Contrary Effects

Posted over a year ago

I am an ICU RN. Often the MD's prescribe Ativan as an anxiolytic for our patients. It has been my over whelming personal and observed experiment that Ativan causes our patient to become much more anxious, confused and even combative. Every time I bring this up to the Docs they dismiss my concerns. If I have any other alternative meds, I always use them first and use Ativan as an absolute last resort. ... more »

Is this a common reaction? Do other nurses have the same experience?

2 Replies

Shayleeamomof3 - my 2 yr old daughter had a seisure and was septic afterwards so they gave her ativan it makes her hyper but distraught and dizzy to they keep tryin to ween her of of it but she gets very ajictated and cranky too while being hyper she is confused and cant tell me whats wrong i dont like this drug for my baby and hope she never has to be on it again

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Avgconsum - I was continually getting sicker and sicker over the course of years taking this drug and doctors could not connect the dots- they did not realize I was in tolerance withdrawal which can hapen after you have been taking this drug for more than two weeks consecutively. I now know that this drug supresses the HPA Axis, effects the following neurotransmitters either directly or indirectly: GABA, Serotonin, Dopamine, Noepinephrine, and Acetycholine- increases Glutamate levels, blunts CRH in the brain. If you look up 'Benzodiazepine Dependence' in Wikipedia you can read more about it. Another good resource is Pubmed. You may want to go to Benzobuddies.org to find out more information. I was taken off this drug too quickly and was plunged into a physical and mental hell that is litterally indescribable. It has bee 19 months since my last dose and I still suffer numerous prtracted withdrawal symptoms. Doctors iatrogenically addict patients to this drug then have no idea the withdrawal syndrome even exists past 30 days- and therefore disregard any ongoing complaints from their patients. The United Kingdom is aware of this problem and is the only country actively working on changing the prescribing laws. The Ashton Manual (which you can read on-line if you do a search) is a helpful tool ahich you can print out and bring to your doctor. It provides clinical informationon the withdrawal and tapering schedules. The Parliament in the UK is using this manual as a guide.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

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