What Are The Side Effects Of Increasing The Dose Of Ativan?

Posted on Fri, 13 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 Answered on

Tue, 3 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, I take Ativan for help with anxiety related insomnia, not every night though. I usually take 1/2 to 1 mg, but sometimes my anxiety gets so intense that that dose doesn't help. I've been prescribed Lunesta and I don't really like how it makes me feel, I prefer the Ativan. Can I up the dosage of the Ativan to 2 mg? I am a 38 yr old woman, 5'3 and 126 pounds.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
safe to increase dose to 2mg.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.

Ativan is a relatively safe drug other than its propensity to cause dependence.

Since you have an upcoming stressful work event, the dose can be increased to 2mg.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to ask further.

Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.

Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar