Has anyone heard of Ativan?

[Heather]

Hello, I had a seizure a few days ago and went to the ER the nurse there told me to look into something called Ativan it's used mostly for people with anxiety which I don't have but it can also help with seizures and in the nerves of your brain. I haven't tried it myself yet so I was wondering has anyone tried it themselves or looked into it? Any feedback you can give me would be appreciated! Thanks :)

[Susan Fricke]

It is what they usually give me a "shot" of when I am having a status, or very long Tonic clonic (grand mal) in an ambulance or at the hospital.......after a 5 day Visual EEG the doctor prescribed a small dose (I believe the pill is 1mg) if I feel a seizure coming (I have partials before they become either complex partials or something worse) But they caution you to not take it too often or too high a dose (unless the doc decides it is best for YOU) because it does not work as well as a persons system gets used to it (or you need to big a dose)   It can "Knock you for a loop"  my husband had no memory of a month that he was on it for a major medical problem.    I do OK on one pill....can still function at work;  but if I take 2 pills (as the doc said when I feel grand mal is possible/ imminent)  I have to sleep a long period and my memory is limited of that day and I am woozy for another day.     Perhaps she meant for you to ask the doc about it if you have a warning before a seizure like I tend to?  It is an anxiety pill....and I do not feel anxious really on a daily basis but I sure do get anxious when in a period of seizure activity,  and I never know when that will hit unfortunately.

[Lrjg]

I was given Ativan in the Emergency room.  After my Temporal Lobe surgery my emotions and anxiety problem was as bad as it can get!  It didn't matter how badly I wanted to stop crying and I couldn't.  It was shocking to me how it worked.  I went in feeling like I was crazy!  They gave me the Ativan and I was as normal as could be in about 10 minutes!  After leaving the hospital I remember feeling better than I had since my surgery.  I could see how it could be addictive!  I have a bottle of it but I only used it once after I was released. 

[Susan Fricke]

Lrig:  it IS amzing how quickly it works, or takes affect.  I asked the docs about this....how could it work if I only had a short aura....one minute or so....they said it could lessen the seizure or shorten it, even if it did not stop it.......I had a tonic clonic just before Xmas at work and did not have any on me!!!! Last week I felt a stronger than usual aura or partial and DID take one and the partials stopped and it never progressed to a generalized.  I will keep it nearby always!

[peter knox]

ativan is sure diffrent, was given to me after surgery, they brought me bfast and i started cryin cause my eggs weren t scrambled, cried cause there wa no ice im my water,  i refused to take it again, i forget all of the reasons they wanted my to take it

 

[Tuckermom]

My script for Ativan is the generic, Lorazapam, and it's only for .05 mgs to be taken 3x a day or as needed. I only take one a night as now my seizures seem to be nocturnal, or if I know I'll be in a highly stimulant situation (a party of more tan 30 people chattering away) or even a trip to the dentist!

 It seems to take the 'edge' off, so to speak. My doc is not at all worried about me getting addicted. As a matter of fact, by the time it says "Refill by..." the time has past and I still have some and hafta bug my doc for a new script.

It really does help, once in awhile. I put it under my tongue. It works faster that way for some reason.

 When I've been in the hospital and have gone all tonic clonic, they have given me Dilantin, not Ativan. I guess it's much stronger or something.

Best wishes! Stop seizing!

[Susan Fricke]

That is interesting about the dilantin instead of ativan.....I am allergic to dilantin (hives /swelling) and it makes me even more thankful that I got a medic alert bracelet that says dilantin allergy....perhaps that is why they have given me only ativan.     I woke up 2 days later when I ws given a stronger dose (shot in the ambulance probably to stop seizing) and felt like a zombie, and had no memory ...it was frightening.    But if I take a 5 mg pill it has no side effect, just stops a "milder" seizure from turning into a tonic.clonic.

[Amber]

Yes, I have had Ativan in the ER - It's used to slow down/stop seizures for a few hours. They usually do it IV in the ER. They also have pill form for home. If you have a port they have that in liquid form as well. 

I have horrid side effects from Ativan - So I am on Kolonopin 0.5 MG anytime I have more than 2 seizures a day..

[Heather]

Hi Amber, I'm sorry to hear that are you on any other medication for seizures?

[LaurensStory]

I had just the opposite-I can tolerate Ativan, but Klonopin really did me in. Complete personality change...for the bad...really bad. Currently I take Ativan to help me sleep at night, but like it was already said, your body can grow a tolerance to it. So I am going to cognitive therapy to help address the problems causing the sleep issues so I can get off of it.

Amber Roark said:

Yes, I have had Ativan in the ER - It's used to slow down/stop seizures for a few hours. They usually do it IV in the ER. They also have pill form for home. If you have a port they have that in liquid form as well. 

I have horrid side effects from Ativan - So I am on Kolonopin 0.5 MG anytime I have more than 2 seizures a day..

[NB]

it is a miracle medicine it helps me when i am starting to feel bad or after I've had a seizure, my doctor is for it but warns that it can be additive.

[Amber]

Heather I take Lamictal XR 350MG AM and Topamax 200MG twice daily (will be changed next month due to seizures no longer being controlled but Lamictal controlled my photo - sensativity) and Kolonopin 0.5 MG 3x day

Heather said:

Hi Amber, I'm sorry to hear that are you on any other medication for seizures?

[bryan farley]

this is an interesting topic. I never remember taking anything after seizures, but sometimes my depression could last for weeks. Glad to know there are options.

Perhaps this is another reason oxygen is administered.