1. < Depression & Anxiety

Ativan withdrawal

Posted by gmamrj @gmamrj, Dec 4, 2023

I am 81 years old. Have been taking Ativan for 5 years for PTSD after open heart surgery. Started off with 1mg a day and have reduced it to .5 mg per day for about 4 years now.
I am now feeling anxious, jittery and dealing with insomnia. Do not want to increase dosage. I want off Ativan My
PCP prescribed Lexapro (small dosage) to take along with Ativan to start withdrawal. That was the worse 2weeks of my life. Insomnia, climbing the wall. Quit the lexapro. Still on .5 mg of Ativan.
Feel terrible. Any help would be appreciated.

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kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jul 12 9:20pm
In reply to @gmamrj "I have been taking .5mg of Ativan every night for over 5 years. I am wanting..." + (show)
@gmamrj

I have been taking .5mg of Ativan every night for over 5 years. I am wanting to get off of this drug. My doctor has prescribed a tapering schedule which should wean me off of the drug in about 8 weeks.
My question is what will the withdrawal symptoms be?
Anyone had this experience?
Have you used a supplement to ease symptoms??
Thank you

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I was on .5 mg of Ativan for about five years. Tried to get off and struggled with insomnia. I went to a sleep doctor who gave me a longer weaning period and I lengthened it even more.
Happy to say that I weaned with no symptoms and have been free of it for over a year!

REPLY
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jul 13 5:53am
In reply to @mikaylar "I love this drug. I works, no side effects (that I know of) and have been..." + (show)
@mikaylar

I love this drug. I works, no side effects (that I know of) and have been taking it for years......I take .50 mg to sleep at night and for the last year have reduced to .25 mg some nights. My doctor actually upped it for pain. In later life we just want to be comfortable.

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I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked for me.
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3 replies
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jul 13 5:55am
In reply to @kawanhee "I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked..." + (show)
@kawanhee

I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked for me.

Jump to this post

Please note: I’m not a medical professional. I took the taper schedule the doctor gave me and made it slower. No withdrawal symptoms and have been off for over a year

REPLY
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jul 13 6:02am
In reply to @mikaylar "I love this drug. I works, no side effects (that I know of) and have been..." + (show)
@mikaylar

I love this drug. I works, no side effects (that I know of) and have been taking it for years......I take .50 mg to sleep at night and for the last year have reduced to .25 mg some nights. My doctor actually upped it for pain. In later life we just want to be comfortable.

Jump to this post

No medical professional here, but I think we all react differently to these drugs. From my readings, benzos are not good for your brain and my pcp didn’t want to prescribe it anymore. He agreed to .5 every other day but it wasn’t helping. I was originally prescribed it due to cancer diagnosis but then began relying on it for sleep. Wasn’t helping. With the help of a wonderful sleep med Dr and therapist, I’m on a very low dose of Remeron and I’m doing well off the Ativan.
Also, the therapist recommended a genetic study that identifies which anti anxiety and anti depressants can work you you.
Best wishes to all!

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1 reply
gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jul 13 6:05am
In reply to @kawanhee "I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked..." + (show)
@kawanhee

I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked for me.

Jump to this post

What were your symptoms during this withdrawal?

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1 reply
mikaylar | @mikaylar | Jul 13 7:50am
In reply to @kawanhee "No medical professional here, but I think we all react differently to these drugs. From my..." + (show)
@kawanhee

No medical professional here, but I think we all react differently to these drugs. From my readings, benzos are not good for your brain and my pcp didn’t want to prescribe it anymore. He agreed to .5 every other day but it wasn’t helping. I was originally prescribed it due to cancer diagnosis but then began relying on it for sleep. Wasn’t helping. With the help of a wonderful sleep med Dr and therapist, I’m on a very low dose of Remeron and I’m doing well off the Ativan.
Also, the therapist recommended a genetic study that identifies which anti anxiety and anti depressants can work you you.
Best wishes to all!

Jump to this post

All meds wind up having some side effects. Remeron is weight gain which will cause other issues. So, I guess we pick what we want to deal with. I just need to make myself comfortable now while I am still alive.

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2 replies
gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jul 13 8:46am
In reply to @mikaylar "All meds wind up having some side effects. Remeron is weight gain which will cause other..." + (show)
@mikaylar

All meds wind up having some side effects. Remeron is weight gain which will cause other issues. So, I guess we pick what we want to deal with. I just need to make myself comfortable now while I am still alive.

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YES!!!

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kdalda75 | @kndaustin71 | Jul 13 9:33am

Not sure why you feel the intense need to get off Ativan 0.5mg if it is working and allows you a good sound restorative sleep. Lack of sleep could probably do you more harm from a health standpoint than the minuscule amount of Ativan that you are currently on. If you're having difficulty with the current dose then I understand but if not......

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gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jul 13 1:47pm

It is not working at that dose. Need more!

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gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jul 14 7:41pm
In reply to @kawanhee "I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked..." + (show)
@kawanhee

I tried that and it didn’t work. Here’s what I did; VERY slow and it worked for me.

Jump to this post

Did you have trouble sleeping?
Pharmacist suggested I take 3mg of melatonin at night.

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