Lorazapam (Ativan)

[Maisy]

My GP wants too keep me on lorazapam as and when required as he says it will be good for seizure control around work and if things get out of hand, now why i was on this in hospital even though this was for anxiety and the pschy wanted me off it, but he said no when he looked at my record im just a bit worried about thier addictive effect, and just wondering is there anything else that can be prescribed too an adult as say an emergency medication, as from what ive been reading lorazapam, has very adverse effects and i didnt like what i was reading one little bit.

 

[Crash]

Hi Maisy,i would imagine your doctor wants to keep you on Loroapam for your seizure control as it is a quick acting benzo,placed under the tounge where it melts and enters your system.Far quicker than other benzos,perhaps his thinking is that you will only be using it for when you feel a seizure coming on,therefore will not be using it all the time so will not be at risk for addiction? At the hospital were you recieving Lorazapam,x amount off times a day,say one in the morning,one in the afternoon and one at night?
This would be the reason they didn't want you on it all the time,because off the risk off addiction.

But if you are just using it now and again for seizures,then any risk off addiction is so,so much lessened.Feels free to PM me if you have any questions.All the best Maisy and i hope things work out for you.

 

[Maisy]

At the hospital was only on it permanently for 2.5 weeks once a day, and then as and when required.

 

[Crash]

I suppose it depends on what strenth off Lorozapam you were getting,and also how many times were required,it doesn't take long to get a benzo habit.

 

[Nakamova]

My neuro gave me a back-up prescription for Lorazepam to take with me while traveling, in case I wasn't near a hospital and had seizures that wouldn't stop. Since I take Lamictal on a regular basis, I haven't used the Lorazepam at all (except one I took when my shoulder dislocated).

If it's just for emergency use, I don't think you need to worry about the side effects/addiction risks. But it's not the med to use for long-term seizure control. Why did your GP prescribe it (as opposed to your neurologist)?

 

[Maisy]

Very long story, gp didnt prescribe hospital did, hes just continuing my neuro is useless anyways my doc don't give a damn he does what he wants. lol

 

[momof3boys]

Heck my last neuro wouldnt prescribe any ativan for me at all. The only time I had it was when I had a VEEG done in March 2011, and then when I had bronchitis in November 2011. I was given Hydrocodone by the ER dr, and ended up having seizures. When I went to my GP to see what was going on, he said it was the medication inteferring with the seizure medication, and I needed to get off ASAP. So he wrote me out a prescription for .5 mg tablets of Ativan, I got 8-10 tablets. I used two of those to get off of the medication and make sure no more seizure occured. Then a year later in November 2012, i tried to generic of keppra xr and Had seizures, my neuro wouldnt give me any ativan and I had to take the expired stuff I had on hand here from November 2011. They say its addicting stuff.

 

[pita300]

I have Lorazapam script for 10 pills. I only take as needed and if I take more than 10 in 30 days he will not refill it. I only take one if I have more than 1 seizure in an hour. My seizures tend to cluster I keep it on the table next to me it keeps me out of the ER.

 

[Maisy]

Yeah mine cluster too pita, just struggling a bit As in the pscyh unit it was used for everything felt wound up here ya go, self harmed here ya go, so used it too sleep alot now struggling with the fact its there but I know its very addictive but I get a new script every 7 days per gp subscription

 

[pita300]

Yeah mine cluster too pita, just struggling a bit As in the pscyh unit it was used for everything felt wound up here ya go, self harmed here ya go, so used it too sleep alot now struggling with the fact its there but I know its very addictive but I get a new script every 7 days per gp subscription

I understand the psych unit thing. I would have a 30 second seizure and they would shoot me with atavan. They also tried to give me a sleep aid every night. That's a tough situation. When I use to smoke I was taught that the average urge only lasted a minutte and a half. Maybe you can try to think of it that way.

 

[RunningGirl85]

I have clonazepam for anxiety to take as needed (and I know anxiety nd seizure activity seem to go hand in hand for me)... I usually take half a pill at a time to calm down, and have actually had the same 15 pills for awhile. Granted, I don't NEED the medication for seizure control (for the most part), but as long as you limit it you should be fine

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[MuayThaiFighter]

I've taken a benzo with another anti seizure med and usually had a more stable result. Then again I understand the long term use scaring anyone. I was taking 15 mgs of Diazepam alone and not having any major issues but it didn't last long.

I am switching to klonopin for a moment while I transition onto an AED that works well for me. I know how you feel with this drugs, it seems you can't find a win win at times. But I assure you some mix will work.

This is kind of a long rant but I keep noticing hospital or certain Dr.s using benzos as the last ditch effort to stop seizures. Mainly because regardless of the kind/degree of your seizures it gives you at least some control. Keeping you out of status, which sounds great, but shorter acting benzos like ativan aren't always key. I would ask him if you can at least get a longer acting benzo like Klonopin or valium. Ultimately try to talk to your Doc about getting you on a more long term drug instead of just the ativan alone. I hope your doing better lately, best wishes.

 

[Maisy]

yeah might do that cheers muay I just struggle with saying what I want getting better though

 

[pita300]

I have clonazepam for anxiety to take as needed (and I know anxiety nd seizure activity seem to go hand in hand for me)... I usually take half a pill at a time to calm down, and have actually had the same 15 pills for awhile. Granted, I don't NEED the medication for seizure control (for the most part), but as long as you limit it you should be fine

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I take 1 1/2 clonazepam for anexiety. When I was in the psych ward last week they upped it 1 tab 4 times a day. They did that for seizure control. Since I've been out I went back to 1 1/2 because I don't want to take 4 of them a day and I sure my psychiatrist will agree with me.

 

[skyfire322]

After all of my seizures last week, all of the ER doctors blasted me with Ativan. Like Muay said, some doctors do use benzos as a last ditch effort. One of them actually gave me a prescription for seven 1mg pills.

I have also been very wary of taking it because I'm already on Lamictal and Keppra (I've only taken three Ativan in the past 10 days), and I get paranoid that it may nullify the effects of my other meds. I brought up my concerns with my neurologist, and he said that my thoughts on the matter are completely understandable. That stuff knocks me on my butt, and makes me VERY loopy.

On the other hand, he said if I have very strong auras, to take one just to calm me down. Once I do take it, I always lay down and take a nap for a little while, and it usually does the trick.

Different prescriptions have different side effects, and different people will have different reactions to the drugs though. Never hesitate to voice your concerns to your GP and your neurologist. In my personal opinion, the main reason I hate being epileptic is because it's pretty much trial and error when it comes to prescriptions.