Ativan is very effective in combating the mental and physical symptoms of anxiety. Unfortunately, Ativan can be so effective that it actually leads to some adverse side effects. These side effects of drowsiness, dizzy spells, nausea, and blurry vision are sometimes called a “benzo hangover.” While these side effects are not serious, they can be bothersome. Luckily, with a few lifestyle changes, you can avoid the hangover-like effects of Ativan.
Get Enough Sleep
The best way to avoid feeling hung over from Ativan is to make sure that you are getting enough sleep during treatment. To offset the drowsiness of Ativan, you will need to be getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night. You will also want to make sure you are sticking to a set sleep schedule. This will help get your body into a rhythm so you will not feel drowsy. If you need to take a daytime nap, then you should nap at the same time daily. Try to only take naps of about 20 minutes. This is the ideal length of a “power nap” to help give you more energy but longer periods of time can make you feel drowsy and upset your nightly sleep.
Eat Breakfast
Even if you aren’t taking Ativan, it is very important to eat a healthy breakfast every day. Breakfast is a way to give your body the fuel it needs to be powered throughout the day. Make sure that you are eating foods which give you quick, long lasting energy like whole grain cereals with fruits. A heavy meal can just make you feel weighted down and strain your system.
Lay Off the Coffee
When you are tired, the first reaction may be to go for the caffeine. However, this can just make your fatigue worse. After the rush of energy that caffeine gives you, it will cause you to quickly crash and become even more tired than before. Not only is caffeine going to make your Ativan hangover worse, but caffeine is also bad for anxiety. Doctors recommend avoiding caffeine completely to help you overcome anxiety.
Take Ativan with Food
You can take Ativan with or without food. However, if you feel nauseous or hung over from Ativan, then you should take it with food or after eating a meal. When you have food in your system, it slows down the absorption of Ativan and helps disperse it to your body more evenly throughout the day. However, make sure that you are always taking Ativan with healthy foods. Healthy foods help keep your energy levels up. Further, studies show that keeping a healthy diet can help cure anxiety.
Reduce Your Dosage
If the side effects of Ativan are bothersome, then you should talk to your doctor. You may need to have your dosage reduced. Never reduce your dosage without talking to your doctor first though as this can make your anxiety worse.
Give Yourself Time to Wakeup
Many of us rush out the door in the morning after waking up. When you do this, you are not giving yourself time to gradually wake up from sleeping. Thus, you may end up feeling drowsy throughout the day. By waking up early enough to stop rushing and slowly eat a healthy breakfast, you can avoid Ativan side effects. Further, rushing can put your body in a state of stress which worsens anxiety. It is important that you combat these forms of stress in order to cure your anxiety.