I called my mother's doctor to switch her from alprazolam to lorazepam. Her previous script was for .25mg alprazolam 3x daily. I found that the .5mg tablet of lorazepam (had it left over from one of her recent hospitalizations) had a much better calming effect when she's in crisis and the alprazolam seemed to be leaving her more disoriented and confused.

When I picked up her prescription she was given 15 tablets of .5mg lorazepam to last her 3 months with the instructions to use sparingly. Yet the same doctor had prescribed .25mg xanax to be given 3x a day. I just don't get it--is lorazepam that much more harmful for dementia patients than xanax?

She's in stage 6 and any benzodiazepine I would use sparingly anyway, only for emergencies. The antipsychotics and antidepressants have provided no relief from the intense fear and delusions and in fact she reacted badly to them.

I just don't get it. At this point it's about relieving her suffering as the mind is not working with or without meds. When I asked about the warnings with the antipsychotics, especially strokes which she has already suffered, the response was that they were not concerned about it because at her stage it was about keeping her comfortable. Thought the haldol she was given was just fine even though it left her unable to walk. Willing even to experiment with Ritalin despite hypertension, heart disease, and she's hyper not apathetic, so I just don't get the willingness to gamble with every antipsychotic or other drugs, all which have made her worse, yet something that helps is withheld.

I understand that benzodiazepines are not advised for dementia patients. But she's at a late stage where it's no longer about saving her mind, just sparing her from enduring unnecessary terror and suffering when she's in crisis mode.

Considering all the potentially dangerous drugs they're more than willing to give her, anyone know why lorazepam is singled out to be withheld? She's never alone and doesn't come close to being the fall risk of, say, haldol, which the doctor thought was fine.

Is what you are talking about the same as Ativan? I think that is the generic version. 0.5 is the least amount of that drug which would only last about 4 hours. Very short acting drug. My neighbour without alz used that drug for a long time to sleep at night only she took 1 mg. Didn't ever seem to hurt her and she got along fine. Lived to be 91 years old. I would suggest changing doctors. Sandra22

Yes, Sandra, it's the same drug, just the generic name for Ativan. Yes, it's the lowest dose plus the instructions were to cut the .5mg tablet in half.

If you know how small the tablet is you can understand why this is not a good idea--it'll just crumble into dust. Because they're so tiny I stand a better chance of getting her to swallow it too if in that moment she's thinking I'm trying to poison her and refusing all meds.

Thanks so much for your reply. Made me feel better and yes, thinking maybe it's time to try someone else tho' I dread trying to get her to another doctor. Ack, why does he have to be such a poop about this particular med when he's been suggesting everything short of rat poison.

My uncle is on the lorazepam, 0.5 every night at bedtime. At first it wasn't working and the doctor said to increase it to 1.0 but that made him unstable on his feet so I called her and cut it back to the 0.5, which he has been on with no problems for months. The prescription even says he can take it twice a day if needed.

Lorazapam has worked wonders for anti anxiety and help with appetite.

Our family Dr and Neurologist both say not to worry if it's working.

Stops the bouncing off the walls.
.5 or .05? very small dose works.

Hello, I am new to this. I just lost my mother one month ago tomorrow. In her last stages she was under Hospice Care and was given low doses of ativan every 4 hours which helped alot. She was very agitated and could not be still, her arms were always swinging, but the ativan controlled this. The only other medication she was on was Aricept.

My mom has moderate to severe AZ. She threatens to "jump out the window" the anxiety is so bad- the only thing that helps is ativan- her Dr. didn't want to give it to her because of " addiction" or "confusion" . I made him prescribe it- Said she was in intense psychic pain and that put the entire family in pain. One shrink said she didn't need any tranquilizers and told me to " redirect " her.As if a 90 year old woman has to worry about addiction - I agree that getting our loved ones out of pain is our most important task. If the right dose of ativan( get lorazepam - the generic) is used( she takes .5 mg) I dont think there will be any loss of cognition. My mom nods very little after taking this med - but can smile and live life again. Some of these Dr's have never lived with someone with this horrible illness.

Our hospice nurse suggested using ABHR cream for my dad. I can apply it to the inside of his wrists or behind his knees. And I can usually apply it even when he is resisting. ABHR stands for Ativan-Benadryl-Haldol-Reglan. It worked amazingly well for my dad.I think it took a couple of days maybe before it actually calmed him down. What a blessing for both of us.

I have been on Lorazapam for over a year to control anxiety and I haven't had any adverse reaction to it. However, everyone is different and what may work for one person may not work for another.

Alleluia I found this information. My mom has AD and tonite is just having a very grumpy time with pain from an anal fissure that we think she has had as a result from hemorroid surgery last year. Yes, it's as much fun as you think. Anway she can get REALLY worked up. She is on .5 ativan 2xdaily and I was also given some to give to her incase she flares into a, what do you call it, a catastrophic state? Anyway when she flips right out, yelling to be taken to the hospital. I just finished visiting on site that said Ativan should NOT been taken by AD patients and shouldn't be taken longer than 4 weeks. After reading the submissions here I can see that it is not a problem. Gee, like caregivers need even MORE stress. Thanks for your help!