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Yes, it is commonly used, it is similar to Valium and Librium, and it diminishes alcohol withdrawl.
It's taken on a tapering schedule, usually for about a week, no more than two weeks max. Then it is discontinued. Ativan (and Valium, Librium, etc) can also be addictive/abused, but temporary use shouldn't be a problem.
It also does nothing for the compulsion or desire and some alcoholics have drank while on it. Anabuse is also a widely known anti-alcohol abuse drug. I don't know it's popularity as an "anti" drug currently and drinking while taking Anabuse has resulted in the death of the drinker.
The clinical profession also has more success with suggesting AA to the compulsive drinker as it has the highest rate of long term recovery.
Ativan is a benzodiazipine. It is commonly used for anxiety. Extremely addictive drugs the benzopiazapine family. I have not heard of it being used for addictions before. Would not make much sense to me to substitute one addictive drug with another.
Alcohol greatly intensifies the effect of the drug and vice-versa.
Look it up on a good psyche med site.
lilms
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Two things: 1. Recovery is a process, not an event.....and.... 2. You only get to go around once. Leave em laughing and make it worth your while
The only use for Ativan in treatment of alcoholism is to minimize the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal such as seizures and delirium tremors.
Ativan should not be continued once these symptoms have resolved and should be tapered. It can be physically addictive if used to excess. It has a shorter duration of action than Xanax or Valium.
My opinion is that it should only be used for the alcoholic in a treatment center where it can be closely monitored.
Cookie
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A person's a person no matter how small --Dr Suess
I was prescribed Ativan during my chemo treatments this year. It was the one medication which helped me sleep and had no after or side effects. I still have my final prescript of this med and use it occasionally when I have had a painful day and need to sleep for several hours. It is has been an effective and miraculous drug for me. In some chemo patients it can stop nasuea and vomiting, but I had other meds for that. Interesting that it might help withdrawal symptoms, but I tend to think in an addictive personality it could become a problem and another thing to deal with. The moral dilemma for me would be: doesn't an A deserve relief for symptoms of his/her illness. I think only a doctor could say whether this is a good idea or not.
My dosage was for one 1MG tablet every six hours as needed for nausea and vomiting, anxiety, or sleep. When I was in the hopsital for each of my four day chemo treatments, I was given Ativan by IV at night for sleep. It has worked wonderfully for me. I am quite sparing now with the remainder of my prescript and use it only for when I have pain or anxiety for sleep.
Actually it really upset me as when my A went to detox, he would be put on it, and some other drug. He would detox then the idiots would send him home until they had a bed in rehab....so dumb.
That is a VA rehab/hospital for you..... of course he never went back. They had a bed about a year later.
((((hugs))))
