Ativan Amnesia... ugh

[fettered2freedom]

Anyone else experience Ativan induced amnesia - even mild? I've done some research and found it is a documented side effect, but of course, real people stories would help me color in the picture.

I have been battling addiction to weed for a decade, managed two months clean last year and relapsed, so I am back on the wagon and it's day 7. I know that will mess up my memory in general, but I started taking Ativan a few days ago and have noticed that the memory effects are kind of freaky. Luckily I'm not working right now - but I honestly can't imagine holding down a job (where I have to use my brain!) while taking this stuff.

It doesn't make me feel groovy, doesn't make me feel nice - it just kind of makes me feel spacey and blah, and it is very very difficult to recall specifics of the past few days.

Anyone else experience this?

I am taking it to help manage the withdrawal from alcohol/weed (weed doesn't made sense but my dr seems to think I was a hardcore alcoholic, saying something about seizures - which honestly I am NOT, but whatever)

I definitely don't want to become dependent but I wasn't sleeping before, so I need it for now. My problems always begin with sleep.

It's helping me manage the initial side effects of Pristiq as well. But the cloudy fatigue is just.... ugh. No motivation.

[rowan77]

Yes. I've experienced amnesia with Ativan. I remember this one time after I had taken Ativan 2mg and needed to move my car in the driveway. So I did, but I reversed into the wall of the house and made a small dent in my car. I was well pissed off.

Next morning I got up and noticed the dent in my car and went mad saying "Who hit my car?" I had absolutely NO recollection of having reversed my car into the wall.....NONE. So anyway my brother stuck his head out and told me that I did it, and it wasn't until both my parents told me as well that I started to remember, and still it was only a vague memory, but whu would these 3 people lie to me.

As time went on the memory returned, but yes I can say that I had temporary amnesia after taking Ativan!!

[fettered2freedom]

Wow! That's intense. Not going to say "insane"

Did the memory loss SE go away while you were still taking it? I see you are no longer on it.

[Duelist]

The only time I've had it was when it was used for Upper Endoscopy with like 2+ mgs, I don't think it's an issue at .5 or even 1 mg for me personally, only if you go above the 2 mg threshold does it seem to be a problem. How much are you taking? You're not taking more then 1 mg right?

[rowan77]

I always had issues with memory when I was taking it, that just happened to be the worst one. I was only taking it PRN and usually took 1mg at a time, and that time I took 2mg which may explain the amnesia.

[fettered2freedom]

I'm uber med sensitive. I have only been taking it a few days - between .5 - 1.5mg at night and that buys me about 7-8 hours of "sleep." I mean, it's REAL sleep but I feel so spacey all day so I feel like the rest aspect / quality is compromised by taking it which is why I hope I can eventually ween off it and only take as needed (that's PRN I assume - sorry I'm new/dumb).

[Duelist]

PRN yep, I take .5 or 1 mg prn now too, I take trazodone for sleep help, have you tried that one or elavil before? I am guessing you probably have and it's too strong or didn't work well enough for you. I hope you're able to resolve the worry over becoming dependent on ativan/lorazepam I have been there and it's no fun. Glad you're not taking more then 2 mgs a day. How is it helping the anxiety? That's what I take it for, and thank GOD for it when I need it.

[fettered2freedom]

For some reason I don't know how to identify anxiety, it's usually so embedded in my depressions.

I don't feel much of anything but I guess I am on my way to being ok.

Once upon a time they gave me seroquel for sleeping and that was the 'hardest' rx I've been prescribed. It scared me and so I spent years just smoking weed instead. Never tried those things you mentioned. I'm guessing my options working with a GP are fairly limited at this time.

I guess I just feel kinda blah, spacey, and unmotivated but at least I'm not crying every hour. That's disappeared with just 3 days of Pristiq. I tend to let myself get REALLY sick like that - like crying nonstop and not functioning - THEN I get help. Even then, actually, I wait for things to go away on their own.

Medicating my mind with conventional science (and not illegal ish) is going to be a long slow transition I spoze.

[chasetinsley]

The effects you are describing are common with Ativan. Talking to your doctor about switching, to Serax or Tranxene could really help the situation. If they aren't strong enough for your symptoms, Klonopin is always another option, usually the spaciness isn't as bad and the amnesic effects aren't too bad as long as there is no alcohol or other CNS depressants involved. If Ativan is a must have and you suffer from some co-morbid psychiatric disorders like depression, Adding Provigil to your regiment (which recently went generic, is schedule IV, and not as addictive as other stimulants) is always an option.