Itching is not a side effect of the ativan but could be a side effect of anxiety and show up when the Ativan wears off.
Ativan verses Valium or Xanax. Ativan works fast, within seconds if it is sublingual. Valium or Xanax take 15 minutes to start to work. Ativan has a one hour half life. (half is gone in one hour, half that half is gone in another etc till it is too weak to do anything) Valium etc. has a 12 hour half life or longer depending on your ability to clear it.
Benzos don't cure anxiety they only set it aside so you can deal with it later because most people have a safe time or place they can.
The problem with Ativan is if you wake at night and you are not in your safe place or space then you will panic till you take another Ativan or get into your safe place. This becomes a vicious circle and leads to dependance. Valium on the other hand will carry you through to morning but may leave you fogged in. You can cut them smaller.
Ativan is not meant to be used for more than a month. After that dependance starts to set in. Valium can be used long term and is easier to get off when you no longer need it. When CBT starts to work.
The only thing with valium is that if you wake with a full blown panic attack you will have to do what ever you do to relax till it kicks in. But you will be able to go back to bed instead of sleeping in the chair unless you fall asleep there. I like my chair, complete with cat or cats.
Davit.
