Ativan and Withdrawal: What Users Say

• Ali...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2023

For Anxiety "I’ve been taking Ativan on and off for almost 5 years for GAD. This year, I was going through Lexapro withdrawal, which emerged 90 days after I weaned myself off. Getting back on it was worse for the first few days. I now understand why people are terrified to stop taking SSRIs. I am strict with myself in not taking Ativan often because of how addictive it is, even when my doctor prescribed me 30 pills. I went to the pharmacy to see if they could help me, and the pharmacist was amazing and explained to me that taking .5 or 1 mg of Ativan isn’t addictive (just that it’ll lose its effect over time). She told me to take it every day for the next week, and it was a lifesaver. I had already been taking .5-1 mg of Ativan every day for a few weeks, give or take a good day or two. But when I stopped taking it after the last week ended (totaling a month), I was fine. It helped me be normal again while my body sorted itself out. I now take it once a week or two."

• Dru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2020

For Anxiety "Ativan does the job. But you do NOT want to go through the withdrawal. It's very bad. I have generalized anxiety and panic disorder to the point where I can't leave the house unless I really have to. And Ativan makes it a lot easier to leave the house. The withdrawal makes your anxiety come back with vengeance. It's bad. For the short term, it's great, but long term you become addicted and physically dependent on it. And you build a tolerance so it doesn't help you as much as initially taking it. I love Ativan and recommend it to anyone suffering from anxiety. Just make sure you wean off it, or you will feel like life becomes a nightmare."

• Wor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2019

For Insomnia "Ativan is the absolute best sleep medication. I sleep better the whole night and wake up refreshed. However, I try not to use it more often than twice a week. When taken more than 4 or more nights in a row and then stopped, I have severe withdrawal symptoms."

• Mac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 10, 2025

"After retiring from the military, I received help I had been dealing with for years. If you are too honest with any mental health problems on active duty, you can lose promotion opportunities or be discharged, so I waited. This drug is a lifesaver for my debilitating anxiety and insomnia. I have taken it for 3 years, and yes, you build up a tolerance, but it’s better than nothing. There were times I didn’t take it for weeks to see if the withdrawal was that bad. Honestly, it was about the same anxiety as I had to begin with. A couple of days you don’t sleep, but it wasn’t as bad for me. I take 3 mg a day, and it keeps me functioning normally. Without it, I’d be a mess. If I have to take it for life, so be it. It is addictive, but the alternative life isn’t worth living, so I’m glad for this therapy. It doesn’t make you loopy or comatose. The first few weeks will be drowsy, but if you are high anxiety, you will feel normal."

• Jas...
• April 25, 2013

For Anxiety "Ativan will definitely help calm you down, but stick to the script! If you quit cold turkey you will have withdrawals for a week. You build a slight tolerance for it and want more. If you give in and take more you will run out before refill time and then come the withdrawals! But it does do its job on anxiety!"

• You...
• July 8, 2016

For Anxiety "I take 2 mg of Ativan a day: 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg at night before bed. I have been diagnosed with severe panic attacks and depression. Lorazepam (generic brand for Ativan) does help me. Understand that the effects of any medication are going to vary from person to person. I don't get sleepy in the morning when I take it, but it does help me get a good night's sleep at night when I'm tired. Also, I do want to say: Recently, my pharmacy didn't give me the exact amount of pills of Ativan, so I have been off of it 'cold turkey' because I ran out and the withdrawal symptoms can be hellish. Note: Anybody can be dependent on any medication/drug. Talk to your psychiatrist. Remember, everyone responds to medication differently."

• Ner...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

For Anxiety "Do not hype yourself up about addiction, but do know certain people will be at risk more than others, high-stress jobs (where people's lives are on the line), addictive personality, or using these to 'solve' problems should find other ways to cope. The .05 pills are gentle, they take the edge off. Things like alcohol and opiates seem like they are WAY more addictive. I had to deal with my mom, who had a high-stress job and was HORRIBLY addicted to Xanax, almost died taking them. I refused to take benzos my whole life for that reason until I just recently needed them due to a miscarriage. Will only use them as needed (during PMS). I had absolutely NO withdrawals or odd sensations the next day after taking. Have seen what benzos do to some people. I am hoping that not to be me, nor do I get the withdrawals people say they get the next day. Everyone reacts to drugs differently. I cannot tolerate MJ, most other people can."

• But...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2022

For Anxiety "This medication is 10/10, if I could vote any higher, I would! I take 1 mg for anxiety, anger, PMDD, racing thoughts, insomnia, and social anxiety, and it works WONDERS!! It makes me feel very, very calm and relaxed and happy and giggly and outgoing, and it also makes me more creative! Sometimes, when I take it, I find everything funny, which is kind of weird. My arms and legs feel calm as I have restless legs, I have a softer voice, I’m more friendly and rational. The only things I HATE about this are the withdrawal symptoms and the fact that it also makes me feel sluggish and stumbling and cold at times, but that’s rare."

• Slo...
• September 1, 2017

For Anxiety "For immediate relief, this drug is great. I take 0.5 mg when I absolutely need it (2-3 times every couple of months), but the only reason I wouldn't give it a 9 or 10 is because I did have a bad experience with this drug. I took it for 7 days straight, 3 times 0.5 mg per day, as prescribed by my doctor for generalized anxiety disorder. I abruptly stopped taking it because I didn't want to have to take it every day, and I ended up going through withdrawal. I then got vertigo for a couple of months, which was absolutely terrible. BUT I think if you use this drug responsibly and do NOT take it for multiple days in a row, it can definitely come in handy. I also have high blood pressure caused by anxiety, and usually get effective relief after about 30 minutes. Hang in there!"

• Mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2015

For Anxiety "I took lorazepam for 19 days at .5 mg as needed. I was taking them in the afternoon around 4:30. The doctor only gave me 20 pills for anxiety and sent me home. While taking them, I was feeling even worse, I couldn't sleep, I would wake up shaking and scared, and couldn't eat until I took the pill. I decided to stop taking them because I was getting more anxiety and wired thoughts and was shaking all day. So, I quit cold turkey - I didn't know I was to taper off. On the second day of not taking it, I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, walking around feeling like I'm going crazy, a lot of anxiety attacks and panic attacks. I don't feel joy or happiness. The only thing I could think of is I'm having withdrawals. I stopped taking it on December 9, 2015, it is now December 29, 2015."

• Lau...
• August 20, 2015

For Anxiety "I'm 19, and this anxiety and OCD had been poured on me out of nowhere. It scared me so bad I felt like I couldn't live my life. I went to the ER, and they prescribed me Ativan 1 mg 3 times a day. It was extremely effective. The first week I was only taking half or sometimes 2. I've been on it for 3 weeks and am waiting to get on an SSRI for more long-term. Ativan is helping me through my days. I am just nervous about withdrawals because I don't take it as prescribed, only as needed."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2023

For Anxiety "I am 67 years old. I was prescribed Ativan in the early 1980s. I got addicted and after 5 months was taking 12 a day instead of the prescribed 6. I threw them down the toilet, then ended up at my GP with acute withdrawal symptoms. He did a six-week withdrawal plan. I lost the memory of that 6 months. I also lost a lot of my memory up to that point. As a person who has suffered memory loss and lack of emotion for the last 40 years and my life wrecked, I implore people not to take this drug."

• Ben...
• February 13, 2018

For Anxiety "Be careful with this sneaky drug. At first, it works great, but very quickly, I mean within days, it is highly addictive. Before you know it, you’ll be using it daily, and withdrawal syndrome associated with benzos is horrible. Use with caution."

• Gat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2017

For Anxiety "This drug is the devil. The first few doses work like magic. After 1 week, a hellish withdrawal starts kicking in about 2 hours after taking each dose. Impossible to wean off of without a doctor who's familiar with this highly addictive drug."

• bra...
• December 18, 2015

For Anxiety "This drug is highly addictive, and due to it being short-acting, it is nearly impossible to wean off of this drug in a conventional manner. It is very effective in relieving anxiety, but should not be taken for any extended period of time or you will be hooked into an agonizing withdrawal. To get off of this short-acting drug without the painful withdrawal, switch to a long-acting benzo like diazepam that is available in multiple and larger doses and can be cut into smaller amounts to wean off gradually."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2021

For Insomnia "Ativan can be a two-edged sword. I have a prescription for 0.5 mg to be used as needed for anxiety and/or sleep. It works really well for both. I just have to be careful not to use it too often (it's tempting) because there are uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. I want to have it on hand because when I have a days-long anxiety episode, it's the only thing that helps calm me down. However, my doctor told me that regular, long-term use of Ativan can increase the risk for Alzheimer's. Articles I've read on this confirm his warning. That's a good enough incentive for me to use it sparingly. 7/10 stars for Ativan due to its helpfulness, but with accompanying risks."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2011

For Anxiety "I have been on Ativan since January 2011, started out with 0.5 mg, then went to 1 mg, and have felt better. I used them not only for my anxiety but also to sleep because I have a hard time sleeping at night. I now feel that I can stop taking the medicines for the anxiety, have not had an attack for months, but take the medicines to sleep at night. I tried to stop taking Ativan, and the withdrawals were so bad I had to start taking them again, and now going to see my doctor to help me come off them."

• Jmf...
• April 11, 2018

For Anxiety "I recently developed panic attacks and anxiety. Just thinking about anxiety makes you anxious, at least for me. I was just prescribed 0.5 Ativan and 10 mg Lexapro for anxiety. I hope it works. I used to be on Celexa, but it never really did much for me, tbh. I'm hoping the withdrawals aren't bad."

• Lad...
• October 11, 2018

"I was given Ativan for anxiety due to TMJ (temporomandibular disorder) chronic pain. It ended up taking away the pain itself. However, being in the mental health field, I'm well aware of the addictive qualities of this drug. I was appalled at how quickly I was put on 1 mg/day for 3 weeks and given a renewed prescription without question every time I went in. Users must beware of the high addictiveness and that it can take years to taper off this medication and years for the brain to return to a normal state. Severe withdrawal can cause psychosis, depression, seizures, and death, and rebound symptoms are very common even at low doses (rebound symptoms is when you go off or taper down the medication, you experience a worsening of the condition it was intended to treat in the first place). If you've been prescribed this by your GP, please do your research and talk to a specialist about it and follow their advice. Benzodiazepines have ruined many lives and are still continuously over-prescribed."

• Off...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 27, 2018

For Anxiety "Have taken Ativan on and off...more on than off for 24 years. I have quit it for life and am having terrible withdrawal symptoms. Hot, cold, blurred vision, memory loss. Please do not take this medication."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 26, 2021

For Anxiety "I initially took this drug to treat chronic nerve pain, as nothing else would work. This gave me some relief as I was experiencing continuous pain. I also suffer from anxiety and bipolar disorder. I believe this drug saved my life, even though it has actually worsened my anxiety. I take 1 mg once a day in the morning, so that I would wake up the next morning with severe anxiety. It took me a long time to figure out this came from Ativan and not my 'normal' anxiety, which wasn't that severe in the first place. As my neuralgia eventually got better over time, I tried to lower the dose to 0.5 mg per day. I was prepared to experience withdrawal, but instead, I felt as great as ever! I eventually went into a manic state and started to have psychotic symptoms. So bipolar people beware: stopping long-term use of Ativan can trigger a manic episode! Altogether, I don't regret taking this drug as I have a more productive life and more desire for social connections."

• Eur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2021

For Anxiety "This pill works, but is not a solution. Be wary even if you don’t have an addictive personality. I don’t, but using this only 3 days in a row, then stopped, caused me physical withdrawal symptoms! I only took 1 mg each day. After 3 days, I had rebound anxiety, tense, painful shoulders and back, neck/head pain, teeth grinding, and achy. Also, this medication makes my hair shed!! and makes me feel stupid and foggy for days after! This is definitely NOT a drug you want to play around with! My husband was prescribed this years ago, and he said also, he became “dope sick” after using just for a couple of days! Withdrawal from benzos can be really hard, so if you are trying to get off of them, consult your physician. I couldn’t imagine how bad withdrawals would be if you were on these long-term. I will keep them on hand for extreme, rare emergencies. But in the meantime, I will stick to hypnosis and taking lemon balm or passionflower herbs."

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2021

For Anxiety "After an operation, he was great for 3 days. Became upset with nurses waking him for this or that, told them in no uncertain words to leave him alone and was shaking. They assumed he was an alcoholic and he was having withdrawal from not being able to drink in the hospital. On the 4th day and for 3 days later, couldn't talk, move on his own, or walk. Now in rehab, why would you give Ativan to someone who you thought was a drunk."

• Ben...
• July 5, 2017

For Anxiety "You would have to be crazy to take Ativan. I took 1-2 mg 2x a day for 6 months and had withdrawal symptoms for almost 4 years after stopping over a 2-week period per my doctor. If you think your life is bad before taking Ativan, just wait until you experience the withdrawal and aftereffects of this poison. After 2 years, I still had vibrating, hypersensitive vision and hearing. Burning in your nerves, especially in your feet. Forget sleep, all you do is lie in bed awake for me, almost 2 years dreaming while awake. That part was the most torturous part of the med. The FDA needs to remove Ativan from FDA approval immediately."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I was prescribed Ativan after I was catatonic when I had a psychotic episode. It helped with my anxiety. I had never had any withdrawals, and I used it as prescribed."