Mar 30, 2014 (Started Oct 16, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for anxious mood)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for phobic disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for panic disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for social anxiety disorder)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (crying, mood swings)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: mood swings

Oct 15, 2012 (Started Oct 16, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for anxious mood)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for phobic disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for panic disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for social anxiety disorder)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (crying, mood swings)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: mood swings

Mar 25, 2011 (Started Oct 16, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for anxious mood)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (crying, mood swings)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: I only take this in an extreme case (panic attack, etc.) and it has been recommended I do not ever take this medication by my psychiatrist. However, I fear having a major panic attack and keep this on hand just in case. This medication is prescribed by my primary MD. This medication strongly affects my mood symptoms. I have to weigh the risks of taking this with having mood issues for the next couple of days. The mixture causes uncontrollable crying. It feels like I have been slam-dunked into severe depression. Very uncomfortable feeling. It passes after a day or so, but taking this Ativan is really not worth the trip. Of course feeling like I am going to come out of my skin and manic isn't very comfortable either. What to do?!
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: mood swings

Jan 3, 2011 (Started Oct 16, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for anxious mood)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (crying, mood swings)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: Altough Ativan works well for anxiety, which I have during mania, I do have a lot of problems if I take it for more than one day. It grabs ahold of the manic side of my bipolar disorder and slam dunks me into depression within 24 hours. I cry continuously for absolutely no reason and I have hallucinations. I cannot stop crying. It's like being on top of the world and falling into hell in less than 24 hours. I was almost hospitalized. It must interfere with my mood stablizer. I learned after a couple of incidents what was causing my psychotic episodes and now use Ativan only for major anxiety or panic attacks and then only once or twice a week if at all. Main problem I think is not enough communicating between my psychiatrist and my primary.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: mood swings

Nov 25, 2009 (Started Oct 16, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for anxious mood)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (crying, mood swings)
  • Adherence
    Sometimes
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: I was feeling very manic so I started taking this medication a couple times a day. After about 3 or 4 days of this, I changed mood dangerously fast from manic to depression with anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations, crying for no reason, it was terrible. I was so upset I could not work. I stopped immediately. Haven't taken it in a few days and I feel better. Now I am taking only Wellbutrin. I will continue to dose myself until I can get to my new psych on December 18.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: mood swings

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