I am in the process of withdrawing from 3mg of Ativan. My doctor has suggested that I take Remeron with the Ativan at night but I read somewhere that Remeron does not mix with benzos. Is this correct and if so what anti-depressant would you recommend?

Thanks for your help David Curtis

Quote from swami:

I am in the process of withdrawing from 3mg of Ativan. My doctor has suggested that I take Remeron with the Ativan at night but I read somewhere that Remeron does not mix with benzos. Is this correct and if so what anti-depressant would you recommend?

Thanks for your help David Curtis

I would agree with windysan, none is best as the effects from them may complicate benzo recovery. Also, I hope you are cutting around 10% every two weeks off the Ativan and no more; Ativan is one of the hardest benzos to get off of.

Remeron is also a good one if you like to gain weight and become nice and fat! With diabetes on the rise(and AD's a cause), why do physicians even think AD's are healthy medications? :rolleyes:

I suppose if you got completely suicidial, a short term of AD may be life-saving but this is extreme scenario only. Why take it otherwise when you may not need it?

Serotonin is an excitatory neurotransmitter (hypes up the nervous system) and benzo withdrawal tends to hype up the nervous system, so how will that help??? Remeron also effects noradrenergic transmission, which is alot like adrenaline if I'm not mistaken. As most of us know, adernaline is also a bit stimulating to the nervous system!

True, some people may sleep with Remeron in a paradoxial effect (insomnia is a benzo withdrawal symptom) but some do not, or the effects of the Remeron will wear off after awhile possibly.

And if Remeron does do the trick, one will become dependant on it too, so your back again to another withdrawal syndrome or dependancy to worry about later!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I read Remeron increase sleep, mainly stage 2, alot like benzodiazepines like Ativan do. This is not natural, normal sleep. Stage 2 is not supposed to be prolonged as we already spend alot of sleep time in it. Prolonging it can cut down on the deeper stages 3 and 4, and REM sleep; that's why benzo sleep is not as healthy. I imagine Remeron sleep is not as good either. Stage 4 is the most restorative for the body, and REM is responsible for good mental function.

Withdrawing from benzos will cause some vivid REM rebound as the brain tries to regain normal sleep patterns.