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Ativan withdrawal
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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@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?
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2 ReactionsSo 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!
I am in the process of withdrawing from Ativan. My PCP provided me a slow tapering schedule that I have been following following now for 11 days
Previously I was taking .5mg once a day.
Tapering off by reducing by .25 every 2weeks.
My main withdrawal symptom is not sleeping. I tried melatonin which was a BIG mistake. Horrible. ..couldn’t sleep period.
Now curious if a small glass of wine before bed would help. I need my sleep.
Any other suggestions?
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1 ReactionTo be honest and also a fellow victim of Ativan, I would strongly say that it’s a tempting idea but not in your best interest, alcohol is our enemy until perhaps you get off them completely, all the best wishes for your successful withdrawal.
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3 ReactionsHad appointment Primary Care associate on Monday afternoon, Turned into visit from "unavailable" Doctor. Conclusion is they will NOT continue my 3mg Lorazapm Rx based upon practice policy & FDA guidelines. They have no references as to who might continue the prescription & told me finding a Geriatric Physiatrist. would be fruitless because long time scheduling. They wanted to adhere to a tapering schedule of 1mg a week until none. I told them that I would not do that because it was way too aggressive & would lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. They then countered with .5 mg a week. I said that it was still too quick & demanded that it was my life & countered with .25mg a week. We settled on.25mg.
With these people, I thought that it was the best that I could do @ this time I will continue to look for any Doctor who might be able to help me continue plus any Geriatric Physiatrist
Until then, I will try to maintain my withdrawal schedule & slow down if I need to
Thank you for your excellent advice. I haven't given upon it. This just seems to be the best solution for this predicament.
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6 ReactionsWhat were your withdrawal symptoms.
@frog43, my dear man, I am shaking so bad after reading the tragedy you are going through, I don’t even know what to say yet I find myself reaching out to you. I must admit that I was having a very bad day filled with anxiety and racking my brain for ways to stop the madness that has become my life, I do believe that God works in strange ways at times, you most definitely need help with what has happened to you, the inhuman treatment you’re going through is absolutely wrong. I truly hope that someone hear will read this and help you with your problems or finding a course of action to get you through this. I live north of the border where things are not as bad as in the US but it’s definitely started making a presence, I also am a victim of benzodiazepines and a family doctor for 24 years who treated me callously taking little to no responsibility for giving them to me. There’s a lot of conversations going on here with people like us who share their lives and thoughts with each other and it’s giving me some well needed information and a whole bunch of comfort in numbers. I’m wishing I could do more for you in your time of need but I feel confident that it’s going to come your way, you are 81 years young and know a lot about life and people, being your age is a great achievement and I hope you will have many more good years ahead, stay strong and make some noise so no one gets to overlook your needs,
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1 Reaction@jfrog43 Wow, way to go!! You asserted yourself in primary care for a significantly lower dose tapering and reminded the provider that it is your life. You didn’t give up and kept up the negotiations. Finally, as you wrote you figured it was the « best you could at this time ».
Your provider really should help you find a geriatric psychiatrist (not physiatrist as your indicated - a physiatrist is a physical rehabilitation doctor). Is that accurate that you want to find a psychiatrist who treats patients for mental health and prescribes mental health medications? But then since you’ve also indicated that you have little confidence in the new primary care provider maybe you can do a search online or ask other providers you see for suggestions.
Here is a good place to start an online search.
Psychology Today: Find a Psychiatrist
— https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists
You have cataract surgery coming up in a few weeks. Is that right?
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4 ReactionsRight eye cataract surgery was completed on July 9th. Doctors' clearance to return to normal was July18th. Results were wonderful. Brightness and clarity in right eye are something that is hard to believe. Left eye is scheduled for surgery on July 29th.
Yes, I do want to find a psychiatrist Thank you for your help & giving me someone to talk with in making these decisions. Its' still a long road ahead but at least I have some info on how & what I need to do rather than bullied by my doctors.
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4 ReactionsRemember. The lower the dose the better when it comes to melatonin. 1 mg. an hour before bed works well. Using alcohol will only disturb your GABA receptors even further during tapering and cause more problems.
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