Taking Ativan for nausea?

By maryfend
Posted January 17, 2008 at 10:38 am · 4 replies
In Inability to eat

Was just wondering if anyone else on this site takes Ativan for controling nausea? Iam also on Marinol to increase appetite! Have been on Phenergan for nausea, but Dr wants me to wean off of it and see if Ativan works! Iam not anxious, which when I looked Ativan online, it says it's for anxiety! The nurse said it works on a point in the brain that covers nausea and anxiety! Iam concerned about using this as it says it's addicting! Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Hope everyone is having a good tummy day!

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By Charlotte1
Posted January 18, 2008 at 1:46 am

Hi Mary,

I have taken Ativan on and off for several years. I have not found it addictive. I have had the last prescription for 3 yrs. It definately helps when the pain is thru the top making the nausea worse. The drug that was used a lot prior to Ativan was Xanax and it was very addictive.

Hope this helps.

Charlotte

By darnett6
Posted January 18, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I suffer from CIP and have for almost half my life. Over time, I have come to use not only Xanax and Ativan, which are highly addictive (just Google "Benzodiazipines" and see what comes up), but also slow down the gut, although not as much as narcotic pain meds. For my GI doctor and me, it's a delicate balance between risk and reward: I'm 60, and I'm chemically dependent, but I find I can lead a more active and normal life by controlling my pain, anxiety and nausea with Xanax. But I have no illusions about their downside, and I have, over long periods of time, gone on and off Xanax by very careful titration (phasing down) of dosage and usage. Some pain specialists even consider opiods less addictive than benzodiazipines (BZDs), and, having also used Duragesic (fentanyl) transdermal patches for pain, I would agree that it's easier to stop the patches than the Xanax or Ativan. By the way, I think there's little chemical difference between Xanax and Ativan--they are both BZDs, they just work a little differently.

I hope I haven't ended up confusing you. I just wanted to add my long-term perspective for your consideration. My feeling is that there is no one solution, just a lifetime of trial and error until a cure or a better treatment option comes along.

By twinkletoes1
Posted January 18, 2008 at 10:20 pm

have taken both ativan worked great for sleep, but not for pain ,very addictive but not if taken correctly , as needed , slow to ween off.marinol is not as efficient for those of us with lack of motility pills are hard to dissolve and take a long time to respond, better to smoke than take in a pill form response is quicker with nasau and appetite,and it doesnt take much.ativan really is for high anxiety ,i wonder if because the nervous system is a part of gastroparesis if there is a small amount of underlying anxiety .hope you find some info you didnt know with this,much luck

By DK9497
Posted April 13, 2008 at 3:05 pm

I take both ativan and marinol for nausea. I find the ativan helpful and not addictive. However, the marinol causes me to have dry mouth and makes me hungry, which is difficult when you are unable to eat. I still think I probably need a stronger anti-nausea medicine, but for now ativan works the best.

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