"i started taking ativan in 1997. my first and only time in a psychiatric ward.  i was diagnosed with panic attacks.  when i first started taking them the first 3 days were an absolute nightmare.  i was getting more side effects being on them than without.  i told the doctor and he told me to give it a few day and that this side effect would go away.  i was literally going to sleep (in and out of sleep?) with a bible in my arms.  finally the 3rd day it did start to take effect and my panic became less frightening.  i started in 1997 @ .5 mg 3xday and now in 2015 i take 1mg 3xday.  it has never given me a problem except for those fee days when i started the dosage."