow on November 4, 2006, at 2:18:58
My sentiments as well. Maybe take it (I always do this, obsessive rascal that I am) when you will be home and can observe your reaction to it. Probably the absolute worse that will happen is that it will make you a tiny sleepy-but at least you will be confident that it's fine to take. As was said, it's a very, very low dose...I can't imagine it being helpful with panic at that level, but let's hope it is. I have PD and I don't even notice 1 mg lorazepam in terms of calming.
Posted by jules354 on November 4, 2006, at 11:53:04
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question, posted by bassman on November 4, 2006, at 9:57:50
Thanks everyone. I just wanted some advice since I've had some hellish experiences on AD trials over the years and this is my first real anxiety med. I've taken it once so far before bedtime - my anxiety definitely lessened and it seemed to help my sleep. Keeping it on hand for panicky moments in case I need it again. The dose sure must be low - the pills are tiny! :)
take care,
jules
Posted by bassman on November 4, 2006, at 11:58:28
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question, posted by jules354 on November 4, 2006, at 11:53:04
I case no one told you, you can put the tablet under your tongue and let it dissolve for fastest effect-esp. good for high anxiety situations, or if there isn't any water in sight.
Posted by clint878 on November 4, 2006, at 20:06:43
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question, posted by jules354 on November 4, 2006, at 11:53:04
One thing I always do with any new medication is to split the first pill into an extremely small dose. You could go to CVS and buy a cheap pill cutter for this purpose.
Usually, when I take the extremely small dose, nothing happens, and I can take the full dose. It's comforting, though, to know that nothing serious will happen because of severe nausea I had once due to an antibiotic.
Posted by jules354 on November 5, 2006, at 16:24:50
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question, posted by clint878 on November 4, 2006, at 20:06:43
Posted by madeline on November 5, 2006, at 16:42:56
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question, posted by clint878 on November 4, 2006, at 20:06:43
before you cut a pill in half, always talk to your doc or pharmacist.
Some medicines are compounded in very specific ways (time release, enteric coated etc...) and cutting the pill could cause all kinds of problems, like causing too much to be released at once or causing the drug to be absorbed in the wrong place.
Maddie
Posted by bassman on November 5, 2006, at 17:16:49
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » clint878, posted by madeline on November 5, 2006, at 16:42:56
But you can cut lorazepam at will. The standard argument for not cutting pills that aren't scored is that there is no guarantee that the drug is distributed evenly in the tab. Baloney.
Posted by madeline on November 5, 2006, at 18:39:40
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » madeline, posted by bassman on November 5, 2006, at 17:16:49
That is baloney. The drug should be evenly distrubuted and with the therapeutic range of the most frequently prescribed psych meds being so large, small variations in dose won't matter.
However, I stand by statement that it is never a good idea to start hacking away at the meds without talking to someone IRL about it first.
It is just prudent advice.
Posted by Phillipa on November 5, 2006, at 19:10:27
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » madeline, posted by bassman on November 5, 2006, at 17:16:49
I think you can cut lorazepam. Not enteric coated. Love Phillipa
Posted by stargazer on November 5, 2006, at 21:44:52
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » bassman, posted by Phillipa on November 5, 2006, at 19:10:27
You can cut them in half, I've done it but the pill is so tiny it may just pulverize into powder, so the discussion may be moot.
I also will cut a pill in half just to see if a smaller dose might work for me and lorazepam does come in a 0.25 mg dose, so if you are extremely drug responsive perhaps a smaller dose will work for you.
0.5 mg once or twice a day is fine to take without really have any problem with the potential for dependency. If you needed to take it every 3-4 hours, then that might start to become a habit.
When I took it I seldom needed it more than a few times a day during very stressful periods. Usually I took it as I was waiting for another medication, i.e. AD, to work. Most MD's will only prescribe for short periods of time.
SG
Posted by yxibow on November 6, 2006, at 5:21:54
In reply to Re: Lorazepam occasional use question » clint878, posted by madeline on November 5, 2006, at 16:42:56
> before you cut a pill in half, always talk to your doc or pharmacist.
>
> Some medicines are compounded in very specific ways (time release, enteric coated etc...) and cutting the pill could cause all kinds of problems, like causing too much to be released at once or causing the drug to be absorbed in the wrong place.
>
> Maddie
You can cut just about any tablet generic or original benzodiazepine in half, quarters, crush it up, they're all evenly distributed agents with prescored lines. Klonopin, Ativan, Xanax, Valium, Tranxene The only exception would probably be the patent extender Xanax XR. Even Serax and Restoril can be probably be divided out of its capsule, most likely -- that's probably an iffy question as to whether it is supposed to be time released (Restoril); I don't believe so.
Basically this applies to all scored round tablets from makers like Watson, Mylan, Teva, etc. Benzodiazepines and beta blockers are the most common.-- Jay
Posted by ed_uk on November 6, 2006, at 13:42:06
In reply to Re: Lorazepam and tablets » madeline, posted by yxibow on November 6, 2006, at 5:21:54
Hi Yxi
Restoril isn't controlled release. You could open the capsule and divide the contents if it was necessary to get a smaller dose eg. during gradual withdrawal.
Ed
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