Benzos lorazepam (Ativan) seems much 'harder to handle' than other benzos

[Halif2]

I have a fair bit of experience with a variety of benzos. Fortunately, I have only become dependent once (and the WDs from that scared me so much I never allowed myself to get in that deep again).

Anyway, this post concerns some experiences I have had (both in recent weeks and also when taken years ago) with lorazepam. I have a bottle of 2.5mg Ativan tablets. I also have a bottle of Pfizer (alprazolam) Xanax, which means I've got a convenient point of comparison.

To get straight to the point, I have found the lorazepam to be 'tricky' to use. Generally, half of a 2.5mg tablet provides a reduction in anxiety and some useful sedation at bed time. However, a full 2.5mg tablet can cause significant balance issues and blackouts. This is not consistent (if it was, I woudn't keep taking a full tablet). Sometimes a full tablet just feels like more of the same effect as a half tablet, as you might expect. However, other times it leads to symptoms of minor benzo OD, with things like balance impairment which is sudden and strong enough to send me head first into closets, door frames, or backwards into ... whatever is behind me.

Additionally, a full tablet at night before bedtime often leads to "morning surprises" such as a full plate of food prepared nicely and then left on the kitchen floor, untouched. Or food and other consumables "disappearing", where I've presumably taken them in a blackout. I've also built up a collection of some nasty looking bruises, mostly on my limbs, presumably from doing the Ativan waltz and then having no memory of it.

At this point, some readers are probably thinking "yeah dipshit, you're taking too much than you can handle, so just stick to the half tablet, you dumbass, stupid cunt, piece of shit, I'll fucking kill you..." ahem

However, I'm somewhat familiar with benzos and have over the years built up some idea of my tolerance and reaction to certain types of benzos. As mentioned I also currently have a bottle of 2mg Xanax bars (real ones), and these I can consistently take 4 -6mg without any issues. Over many years, I've taken tonnes of diazepam, etizolam, temazepam in the past without issues, and also navigated moderate doses of some heavier benzos like flubromazepam, bromazolam, phenazepam, phenazolam, and others without waking up naked in a jail cell (or any issues, really - except for one time where I woke up with a dodgy haircut I had no memory of getting).

I understand that benzos can be highly unpredictable and it would be foolish to think I'd "mastered" them or could predict the outcome of dosing every time. But I am just wondering if anyone can relate to my situation specifically with lorazepam or perhaps know one of its particular mechanisms of action which might be causing these unexpected midnight food making (and abandoning) incidents, and crashing into walls and furniture like a gridiron player, from what seems to be a very standard dose (2.5mg - a single tablet).

"Lo-raz-e-PAM!
Baby don't hurt me,
Don't hurt me,
No more"

 

[Dextro .45]

I had over 1,000mg of pharmaceutical grade Diclazepam (2-Chloro Diazepam) which has 3 active benzodiazepine metabolites that are legally licensed and marketed around the world such as Italy

Diclazepam > Delorazepam 78h >> Lorazepam (Ativan) 12h - 200h still can detect Lorazepam in body with daily long term usage due to accumulation of active metabolites

Diclazepam 1mg = Diazepam 10mg (both compounds synthesized by the same chemist) Diclazepam is actually BETTER than Valium for a slow gradual taper. I always took 3mg of Diclazepam which kept me good for 1.5 weeks. Simply amazing compound

Anyway, what you’re describing i experience with Avizafone (Pro-Diazepam) a water soluble pro-drug to Valium which has. RAPID onset of 10-15min reaching peak serum levels in 0.5h (compared to 1.5h oral Diazepam)

I administer Avizafone 80mg IM injection into shoulder muscle (Valium 40mg) BUT ….onset is FAST and hits HARD reaching significantly higher levels as a GABA-A Agonist / PAM ……once I woke up 4h later with no recollection of what happened ……off balance, eating entire fridge, waking up with confusion of the cluster fuck of what I’m looking at

So……ya, Lorazepam (Ativan) has potent anxiolytic & sedative properties

Valium & Ativan are the 2 main benzodiazepine compounds used to sedate agitated or violent patients in hospital settings …..Lorazepam (Ativan) is a heavy hitter just as Diazepam (Valium) is….

Just take half a 2.5mg tablet……and if needed 1/4 bar of Xanax (0.5mg of Alprazolam)

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

IM'ing benzos still feels hardcore even to me -- how bad is the oral bioavailability again? (srry i could goolge that)

OP - you are dosing too high if you are running into furniture -- unless you enjoy that kind of thing. 1mgs with no tolerance is normal 2.5 is ya know over double that

 

[BadBoy377]

Is your Ativan legit script?

The variation in your experiences makes me think it could be counterfeit or have other nastier stuff in there?

I worked through around 70 Hemofarm 2.5mg lorazepam without issue. I found it distinctly meh. Like it was ok. It was a benzo but nothing noteworthy.

I'd get your pills tested if they haven't come from a legit pharmacy.

BB

 

[Pissed_and_messed]

Bond A, Lader M (1988). "Differential effects of oxazepam and lorazepam on aggressive responding". Psychopharmacology. 95 (3): 369–373. doi:10.1007/BF00181949. PMID 3137624. S2CID 35313827

Pietras CJ, Lieving LM, Cherek DR, Lane SD, Tcheremissine OV, Nouvion S (2005). "Acute effects of lorazepam on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult male parolees". Behavioural Pharmacology. 16 (4): 243–251. doi:10.1097/01.fbp.0000170910.53415.77. PMID 15961964. S2CID 44387644

Goldney RD (1977). "Paradoxical reaction to a new minor tranquilizer". Medical Journal of Australia. 1 (5): 139–140. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1977.tb130567.x. PMID 15198. S2CID 78865613

(I did not include sources with no indication of being specific about lorazepam in the title)

Paradoxical effects: In some cases, paradoxical effects can occur with benzodiazepines, such as increased hostility, aggression, angry outbursts, and psychomotor agitation. These effects are seen more commonly with lorazepam than with other benzodiazepines.Paradoxical effects are more likely to occur with higher doses, in people with pre-existing personality disorders and those with a psychiatric illness. Frustrating stimuli may trigger such reactions, though the drug may have been prescribed to help the person cope with such stress and frustration in the first place. As paradoxical effects appear to be dose-related, they usually subside on dose reduction or on complete withdrawal of lorazepam.

--------------

Bieniek SA, Ownby RL, Penalver A, Dominguez RA (1998). "A double-blind study of lorazepam versus the combination of haloperidol and lorazepam in managing agitation". Pharmacotherapy. 18 (1): 57–62. doi:10.1002/j.1875-9114.1998.tb03827.x. PMID 9469682. S2CID 24505811.

Acute delirium is sometimes treated with lorazepam, but as it can cause paradoxical effects, it is preferably given together with haloperidol.

-------------

The relative effectiveness of lorazepam in preventing new memory formation, along with its ability to reduce agitation and anxiety, makes it useful as premedication. It is given before a general anesthetic to reduce the amount of anesthetic required or before unpleasant awake procedures, such as in dentistry or endoscopies, to reduce anxiety, increase compliance, and induce anterograde amnesia for the procedure.

 

[cnnka]

I have not taken a ton of lorazepam the time I did take it I had very high anxiety coming from psychedelics etc and I popped whatever benzo I could find , on lorazepam I had some “paradoxical” effects it didn’t gave me relief but it was like u had smoke weed the high of lorazepam reminded me weed also with the slight anxiety I’ve tried 4 pills one 2.5mg pill each time it didn’t work for me at that time now it may work idk.
Best benzos for me are Xanax and bromazepam , I also enjoy diazepam very much but it tends to make me “sad” the next day

 

[stimp123]

Prescribed various benzos over the years and Lorazepam is hands down the worst WD’s I have ever had. Pharmacy always gives TEVA and if you want a different manufacturer they make you jump through a ton of hoops which I find odd. Always TEVA. It’s a fucking genocidal poison. Not much enjoyment taking it and yet the WD’s are real horror show. Honestly wonder if I was given something toxic the reaction I had from it. Much love to anyone going through withdrawal hell. I have more respect for street pushers than pharmacists. Big Pharma is a fucking cancer.

 

[cnnka]

Prescribed various benzos over the years and Lorazepam is hands down the worst WD’s I have ever had. Pharmacy always gives TEVA and if you want a different manufacturer they make you jump through a ton of hoops which I find odd. Always TEVA. It’s a fucking genocidal poison. Not much enjoyment taking it and yet the WD’s are real horror show. Honestly wonder if I was given something toxic the reaction I had from it. Much love to anyone going through withdrawal hell. I have more respect for street pushers than pharmacists. Big Pharma is a fucking cancer.

Lorazepam shines in hospital settings I find it a little odd that they still prescribe it the only ppl I know who get prescribed lorazepam are ex opioid addicts for some reason they prescribe them lorazepam or diazepam

 

[paranoid android]

Ativan does nothing for me. I once took 20mg's for morphine wd and it did absolutly nothing for me. I much prefer clonazepam or bromazepam

 

[cnnka]

Ativan does nothing for me. I once took 20mg's for morphine wd and it did absolutly nothing for me. I much prefer clonazepam or bromazepam

Bromazepam may be my favorite benzo from all , it feels like Xanax but it keeps progressing and make you higher and higher as the time goes by , it has very good muscle relaxation properties like diazepam , also the half life is good not too short not so long . And it hits fast but the best part is that it keeps getting you higher it feels like a gradual Xanax but the progression of the high feels very good.

 

[paranoid android]

Bromazepam may be my favorite benzo from all , it feels like Xanax but it keeps progressing and make you higher and higher as the time goes by , it has very good muscle relaxation properties like diazepam , also the half life is good not too short not so long . And it hits fast but the best part is that it keeps getting you higher it feels like a gradual Xanax but the progression of the high feels very good.

Bromaz just feels like faster acting valium to me. While i like xanax to bromaz feels quite different to me

 

[stimp123]

Diazepam has never disappointed. The older the drug the better in my book. Alprazolam seems like a different drug than it was years ago, although maybe that’s just brain chemistry talking. It does seem like they tweak benzos over the years. I remember once taking a Roche Valium and it was totally different from the effect of current diazepam.

 

[paranoid android]

Diazepam has never disappointed. The older the drug the better in my book. Alprazolam seems like a different drug than it was years ago, although maybe that’s just brain chemistry talking. It does seem like they tweak benzos over the years. I remember once taking a Roche Valium and it was totally different from the effect of current diazepam.

Ive never had brand name valium before. I think most of the ones here are apotex. Xanax was actually the first benzo i ever had. Had them back when i was like 12. Had o idea how many to take so i took a few mg's and got completely fucked

 

[cnnka]

Diazepam has never disappointed. The older the drug the better in my book. Alprazolam seems like a different drug than it was years ago, although maybe that’s just brain chemistry talking. It does seem like they tweak benzos over the years. I remember once taking a Roche Valium and it was totally different from the effect of current diazepam.

Diazepam certainly the most recreational along with Xanax , but diazepam can be a little heavy for me in the sense that the next day I’m kinda “depressed” bromazepam can do that to me also.
I’ve only taken Roche Valium and Xanax brand name Xanax used to feel different but idk if it’s my tolerance I also used higher dosages back then and more rarely for recreational purposes, nowdays I only use 0.5mg as prescribed. When young I used to get pretty fucked up from time to time on bromazepam or Xanax I’ve taken up to 6mg Xanax and I was like the Wolf of wallstreet the scene with the qualudes lol.

Also first time I tried Xanax an ex gf of mine had given to me and I couldn’t feel it I started to feel at 1mg and took 3mg and I was sleeping like 18 hours or so nobody could wake me up.
Lorazepam also I haven’t felt anything everytime I’ve taken it 2.5mg pill also one time I legit took it for anxiety and didn’t even seem to relief me.

 

[drewbocop]

As a former benzohead and someone with (way too much) experience with most of them out there... alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, and temazepam prescribed at various points in life, and then tons and tons of illicit scripts taken over the years, research chemicals, and all the rest... I actually can't take lorazepam (Ativan). I have some sort of allergy to it and it makes me feel nausea and see open and closed eye visuals, mainly colorful tracers. It sounds cool, but the nausea makes it hellish. I can get away with low doses, but at that point, it's not really doing much for me. Very high doses make me sick. Only benzo I've ever had that sort of reaction to.

 

[NateDogg10]

I have a fair bit of experience with a variety of benzos. Fortunately, I have only become dependent once (and the WDs from that scared me so much I never allowed myself to get in that deep again).

Anyway, this post concerns some experiences I have had (both in recent weeks and also when taken years ago) with lorazepam. I have a bottle of 2.5mg Ativan tablets. I also have a bottle of Pfizer (alprazolam) Xanax, which means I've got a convenient point of comparison.

To get straight to the point, I have found the lorazepam to be 'tricky' to use. Generally, half of a 2.5mg tablet provides a reduction in anxiety and some useful sedation at bed time. However, a full 2.5mg tablet can cause significant balance issues and blackouts. This is not consistent (if it was, I woudn't keep taking a full tablet). Sometimes a full tablet just feels like more of the same effect as a half tablet, as you might expect. However, other times it leads to symptoms of minor benzo OD, with things like balance impairment which is sudden and strong enough to send me head first into closets, door frames, or backwards into ... whatever is behind me.

Additionally, a full tablet at night before bedtime often leads to "morning surprises" such as a full plate of food prepared nicely and then left on the kitchen floor, untouched. Or food and other consumables "disappearing", where I've presumably taken them in a blackout. I've also built up a collection of some nasty looking bruises, mostly on my limbs, presumably from doing the Ativan waltz and then having no memory of it.

At this point, some readers are probably thinking "yeah dipshit, you're taking too much than you can handle, so just stick to the half tablet, you dumbass, stupid cunt, piece of shit, I'll fucking kill you..." ahem

However, I'm somewhat familiar with benzos and have over the years built up some idea of my tolerance and reaction to certain types of benzos. As mentioned I also currently have a bottle of 2mg Xanax bars (real ones), and these I can consistently take 4 -6mg without any issues. Over many years, I've taken tonnes of diazepam, etizolam, temazepam in the past without issues, and also navigated moderate doses of some heavier benzos like flubromazepam, bromazolam, phenazepam, phenazolam, and others without waking up naked in a jail cell (or any issues, really - except for one time where I woke up with a dodgy haircut I had no memory of getting).

I understand that benzos can be highly unpredictable and it would be foolish to think I'd "mastered" them or could predict the outcome of dosing every time. But I am just wondering if anyone can relate to my situation specifically with lorazepam or perhaps know one of its particular mechanisms of action which might be causing these unexpected midnight food making (and abandoning) incidents, and crashing into walls and furniture like a gridiron player, from what seems to be a very standard dose (2.5mg - a single tablet).

"Lo-raz-e-PAM!
Baby don't hurt me,
Don't hurt me,
No more"

Do you live in the USA? They have or had 2.5 mg pills? Just wondering?

 

[4DQSAR]

I suggest that YMMV covers it all. If prescribed, you can go back and note it doesn't help, but since it's generally only indicated for short-term use (except for in-patient settings, specifically ICUs where it's part of the cocktail used to induce coma).