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Ativan For Sleep


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Hey all,

 

Had to visit a GP yesterday off the back of advice from my crisis team to get some Ativan. I explained to him that it was solely for sleep. However the pharmacy notes say 3x1mg/day to be taken as required.

 

Is 3mg a correct dose of Ativan to be taking at once before bedtime, or is maybe the prescription intended to be divided doses though the day. Pharmacist and gdoc are closed today, but I could always check with NHS 111 if absolutely necessary.

 

I have taken quantities slightly in excess of 3mg, but it has always been in 1-2mg divided doses throughout the day. If anyone has any experience of this it would be great to know. I'm sure I'll be up for a few more hours before taking it anyway!

 

Cheers,

 

Hitch.

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Sounds like the 3x1mg/day on the bottle is saying to take it at once.

It is a PRN, (as needed medication) so you could take less, not the entire 3mg at once.

 

That's just my opinion. Your pharmacy would know better, but it sucks they're closed. But that's what I think it means, from my experience.

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No bottle, just a blister pack. The note on the label was exactly as quoted.

 

I did 1mg at 8pm then 2mg before bed and didn't really sleep great. Guess I'll take the whole 3 tonight and see how it goes.

 

Thanks for your responses guys.

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Thanks sylvan. I have a prescription for zopiclone which just isn't working. The crisis team recommended either the Ativan or diazepam and the gp I saw went for the Ativan option without really going through any other possibilities.

 

I do have crisis home assessment on Tuesday (hopefully) and GP so will definitely make note to ask.

 

Very helpful :)

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This is just my opinion, and you should follow your doctor's orders. But I think 3mg is a lot. My husband was on it for seizures, and he was taking 2mg pills. They were for onset of seizures though. But his neuro, who is no slouch with psychoactive meds, always emphasized it was a wallop.

 

But sometimes he would wake up in the ER, and tell them he took a pill before the seizure started, and since 2mg IV of ativan is a EMT standard for seizures, he was on 4mg. And then they would all get, I don't know, like flustered, that he was on that high of a dose.

 

I know 3 isn't 4, and you should always listen to your doctor, but I wanted to share our experience.

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Susan - I've found myself groggy and spacey the morning after for sure, although I think it has a pretty short half life.

 

crtclms - Thanks for the further info. I thought 3mg may be a lot but took it last night anyway and it had no further beneficial effect over the 1.2 split from the previous night. I will stick to the 1,2 tonight and then speak to pdoc or gdoc on Tuesday.

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