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What Causes Hang Over After Taking Ativan?

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Posted on Fri, 2 May 2014
Question: I have been on Ativan for 15 years-3mg a day-a few years back a doc gave me ambien because sleeping 3-4 hours was the limit of sleep I could get-to day when I take an ambien before I go to bed I " wake "up mentally!and preform tasks I haven't been able to do for years-organize and make useful lists-I have never suffered a hangover effect from them. whats up?
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Answered by Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Better to take ambien Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query. Ativan (lorazepam) is benzodiazepine sedative and it has half life around 12 to 14 hours, due to which, most of patients get hang over in the morning after taking it. Ambien (zolpidem) is non-benzodiazepine sedative and it has half life of 2 to 4 hours. It would help you to get amount of sleep that you require a day and has no hang over. Continuous use of benzodiazepine sedatives also effect on cognitive functions. That may have been the reason that you were not able to do some tasks under influence of ativan. Such side effects, you would not face with ambien. Ambien has also less tolerance or abuse potential. I would suggest you to take ambien rather than ativan. If you are not getting hang over and problem with ambien, then carry on with it. In case, you need further help, you can ask. Regards Dr. Abhishek Kapoor Psychiatrist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Abhishek Kapoor

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2496 Questions

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What Causes Hang Over After Taking Ativan?

Brief Answer: Better to take ambien Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query. Ativan (lorazepam) is benzodiazepine sedative and it has half life around 12 to 14 hours, due to which, most of patients get hang over in the morning after taking it. Ambien (zolpidem) is non-benzodiazepine sedative and it has half life of 2 to 4 hours. It would help you to get amount of sleep that you require a day and has no hang over. Continuous use of benzodiazepine sedatives also effect on cognitive functions. That may have been the reason that you were not able to do some tasks under influence of ativan. Such side effects, you would not face with ambien. Ambien has also less tolerance or abuse potential. I would suggest you to take ambien rather than ativan. If you are not getting hang over and problem with ambien, then carry on with it. In case, you need further help, you can ask. Regards Dr. Abhishek Kapoor Psychiatrist