Ativan

linpsu
linpsu Member Posts: 747
in Breast Cancer #1
Can anyone give me some help with this? My dr. prescribed Ativan for me due to occasional depression but I didn't take any yet.

Well today I had to go for an MRI for an unrelated-to-breast-cancer reason (pinched nerve in my neck). My General dr. told me to take an Ativan for anxiety prior to the MRI (I have claustrophia and hyper-ventilate in that MRI machine), which I did - I took 2 actually, and I dealt with the MRI just fine.

But they really knocked me out and made me very loopy. Now how can I use Ativan on a routine basis for depression? Do I just wait until a day when I am feeling particularly low and then take an Ativan and feel loopy and out-of-it for the rest of the day? There is no way I could take that on a regular basis and still feel human. PS. I'm done with chemo, surgery, radiation, and cannot take anything like Arimidex or Herceptin since I am Triple Negative and there is nothing for me to do at this point to prevent the return of the C. That is the main reason for my somewhat depressed state of mind.

I know there are ladies on here who have reported bouts of depression following active treatment - what did your doctors prescribe for you, and did it work? How long and how often did you tske it?

Thanks for any help.
Hugs,
Linda

Comments

  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #2
    Ativan
    Ativan is an anti anxiety medication rather than an anti depressant. When one is depressed anxiety often accompanies depression but ativan will only address anxiety. Ativan does not stay in the body as long as some other medications. It is a short term fix. I think I would mention the experince to your doctor.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #3
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Ativan
    Ativan is an anti anxiety medication rather than an anti depressant. When one is depressed anxiety often accompanies depression but ativan will only address anxiety. Ativan does not stay in the body as long as some other medications. It is a short term fix. I think I would mention the experince to your doctor.

    Ativan is anti anxiety medication
    Linda,
    Ativan is anti anxiety medication, it was also given to me during Chemo therapy combat nausea and steroids.
    Foe depression they recommended Lexapro or effexor.
    Since you are not taking Tamoxifen you have more choices. Please talk to your medical team.
    Please let us know how do you feel and what solution you will find out.
    Hugs
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #4
    These gals have pretty much
    These gals have pretty much summed it up. I don't know what the strength of yours are but if it's prescribed as "take one" then that might help you not feel so loopy.
    jan
  • creampuff91344
    creampuff91344 Member Posts: 988
    #5
    phoenixrising said:

    These gals have pretty much
    These gals have pretty much summed it up. I don't know what the strength of yours are but if it's prescribed as "take one" then that might help you not feel so loopy.
    jan

    Ativan
    Linda, I am one of those who take Ativan on a regular basis for anxiety. This anxiety is a symptom of Tardive Dyskinesia, which was caused from taking Reglan while I was on b/c chemo treatment, and couldn't control nausea. After taking the drug for three months, the symptoms of TD started,and that was almost three years ago. I take Ativan two times a day, and it keeps me feeling like my old self. Without the drug, I have extreme anxiety. You should contact your doctor regarding your reaction to taking two pills (that may even be the problem), and let them know that you are having doubts about taking it for depression. I am sorry you are having these problems, but a talk with your physician should clear up your apprehension about taking Ativan, as well as any other drug. My advice to all is to research your medications before you take them just to make sure there are no side effects that could be dibilatating. Wish I had done that. Hugs, Judy
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691 Member
    #6
    I take Ativan as a sleeping

    I take Ativan as a sleeping pill. It works great for me. However I only take one, if I take two before going to bed, I am really drowsy the following day. Taking one, it gives me enough good sleep and also takes the edge off of any anxiety. The following day I typically feel good/normal. However my Onc. told me that it was not an anti-depressant and if I needed one he could prescribe something different.

    Check back with your doctor about why he prescibed Ativan for you depession and if there is something else he could prescribe.
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #7
    As others have said, ativan
    As others have said, ativan is not an antidepressant but an antianxiety drug. I can't take it at all--it makes me feel weird and anxious. I know I am weird--don't even go there...lol.

    The benzodiazepines (valium, xanax, ativan) have their place in certain situations. They can be addicting and my psychiatrist sister calls them super glue--meaning they are very hard to get patients to discontinue them. The drugs must be weaned slowly as abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous. However, they are extremely helpful for certain situations.

    Adverse Reactions (from epocrates)
    Serious Reactions
    respiratory depression
    apnea
    respiratory failure
    dependency, abuse
    withdrawal if abrupt D/C
    seizures
    suicidality
    tachycardia
    hypotension
    syncope
    blood dyscrasias
    jaundice
    CNS stimulation, paradoxical
    gangrene (intra-arterial)
    Common Reactions
    sedation
    dizziness
    asthenia
    ataxia
    local injection site rxn
    respiratory depression
    hypoventilation (IV)
    hypotension
    fatigue
    amnesia
    confusion
    disinhibition
    irritability
    libido changes
    menstrual irregularities
    diplopia
    dysarthria
    appetite change
    constipation
    incontinence
    urinary retention
    dystonia
    elevated liver transaminases
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #8
    CypressCynthia said:

    As others have said, ativan
    As others have said, ativan is not an antidepressant but an antianxiety drug. I can't take it at all--it makes me feel weird and anxious. I know I am weird--don't even go there...lol.

    The benzodiazepines (valium, xanax, ativan) have their place in certain situations. They can be addicting and my psychiatrist sister calls them super glue--meaning they are very hard to get patients to discontinue them. The drugs must be weaned slowly as abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous. However, they are extremely helpful for certain situations.

    Adverse Reactions (from epocrates)
    Serious Reactions
    respiratory depression
    apnea
    respiratory failure
    dependency, abuse
    withdrawal if abrupt D/C
    seizures
    suicidality
    tachycardia
    hypotension
    syncope
    blood dyscrasias
    jaundice
    CNS stimulation, paradoxical
    gangrene (intra-arterial)
    Common Reactions
    sedation
    dizziness
    asthenia
    ataxia
    local injection site rxn
    respiratory depression
    hypoventilation (IV)
    hypotension
    fatigue
    amnesia
    confusion
    disinhibition
    irritability
    libido changes
    menstrual irregularities
    diplopia
    dysarthria
    appetite change
    constipation
    incontinence
    urinary retention
    dystonia
    elevated liver transaminases

    I took ativan at night and
    I took ativan at night and prior to procedures and it was helpful. however, I did find that I needed higher doses to help me sleep. then I weaned off it slowly. But think it has its place.
  • linpsu
    linpsu Member Posts: 747
    #9
    CypressCynthia said:

    As others have said, ativan
    As others have said, ativan is not an antidepressant but an antianxiety drug. I can't take it at all--it makes me feel weird and anxious. I know I am weird--don't even go there...lol.

    The benzodiazepines (valium, xanax, ativan) have their place in certain situations. They can be addicting and my psychiatrist sister calls them super glue--meaning they are very hard to get patients to discontinue them. The drugs must be weaned slowly as abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous. However, they are extremely helpful for certain situations.

    Adverse Reactions (from epocrates)
    Serious Reactions
    respiratory depression
    apnea
    respiratory failure
    dependency, abuse
    withdrawal if abrupt D/C
    seizures
    suicidality
    tachycardia
    hypotension
    syncope
    blood dyscrasias
    jaundice
    CNS stimulation, paradoxical
    gangrene (intra-arterial)
    Common Reactions
    sedation
    dizziness
    asthenia
    ataxia
    local injection site rxn
    respiratory depression
    hypoventilation (IV)
    hypotension
    fatigue
    amnesia
    confusion
    disinhibition
    irritability
    libido changes
    menstrual irregularities
    diplopia
    dysarthria
    appetite change
    constipation
    incontinence
    urinary retention
    dystonia
    elevated liver transaminases

    Thanks
    Thanks for your input, ladies. And Cynthia, as usual, I appreciate all of your medical expertise. Kind of makes me think that I'll save the Ativan for when I get MRI's and talk to the Dr. for something else for minor depression.

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