I need advice about Advil (Lorazepam)

Specialties Psychiatric

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I have some questions about the use of Ativan that I hope you can answer for me. I am interested in correct dosages. Firstly , what is the range of PO dosages from smallest to largest. Do you give Ativan to patients detoxing from opiates? What would you typically give to help a patient with difficulty sleeping? What would be the highest dose you would go to? What dose would be given for anxiety? What about for a panic attack? I have looked this up in searches and can't get anything specific on correct dosages. Thank you for any help you can give me. Also what dosages do they come in? Thanks Krisssy

Are you talking about Advil or Ativan?

I am talking abouy ATIVAN Krisssy

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Are you talking about Advil or Ativan?
I was talking abouy ATIVAN.
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Are you talking about inpatient or outpatient detox? Inpatient usually gets IV ativan combined with haldol. We have sent some people from our ER with PO meds for detox, but they are usually frequent detoxers.

Ativan PO dosages range from 2-6mg.

I don't think there's a standard dose for people. You start at the smallest and work your way up to what works for the patient.

I haven't seen ativan used as a sleep aid. Of course in the ER, we don't want our pts so out of it they can't go home.

Bt again, when it's used for anxiety, you have to take age, history, and other meds into consideration.

I have taken Ativan 4 mg. feel nothing

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I think everyone is confused because there is no med called "adivan lorazepam".

Ativan on the other hand IS lorazepam.

S0rry about my spelling mistakes I am very upset and can't concentrate I meant ATIVAN LORAZEPAM

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First of all, you better get your meds straight; Ativan and Advil are not at all a like!

Second, ativan/ lorazepam starts at 1/2 mg and goes to 2 mg, however some take more than one pill at a time if they need higher doses.

Third, when taken for insomnia it is generally taken 2-4 mg qhs.

Ativan can be very addictive when taken in higher amounts. I used to take 0.5 mg at night when my TMj was active and it also helped me sleep. Not even enough to be addictive.

Also, are you trying to self medicate? I would talk to a doctor before I changed anything.

If this is for anxiety and panic attacks Effexor is wonderful for GAD and Temezapam (restoril) is great for insomnia.

I know the difference between Advil and Ativan. I am detoxing and very nervous. I am under a psychiatrist's care. He said to take 2mg at bedtime, and it does not make me sleepy at sll. So I was wondering what dose you need to fall asleep? It does take the cramps away. Krisssy

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
sorry but correct me if im wrong but isn't klonopin also a benzo, i mean i dont work psych nursing and haven't encountered as much narcotic addicted patients. but is there a study that says klonopin is better than any other benzo such as ativan or xanax, just a question, interested in an answer. i mean i always thought a benzo is a benzo is a benzo, though some are short acting like diprivan(milk of amnesia). if we worry about people getting addicted to benzo after they have been addicted to something else can and will lead to these patients being undermedicated which is a terrible thing for them, i know nurses who's so judicious about pain control that it hurts the patient, for fear of overmedicating patients....just a thought, i'd like to know what everyone thinks. thanks

Klonopin/Clonazepam is a benzo, but I was referring to clonidine/catapres for withdrawal symptoms, an antihypertensive which is used to help quell some of the physical symptoms of opiate withdrawal, though it does not do anything about the craving; methadone helps with that. Methadone, while an opiate has a long half life and slow onset, so the addict is not getting the "rush" of a high they did with many of the other opiates, so if motivated, it can help bring their addiction under control so they are less controlled by the addiction and can lead more productive lives

The problem with switching to another narcotic is that it can perpetuate the addiction. That's not to say that someone who has an addiction shouldn't be treated for the real related discomfort of withdrawal, but they aren't being done any favors by being given another scheduled drug to become dependent upon. Klonopin, BTW, is one nasty drug from which to withdraw...it can take weeks and is very unpleasant, so that definitely is not a drug of choice to releive withdrawal associated anxiety. (Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mack had drug problems for years. She did them all and has reported that withdrawal from Klonopin was worse than any illicit drug.) Any benzo, if used, is meant to be for the short term and that just isn't how the constitution of an addict is made up, so why set them up to fail, is the thinking on this. While they have their place and are great at reducing temporary anxiety, benzos really aren't indicated for the anxiety that comes with opiate withdrawal. Personally, I'd like to see them prescribed a whole lot less overall.

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In all my years of psych nursing, I've never seen Ativan (lorazepam) used for opiate detox. When I was doing psych consultation-liaison work at a big teaching hospital a few years ago, supervised by a boarded addictionologist, we used Lopressor and Klonopin for opiate detox. Neither have I ever seen a doc Rx Ativan for insomnia -- there are plenty of hypnotics that will do the job without getting you hooked on benzos ...

Ativan is a benzodiazepine, a cousin of Valium and Xanax. It is just as addictive as the rest of the benzo family when used over extended periods of time. Most the psychiatrists I have known go out of their way to avoid Rxing it unless there is just no other option. Most people have enough problems already without adding a benzo addiction to the pile ...

I met this psychiatrist when I was a surgery patient in Oct. He took away the Trazadone that I was taking for a sleep disorder caused by PTSD. He gave me ,05 Klonopin instead. He said it was not addicting at such a small dose. With the Percoset, it worked. Now that in am detoxing off Percoset, the Klonopin stopped working, so he changed it to

Ativan. Ativan does not help me sleep. So I was wondering if I was taking too low of a dose. I have been taking 2 mg. Last night I tried 4 mg. and it didn't work? Tonight I was thinking of trying 6 mg.? Also they gave me Wellbutrin, to help me detox off the Percoset. That gave me a seizure and caused worse insomnnia and deep ptsd depression. So I am totally confused. It is not like i am self medicating. Krisssy

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
I know the difference between Advil and Ativan. I am detoxing and very nervous. I am under a psychiatrist's care. He said to take 2mg at bedtime, and it does not make me sleepy at sll. So I was wondering what dose you need to fall asleep? It does take the cramps away. Krisssy

Krissssy

You do not sound OK. Please get in touch with your psychiatrist and tell him what's going on. We can't help you here on the level that you need. This board is good to come to if you have a few questions, but is no substitute for the treatment you require right now. Please get in touch with your doctor.

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I called my psychistrist and left a message, and I am seeing him tomorrow. Krisssy I think it just helps my nerves to vent so sorry

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When I am scared, I need to vent to somone, and I picked you guys, because i like you. Sorry if i was a burden. krisssy My husband just came home, so i am not alone. Thanks for your concern. Krisssy

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
I called my psychistrist and left a message, and I am seeing him tomorrow. Krisssy I think it just helps my nerves to vent so sorry

Don't apolgize!! I am just genuinely concerned for you. Sounds like you are having a really rough time. Please don't take 6 mg of Ativan. That is too much. I hope you can reach him today. :kiss

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
When I am scared, I need to vent to somone, and I picked you guys, because i like you. Sorry if i was a burden. krisssy My husband just came home, so i am not alone. Thanks for your concern. Krisssy

Great. Glad you are not alone. Take care of yourself.

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