My old Dr switched me from ativan to xanax with no step down or anything in between the two and a lower Mg and dosage of the xanax. I am having awful side effects now which are shaking,panic/anxiety attacks,cant sleep,nausea and headaches. I am new to this town and dont have a regular dr or anything. I dont know how long these will last, or what to do. Can anyone help me?
My Dr switched me from Ativan to Xanax with no step down process?
Question posted by Cafelecat on 8 Sep 2010
Last updated on 8 October 2018 by metoo1
4 Answers
metoo1
8 Oct 2018
Do not go on xanax terrible side effects an withdrawal i am still having problems and its been over a year
Kiddos
25 July 2014
I've been on Xanax 1mg 4 times a day for 17 years. I started at a lower dose but went up quickly. I've seen a few Drs through the years and they always kept me on. It was my migraine dr. who suggested to ween off because it was one of the reasons I was having severe daily migraines. My Dr. Started weening my off 1mg per month. I felt like I was going crazy. I'm having extream anxiety, panic attacks, sobbing, and hyperventilating. She added hydroxyzine which is only benedril. I kept calling and practically begging giving my something to help. She said no. I decided to see another Dr. He said I was being weened off to quickly. He put me back on at 3mg per day a week ago. It's July and I still feel awful. I take OTC sleeping pills just to get through the day. He is also weening me off of Effexor from 150mg to 3.75 and perscribed Prozac in it's place. So needless to say I feel horrible every day. I was told it's going to take many months until I feel normal again.
Inactive
26 July 2014
Hello Kiddos,
Even though this thread is from 2010 it popped up so here I am lol. Your Dr did right by putting you on prozac to get off effexor. However, it seems you're tapering to quickly on the xanax. Is it at all possible to have your Dr give you diazepam (valium) to do a crossover from xanax to valium? It is a much smoother taper with little to no withdrawals,
Hope this helped,
pamee
Inactive
10 Oct 2011
isnt it that atavan and xanax are used for the same thing, panick attacks and anxiety, you ought to find a dr that will be able to honestly see your records and that you will be honest with him/her and tell her your dilema with panic and anxiety. but i believe its for the same thing so you could be experiencing some other side affects cause xanax is long acting considered to atavan rite? but dont quote me on that
jk13
9 Sep 2010
I'm not sure what to tell you except to find a doctor / psychiatrist as soon as you can. Regardless as to how far away you are from your other doctor, it couldn't hurt to give that doc a call as well. It is possible to fax over a new prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. The last doc left you with a problem, and that doc really should stabilize your situation by the minimum. For whatever it's worth, Xanax is typically considered to be twice as strong as Ativan, so that might explain part of the logic. But even so, I tried switching from Klonopin to Xanax XR at an equivalent strength, and had awful withdrawals. I called my doc, and he switched me right back (and we're in the same town, didn't actually have to go in for an appointment). The Xanax is great for allot of people, however, it just wasn't for me, and apparently you either. We both didn't really want to go to a higher dosage of Xanax, so it was just a no go. Good luck, and I hope that this is of some help to you!
Jeff K
Cafelecat
10 Sep 2010
John thank you very much for your answer. I went to a regular dr cause I dont have a psychiatrst here yet. She was very nice and gave me a med called visterial but did keep me on the xanax but increase the dose(I was am on the lowest mg and we are trying to find me a Psych dr here. I think I am going to stop the benzos and trying something called buspar for the panic anxiety. Its not suppose to be as addicting as those others. Ive just had too many problems with them And you are very right the side effect of not being slowly tapered off the Ativan are just awful. Thank you for your help
Cat
babygabby
29 July 2013
Yes Ativan helps very fast for a panic attack , I had run out a week could not get an appt , so I really say it is addictive and am ready to try something else like xanax 5 mg once a.m. and at night before bed. I taking ambien at night for sleep I struggle to try to even get sleepy the Doc said I should not take xanax with ambien even though I have read some people do I need to know why they do , because the doc said xanax and ambien are sisters it could be really bad. Anyone comment if your doc said different.
jk13
30 July 2013
I guess that it would most likely depend on the situation. If there's the every once in a while need for xanax due to that once in blue moon presentation or fear of flying, I would imagine xanax in combo with another benzo type drug for sleep would be fine. If the anxiety pill is needed on a regular basis as is the need for a benzo type sleep aid, then it's a totally different situation. Managing two drugs that are in the same or similar class can be tricky, especially with the benzos. It becomes very hard to tell what drug is doing what, not to mention that society has it engraved in their heads that benzo type meds are bad. They are what they are. I'm sure that there may be other reasons, but this is what I've been told by my doc.
Pia Aulin
4 Jan 2014
Hi I am new to the community. I hope I am answering the proper question about taking xanax and ambien together before bed. This is my personal experience. I have been on xanax for over 10 years and i am at an above average dose per day due to severe panic disorder. I also have been on Ambien as well for severe insomnia. Anxiety and insomnia just seem to go hand in hand in alot of people. Anyhow You should be fine if you take one of your xanax at the same time as your ambien(preferably before bed). I know they "WARN" you not to but you know your body better than anyone or any Dr. If you are really desperate to sleep I would say down those suckers and have sweet dreams. If you are already taking both then both are in your system anyway! My opinion is of course just from a long history of personal experience. Happy zzzzz Chantel
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