Ativan is my current drug of choice. Yes I use it to sleep. It is an anti anxiety and anti nausea med. I was given it as part of my line of defense against nausea but have been using it to sleep at night. What I like about Ativan is it doesn't seem to have the kick back rebound factor of Xanax. When the Ativan wears off I don't feel the anxiety pouring down upon my head. But, you don't quite float as nicely on the Ativan as the Xanax and as my next chemo round is quickly approaching I'm feeling the anxiety rising. I'm going to pull out the Xanax tonight as last night I had a hard time falling asleep with the Ativan. Still Ativan is pretty nice stuff. Here's more information thanks to Wikipedia:
Lorazepam was first introduced by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in 1971 under the brand names of Ativan and Temesta.[85] The drug was developed by President of Research, D.J. Richards. Wyeth's original patent on lorazepam is expired in the United States but the drug continues to be commercially viable. As a measure of its ongoing success, it has been marketed under more than seventy generic brands since then.
It looks like a souped-up Valium/Diazepam. Also I checked and all three of these (Ativan, Valium & Xanax) are in the same family of drugs. I know you are not worrying about the addiction factor right now. I will try to not worry. So glad that they are helping you out.
ReplyDeleteIt's the benzodiazepine class of drug. Here's info from Wikipedia:
ReplyDeleteA benzodiazepine (pronounced /ˌbɛnzɵdaɪˈæzɨpiːn/, sometimes abbreviated to "benzo") is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. The first benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), was discovered accidentally by Leo Sternbach in 1955, and made available in 1960 by Hoffmann–La Roche, which has also marketed diazepam (Valium) since 1963.[1]
Benzodiazepines enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, which results in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and amnesic action.[2] These properties make benzodiazepines useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, agitation, seizures, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal and as a premedication for medical or dental procedures.[3] Benzodiazepines are categorized as either short-, intermediate- or long-acting. Short- and intermediate-acting benzodiazepines are preferred for the treatment of insomnia; longer-acting benzodiazepines are recommended for the treatment of anxiety.[4]
In general, benzodiazepines are safe and effective in the short term, although cognitive impairments and paradoxical effects such as aggression or behavioral disinhibition occasionally occur.[5] Long-term use is controversial due to concerns about adverse psychological and physical effects, increased questioning of effectiveness and because benzodiazepines are prone to cause tolerance, physical dependence and upon cessation of use, a withdrawal syndrome.[6][7] In general, withdrawal from benzodiazepines leads to improved physical and mental health.[8][9] The elderly are at an increased risk of suffering from both short- and long-term adverse effects.[8][10]
There is controversy concerning the safety of benzodiazepines in pregnancy. While they are not major teratogens, uncertainty remains as to whether they cause cleft palate in a small number of babies and whether neurobehavioural effects occur as a result of prenatal exposure;[11] they are known to cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Benzodiazepines can be taken in overdoses and can cause dangerous deep unconsciousness. However, they are much less toxic than their predecessors, the barbiturates, and death rarely results when a benzodiazepine is the only drug taken. When combined with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol and opiates, the potential for toxicity increases.[12] Benzodiazepines are commonly misused and taken in combination with other drugs of abuse.[13][14][15]
Well I wondering what short term vs long term is exactly. What is short term? Anyway I figure if you are in a situation where you really really need it, oh let's say like dealing with cancer, that coming off when all the crazy anxiety calms down won't be such a big deal. But for the rest of my life I will be having test to see if the cancer has come back or not and most likely I'll always be taking some sort of anti anxiety at least during the few days of waiting for the results!
ReplyDeleteI also love the "accidentally discovered"