I have posted over and over again and still find no one with my problem. Non of my panic attacks had anything to do with physical symptoms. It starts with an uneasy feeling of dread then suddenly escalates in less the a minute to a full blown "psychotic fear". A fear that connects to nothing. Yes it is caused by extreme prolonged anxiety. A fear that no horror movie could imagine. Then everything seems unreal which makes it worse. It reaches a peak where I feel complete despair then a calm. Any kind of stimulants or more accurately Benzodiazepam withdrawal. I used Ativan for more than 12 years just to deal with this problem. Now the doctor wants me off of it fast. The withdrawal actually makes them a lot worse before calming down only to get another in about 5 minuets . Cannot take much more. I am actually feeling suicidal .
Why does your doctor want you off of Ativan?I started having panic attacks this summer and had very similar feelings, the doctor put me on zoloft ( low-dose) and that has made them sub-side. Please don't give up and see if xanex or zoloft or something else can help you and recognize that it is just temporary - it will pass and you will be okay. You just need to get the right medication that works for you until you can figure out what started triggering your attacks. For me it was hormonal changes. hang in there and write back if you have any more questions. It is good to know that others have experienced what you are going through and made it through! there is hope!
He wants me off because every psychiatrist wants people off of benzodiazepans after you have used them too long.
Actually with regards to that i have managed two miracles. One I was on it for 12 years before developing a tolerance. However I question that because it worked fine until l2 years later and the very next prescription I picked up it no longer worked. People develop a tolerance GRADUALLY not over night. I suspect the greedy drug company messed with it.
Second after taking Taking it so long 3 years ago A different psychiatrist told me I needed to get off of it because it is not good to have it in the system so long. However he thought it would not be possible for me to do it on my own safely. I did manage however to go from 10 mg to 4 in about a year. proved him wrong. Now the new doctor I have is on an ego trip as many of them are. But this guy is the worst. Unlike every one else who was impressed by what I accomplished he was not and wants to do it his way.
For the 12 years that the Ativan worked fine I was symptom free and had a lot of new freedom.
Coming off the Ativan actually makes the problem worse. Until now I had figured out a safe comfortable way to decrease gradually. Now thanks to my present doctor I will be going through even worse panic attacks.