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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Ativan Cause Sleeplessness?

i just started taking Ativan 0.5 yesterday, was advised to take one before bed. Never again. I laid there WIDE EYED ALL NIGHT LONG. So, today I took one in morning & one now 4;30 p.m.. I desperately need my sleep, cranky enough without it. Im not sure I feel anymore relaxed from Ativan. I took Xanax for 10 years & NEVER felt better but addicitive as hell so IM trying this Ativan, Will I not sleep or was this just a first timer????? Thank-You P.S. MY doctor is over 80 ???? years old, doesnt work out of any hospitals anymore, but convenient cause I do not drive.
Thu, 18 Dec 2014
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

ativan is a benzodiazepine like xanax but a different one. You should keep in mind that the equivalent of 1mg of ativan is only 0.5mg of xanax, so you should check the dosage. If you've been using xanax for years then you're addicted to it and you'll need to lower to dose very very slowly to avoid symptoms like anxiety, sleeplessness etc.
If you've taking the right dose then perhaps you can switch back to xanax and if you don't like addiction you can try lowering the dose with small decrements every couple of weeks. If - for example - you take 3mg of xanax per day, just try reducing if by 0.25mg or 0.125mg and see what happens. If it's tolerable then keep this dose for a couple of weeks and reduce it again later.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please let me know.
I'll be glad to help more.

Kind Regards!
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Does Ativan Cause Sleeplessness?

Hello, ativan is a benzodiazepine like xanax but a different one. You should keep in mind that the equivalent of 1mg of ativan is only 0.5mg of xanax, so you should check the dosage. If you ve been using xanax for years then you re addicted to it and you ll need to lower to dose very very slowly to avoid symptoms like anxiety, sleeplessness etc. If you ve taking the right dose then perhaps you can switch back to xanax and if you don t like addiction you can try lowering the dose with small decrements every couple of weeks. If - for example - you take 3mg of xanax per day, just try reducing if by 0.25mg or 0.125mg and see what happens. If it s tolerable then keep this dose for a couple of weeks and reduce it again later. I hope I ve helped! If you d like more information, please let me know. I ll be glad to help more. Kind Regards!