ativan and depression??

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NatureGrrl
NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I know ativan is a tranquilizer and anti-nausea med.  Long story short (related to stress/bp), but primarily for the former reason (tranquilizer), I started taking ativan Sat. night on the recommendation of the dr. on call.  I'm only taking .5 mg, 3 times a day, less than the prescribed dose, but suddenly as of yesterday, I'm crying at the drop of a hat and feeling somewhat down.  Is this the ativan??  I was feeling in good spirits and my energy level was rebounding so this crying and feeling down is out of the blue.  I'm seeing my dr. today so I'll find out what they say but I'm not taking any more ativan in the meantime.  Just curious about your experiences!  thanks!

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  • nancypat
    nancypat Member Posts: 511
    edited May 2009

    Hi NatureGrrl, I have been on Ativan for 12 years for anxiety disorder and it does just the opposite for me.  Your body and mind are taking a real beating.  Are you on chemo?  I so wish I could just hug you and help you through this.  Let us know how you are doing.  ((((((((((hug))))))))))

    Nancy

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited May 2009

    Thanks, both, for the quick replies!  I've since read that ativan can accerbate depression so that may be what's up. And anxiety (which I see as different than depression) can definitely be an issue for me and the ativan did resolve my anxiety/bp problems over the weekend, so that was really good.  I'll talk to my oncologist this afternoon and hopefully figure this out.  And the crying could just be normal, too.  I just didn't expect it to hit -- like the crying is going to give me advance notice! :)  -- when my energy is in the rebound phase from my last a/c treatment -- this should be a feel-good period for me (yes, I'm in chemo -- had my second a/c about 12 days ago with the third coming up in about 9 days).  I may ask about going on xanex, which helped me once with a rough time.

    Nancy, thanks for the hugs!!  Sendin' them right back to you!!

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  • nancypat
    nancypat Member Posts: 511
    edited May 2009

    NatureGrrl, you are so welcome!  I take something completely different for depression and that probably counteracts the Ativan in that regard.  I think with what you are going through with yourself and your mom and after having lost a dear friend to cancer you would have to be an iron maiden not to cry.  Xanex may be better for you than Ativan.  We are all different.  Warm thoughts to you and your mom.  BTW mum is English so Winston Churchill is my hero!  Thanks for the hugs!

    Nancy

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