Itching is not a side effect of the ativan but could be a side effect of anxiety and show up when the Ativan wears off.
Ativan verses Valium or Xanax. Ativan works fast, within seconds if it is sublingual. Valium or Xanax take 15 minutes to start to work. Ativan has a one hour half life. (half is gone in one hour, half that half is gone in another etc till it is too weak to do anything) Valium etc. has a 12 hour half life or longer depending on your ability to clear it.
Benzos don't cure anxiety they only set it aside so you can deal with it later because most people have a safe time or place they can.
The problem with Ativan is if you wake at night and you are not in your safe place or space then you will panic till you take another Ativan or get into your safe place. This becomes a vicious circle and leads to dependance. Valium on the other hand will carry you through to morning but may leave you fogged in. You can cut them smaller.
Ativan is not meant to be used for more than a month. After that dependance starts to set in. Valium can be used long term and is easier to get off when you no longer need it. When CBT starts to work.
The only thing with valium is that if you wake with a full blown panic attack you will have to do what ever you do to relax till it kicks in. But you will be able to go back to bed instead of sleeping in the chair unless you fall asleep there. I like my chair, complete with cat or cats.
Hi: Don't know about the itchy scalp. I've never used Ativan except a couple of times.
However, it's o.k. if you have a bad night every now and then. You are retraining your body in a way. It'll take a bit of time. Just accept a bad night every now and then without worrying too much about it otherwise it grows into a bigger problem. Just know that the relaxation exercises you are doing will kick in the more you practice them. This I do know from my own experience. I used to feel just the way you described. If agitated I couldn't relax enough to fall asleep and would get up, get some hot milk, play on the computer for a few minutes or read, and try again. It's all o.k. Be gentle with yourself.
I did not sleep very well last night,i went to bed,started my tape,started my breathing exersize,and suddenly,there it was,so i did try to calm myself with good thoughts,breath slowly,but,i finally had to get up and come to my comfort zone, lean back in my recliner,hold myself until i drifted back to sleep,,i did notice one thing...after taking the ativan, my scalp started itching..could be merves,but this morning iam still itchy all over..does this happen??
