Addiction to anxiety meds - maybe trigs
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| Wed, 08-09-2006 - 12:04pm |
Okay. I take Ativan. Have for YEARS, at least 4, probably closer to 5. My initial dosage was 0.5 mgs twice a day. Fine. Worked for about 2 years...then I got really bad off, in and out of the hospital for mania and then rapid cycling. So, the dosage was increased to 1 mg twice a day. Since going on Lexapro, my anxiety is way lessened. But I'm still using the Ativan, and to be honest a bit too much. Sometimes I take 4 a day...I cannot sleep without them.
I know I am addicted to them, and I knew this going in...my pdoc told me I would become so. She said we would work it out when the time came. Its here.
The last few months have been VERY hard on me...maybe some of the hardest in my life. And I needed them, to relax, for panic attacks, etc. They helped and saved my life.
Now, however, I don't NEED them, but I need them. Yes, I've been an addict and I know what addiction is.
I want to stop taking so many, but I am going to have to go through a bad withdrawal. I want something other than Ativan to use for sleep. I have become very sluggish in the mornings -- the dreaded benzo hangover. I know I'm headed toward trouble, so I'm going to put a stop to it now.
If you are taking Ativan, Klonopin, and/or Xanax...be careful. Not that they aren't wonderful drugs when they are needed. They really did save my life.
The other problem now is the psychological addiction. And sometimes that's the worst. I have to have my Ativan when I get home from work...then another in an hour or so, then 2 for bed...I can't sleep unless I do this. Ugh.
Anyway, I just wanted to talk about this a while. Thanks for listening.

Keli I hope you and your pdoc can work together to help you through this. I know how hard it will be.
i found em.
& i found they went better with alchohol.
i ended up in the hospital.
find a way to stop this.i'll help you any way i can.
Keli,
I have been taking Xanax for at least 5 years. I started out by taking .5mg a day...then over the years, slowly increased to 3 a day. I now take the time release Xanax, and I take 1 mg. in the morning. I'm sure I'm addicted, but I couldn't live without them. I have terrible, terrible panic attacks, and my anxiety level is through the roof!! The way I see it...I don't smoke, and I don't drink, but I NEED my xanax. You're not alone Keli.
Hugs,
Renee
For me its xanax and alcohol instead of Ativan. I hate to compare alcohol to prescription medication but I use them about the same way. One or the other. They make me feel similar. I hurt my back recently and discovered that muscle relaxers have a similar effect. *sighs* I actually rescheduled my pdoc appt because I knew she'd ask how much xanax, alcohol, and ambien I've been having (not to mention muscle relaxers). I don't want to tell her. I'm planning on "cutting down" before my next appt which is now a month away. I can't sleep w/o the Ambien anymore. *sighs again* Amazingly enough I'm rather functional at the moment (at least I like to think so).
Hugs,
Morgaine
(((((Keli))))),
It sucks that something that was (and IS) a good thing can also turn on you.
as for ambien..it is so notorious for dependency that my insurance company refuses to honor prescriptions after a certain amount.