I am addicted to Ativan - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

noaone · 10-31-2007, 06:50 PM

I've been taking 3mg a day for the past few months. I was given it originally to releive my alcohol withdrawals. I was told that it was extremely addictive, but I took it anyways. What's worse is that I've been getting it without a prescription. Im down to my last 7 pills and I'm so scared. I want to detox by myself but the horror stories I've read about DTs make it sound worse than alcohol.

I have no medical insurance, so seeing a Dr. isn't really a great option for me at the moment. Im starting to get panic attacks again, and the last thing I want to do is go back to drinking.

I'm so frightened. I was thinking about going to the county hospital out here to talk to a Dr to see what I should do. What do you think the Dr. will say? I can't afford rehabilitation and can't afford to lose my job.

Can anyone advise? I appreciate it.

noaone · 11-01-2007, 06:58 PM

I was so freaked out last night that I went to the ER and talked to a Phsyc Dr, who told me that I have addiction problems that stem from some sort of cognitive disability.

He did, however, inform me that Ativan withdrawals will be a little less abrasive than Alcohol DTs, mainly because of the amount of b00ze I was drinking at the time. He said he wouldn't give me anything and that i should be ok.

While I am still scared, I feel a little better knowing this. I read the home detox info. Does anyone have stories for me about their past Ativan addictions?

Finally, I realized that its time to go back to my meetings. I do NOT want to replace these pills with alcohol or weed. I want to get rid of this the right way.

granny0 · 11-01-2007, 07:17 PM

Hey Noane,
I think the dr is right. If you've only been taking the ativan for 2 months, the physical withdrawal will probably not be too bad. It's the mental crutch part that's hard to deal with. I've taken Ativan on & off for yrs. I don't recall taking it every day straight for a month or anything, but sometimes everyday for a week or better. When I ran out, I was out and it was the "how am I going to deal with this or that now" without the ativan. I dealt with things without it and realized that while if made me feel good when I took it, it also took away from me. Have you found your memory lacking? I'd watch something on tv while on ativan and the next day not be able to remember what it was or about - little things, but enough to make me wonder. My advise would be to try and prepare for the mental withdrawal. Try and stay busy. Hang out with friends or farmily that don't use anything. Don't leave alot of free time where you have nothing to do think about how you won't be about to function without something. AA or NA would be good for you.
Best wishes!
JB

noaone · 11-01-2007, 07:38 PM

Yes! A reply! I've actually been taking it more than that, about 5 months. Lately I've just been going more and more off the richter scale. I was planning on quitting CT but after all I've read, I think I'll take one a night.

I hope this is ok. Does anyone know how long the DTs last?

noaone · 11-02-2007, 12:36 PM

Man, this is terrible. I feel like a nervous mess. I can't breathe (i have asthma) and it feels like someone is sitting on my chest. I keep hearing about tapering. I think I'm going to go back to the ER. This is just awful.