Long term use of Benzos

[Guest Jim]

Hi and I like this site a lot lots of good info

My question is about long term use of a benzo. I feel like the only time I'm sane and feel somewhat like myself nowadays is when I take Ativan. I hear lots of stories about how problematic Ativan and other benzos can be when taken beyond a few months. I feel like I'm one of those people that will need to be on a benzo for the long run because my AD alone doesn't seem to do the trick for both anxiety and depression, it helps some though

My Psychiatrist also suggested that long term use was a good idea in my case since my ocd, anxiety is pretty bad, worse than average

I also find I'm less suicidal on my Ativan too The thoughts aren't so bad ya know?

So what is everyone's take on it? The only other thing that scares me is becoming more depressed on long term use as I hear this happens.....

Sorry for length and ty response

[notfred]

As to the depression, if that starts you can always stop the benzos if depression becomes a problem. I would worry about this one when it happens. It would seem you are a good candidate as you stay withing the dose allowed by your doc and the dose is not dramatically rising. If this is not the case, benzos are not for you. As your doc suggested long term use I assume this is the case. I have taken benzos for decades (I am dating myself !) without problems and I am on the same dose I was years ago. The amount I use does go up sometimes but always returns to baseline. I have not met a doc with any problems with this.

nf

[netsavy006]

Long term benzodiazapine use does have a place. I've needed to use benzodiazapines to help ward off panic attacks for several years because antidepressants alone (when I was on them) and other medications (when off them) weren't working. Now my new pdoc is attempting a regimen which he says should be able to help me get off of the benzo cycle.

But it was a great use to have benzodizapines available because before I was having 10 - 12 panic attacks a day and I needed something to help reduce the number and intensity of the attacks and benzos were a great help to me even though I had to switch around benzos and change dosages from time to time.

I'm hoping soon that I won't need them with my soon to be pdoc's changes, but I've been using benzo's for 3 years successfully to help control anxiety and help (mildly) hypomania and it's been great.

I'm hopeful that if you need a daily benzo that it helps you because daily benzo use does have a place.

[rowen]

Long term benzo-use is OK, so long as you're under supervision, which you are. They're a drug like anything else. You might have some difficulty coming off of them if you find yourself needing to do so in the future, but that's true of any drug.

[dancesintherain]

To add to the positive experiences above, im going on two years on a low but constant dose of ativan. We might try phasing it out eventually, but that's only if it seems unnecessary. Doc has no concerns with me staying on so long as it is needed.

[colinmichaels]

I have taken ativan for at leat 25 years on an as needed basis. never took them for longer than 8 days in a row. I have situational anxiety-so when shit happens i really need them or I get panicked-it sucks but that part of the brain goes wild and the rational-cool side of me-try as i might -cannot seem to take back control. As far as side effects-none that I am aware of other than a listless kind of feeling when I take 1 mg or more. Generally I only take 1/2 mg every 12 hours when I need it, and that may only be one or two doses for the not to over the top stuff and then I may not take it for a while-days-weeks. I think dosing is real important on this one so my advice would be work with your doc on that.

So the ? becomes do ya take it all the time or as needed-only you and the doc can go there.

That said I probably owe my career to ativan-I often have to chair controversial meetings in my profession and the ativan is unbelievably effective at making me come across as mr. cool and competant-if people only knew-wierd isn't it? a little white pill and your Clint Eastwood! But yes I've gone into meetings with the most hostile people and I can handle it-1.5 mg ativan 3 hours before the meeting-really i would normally be sweating and panicking-cannot say enough about this drug. I'm sure I would not have my career without it or a similiar benzo.

[DKnight]

I think my depression is a result of anxiety. It seems since I stopped taking ativan I've been way more depressed and I tapered off and wasn't on a high dosage, I wonder if I should go back on it.

[colinmichaels]

Well ultimately only you know how you feel on it and off it and only you and your doc can answer that question.

Personally if I had anxiety all the time I would take ativan all the time because for me anxiety (I'm talking about real dread and fear not the worry/stress stuff we all experience) is hell!