Is anyone taking lorazepam .05mg and having loss of appetite?

I take Xanax .5 mg daily (not lorazepam, but also a Benzo) and have done so for several years. Over the last few months, I have lost my desire to eat almost completely. It’s been coupled with social anxiety unfortunately, which is another one I never had before. My anxiety was always around worry more than people. I have been very outgoing and social my entire life until recently. I am 72 years old just as an FYI. I worked in retail management For 35 years-definitely no social issues to do that. Anyway… Back to your question. Because I have zero appetite and I’m talking lucky to get toast down in the morning with a cup of tea, forcing myself to eat yogurt at lunch time to do something healthy for my gut, and by the afternoon the thought of food is out of the question. I used to love food and treats and pretty much everything, even telling myself I needed to lose weight most of the time. I have lost 10 pounds in the last three months with zero effort. Does any of this sound familiar?

How long have you been taking lorazepam? And how is your weaning going? I can’t believe this is now such a problem?! It was one of the few things I had left that I enjoyed doing-eating out with my daughter, friends, or husband. My second daughter visited last month and she and my granddaughter wanted just the girls to go out. I forced myself to go and was unable to eat a thing. I was so anxious through the meal I could hardly talk. This is completely unlike me. If you knew me, you would not recognize the person I have become. Have you talked to your doctor about stopping lorazepam and does he agree that it could be causing your eating issues? I’m so sorry you’re going through this too. It’s quite miserable and I know others around me, and possibly you, are noticing the changes. That just makes my anxiety worse. 😞

So I started lorazepam around the 25 of Apr this year. I know have a psychiatric nurse who has prescribed cymbalta 20mg. Says it will help me wean off the lorazepam. It’s a struggle day to day but I’m pushing through it. I had the same exact thing happen to me…use to go out to try new restaurants all the time. No I can barely sit much less eat at one.
Continuing on with my wean as I believe it should take me four weeks…especially with the cymbalta.

So I started lorazepam around the 25 of Apr this year. I know have a psychiatric nurse who has prescribed cymbalta 20mg. Says it will help me wean off the lorazepam. It’s a struggle day to day but I’m pushing through it. I had the same exact thing happen to me…use to go out to try new restaurants all the time. No I can barely sit much less eat at one.
Continuing on with my wean as I believe it should take me four weeks…especially with the cymbalta.

After doing some research and just seeing how other people reacted to cymbalta, I’m terrified to take it now. Some of the side effects are just too much. On top of that, I’m on day 5 of taper 2 whole pills and half at midday, and I can’t sleep tonight, was feeling a bit hit then not…then a little anxious then not. Still nauseous. Thinking of going the natural route. I’m at my wits end

@andiee I have taken a few different antidepressant/antianxiety medications over the past many years and found that duloxetine (Cymbalta) has has worked well for me for both depression and anxiety. I haven't had any side effects. Everyone is different and what works for one person may or may not work for another. Your nurse practitioner may have prescribed Cymbalta for you because they had seen good outcomes with their other patients.

My suggestion is don't read about other people's reactions to Cymbalta. The internet is full of information that is not reliable or valid. Anxiety does all sorts of things to our minds including making us afraid to do the very things that could be helpful for us. This includes medication. I speak from experience about this as I recall being very frightened to take prescribed medication when I first went to my doctor. Fortunately, I worked with a psychiatrist who helped me through this and helped me to see that when the anxiety was the highest, my fears were "the worst" and my mind told me all sorts of things that weren't necessarily true. So, I've learned this...Don't believe everything you think. Work with the experts, and find someone who listens to you and helps you.

When is your next appointment with your psychiatric nurse practitioner?

OMG this made me so emotional! Thank you so much!!! Never had to deal with any medication my whole life until now at 48….you are a blessing!

@andiee Thank you for letting me know that my post was helpful to you. In retrospect I know I’ve had anxiety and depression since I was an adolescent. I had my first panic attack when I was 39-years-old and it took me some time to figure out what worked for me. I’m now 72-years-old and I still get anxious but not like in the past because I know better how to take care of myself. As will you.

What do you think you’d like to do next?