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I am a 81 year old man who has been on Lorazepam (1mg x 3times daily as needed) for 40 years. This has been prescribed by the same Primary Care Doctor during this time. It has helped me greatly with anxiety, essential tremors, neuropathy, hiatal hernia, insomnia, and still does to this day. In June, I requested a prescription refill & when picked, The label read 1 tab daily @ bedtime. That is my notice of Lorazepam reduction from 3mgs to 1 daily. Having a pre-op exam for cataract surgery in a few days , I confronted him then. His explanation was the associates were required to ween anyone over 65 off benzos. His plan for me was "Breaking them (1mg) in half & taking half a milligram 3 or 4 times a day would be a decent decrease. We will also start you on Lexapro. My goal is to get you off Lorazepam before I retire in 6 months". He also told me that the new doctor would not prescribe 3 mgs/daily
I was in shock & told him that I would not do any tapering off until my cataract surgeries were over in mid August. I have never abused Lorazepam but am dependent. I live alone & this thought of no more Lorazepam is consuming me. I have scheduled an appointment with him in mid August to give me time to find options
I have never written to a forum or ask for advice, but I need it now.
Thank you
Replies to "I am a 81 year old man who has been on Lorazepam (1mg x 3times daily..."
I am so sorry your doctor is dealing with this issue like this. If it’s working for you, at your age, doctor should accommodate you.
My doctor also got gunshot about prescribing .5 once a day. Told me he’d only support taking it every other day. I was relying on it for sleep and it wasn’t working anyway anymore, so I tapered
@jfrog43 I can understand why you are reluctant to reduce and ultimately discontinue the Lorazepam you've been prescribed for 40 years. While it is a controlled substance and there is research literature showing that benzodiazepine medication is addicting - just as you noted - it seems to me that the doctor you've been recently working with who will retire in 6 months isn't much interested in having a conversation with you about this. I wonder if your current doctor who is retiring soon would have a suggestion of another doctor who would continue to prescribe for you and work with you on your medication. This is what psychiatrists do best. I know it's hard to get an appointment with a psychiatrist these days. But I suggest that you try psychiatry because the anxiety you describe and the many years you've been prescribed Lorazepam would seem to require an expert in these medications.
By the way, I had cataract surgery four years ago and was very anxious pre-op so I totally understand your concern. The thought of managing the anxiety as you come up on the date for cataract surgery would be consuming. I get it. If you were my brother (I'm 72 so I'm suggesting you as a brother instead of my father) I'd advocate that you continue with your present medication until you get into an appointment with a psychiatrist who specializes in geriatrics.
What do you think you might do next?
So your current doctor of 40 years is now letting his "associates" manage your health care. Who are these associates and are they licensed practitioners. If they were , it would seem that they would see how ludicrous their request is, especially if they have not examined, interviewed and reviewed your records. I find this scenario outlandish and certainly not in the best interest of the patient ---- you!
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My primary care physician gave me Lexapro to help in weaning off Ativan.
I took it for 3 days along with my .5 mg of Ativan.
Horrible experience. Climbing the walls Couldn’t sleep.
Since these benzodiazepines are a controlled substance I think they are wanting us mature folks off of them. The do affect brain and memory.
Good luck.