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What Causes Weird Feelings And Brain Zaps While Taking Ativan?

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Posted on Wed, 19 Feb 2014
Question: Hi Dr. Parakh, I hope u are well. You may be sleeping at this time. I could not handle the Ativan any longer and did not want to up the dose so decided to try the Klonopin again. It's been three days and I feel better but am having weird feelings, brain zaps and weird head feelings. Is this because Ativan is leaving and Klonopin takes a couple days to build? As to the other medical questions, I'm going to the Mayo Clinic in a week. My husband is sick of conflicting opinions on my health. Luckily Mayo is close now that we have moved. Talk to you soon.
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Answered by Dr. Preeti Parakh (3 hours later)
Brief Answer: Explained below. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Welcome back! I am glad you are feeling better with Klonopin again. Though benzodiazepines do not need long to show their effects, a few days are needed to build up steady state serum levels. Please also keep in mind that around 0.5 mg Klonopin is equivalent to around 1 mg Ativan. So take care that you are on an adequate dose and not less. If you still feel weird even after a few days, try either reducing or hiking the dose by a very small amount and see if that makes you feel better. This will help you find out the exact dose that you need. I am sure you will find some answers at Mayo Clinic. Do let me know what happens. Best wishes. Dr Preeti Parakh MD Psychiatry
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Preeti Parakh

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 1486 Questions

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What Causes Weird Feelings And Brain Zaps While Taking Ativan?

Brief Answer: Explained below. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Welcome back! I am glad you are feeling better with Klonopin again. Though benzodiazepines do not need long to show their effects, a few days are needed to build up steady state serum levels. Please also keep in mind that around 0.5 mg Klonopin is equivalent to around 1 mg Ativan. So take care that you are on an adequate dose and not less. If you still feel weird even after a few days, try either reducing or hiking the dose by a very small amount and see if that makes you feel better. This will help you find out the exact dose that you need. I am sure you will find some answers at Mayo Clinic. Do let me know what happens. Best wishes. Dr Preeti Parakh MD Psychiatry