I was on Ativan for over two years and am now using 7.5 mg of mirtazapine for sleep. All my doctors are comfortable with my taking it indefinitely

@lacy2 not sure. I'm trying to taper off now.

I’ve taken Ativan for about seven months now and I’ve had to increase my dose a little bit to 1 mg. Sometimes that doesn’t work and I need another .5 mg - can I possibly building up tolerance already? Has anyone successfully switched to another sleep med without tapering, just alternating days? I first took it for anxiety, but that’s pretty much gone. It’s just the insomnia.

@lacy2 - if you scroll up to the top of the page, you will see the original question/comment that started the discussion you are participating in. In this case, it would be https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ativan-withdrawal-3/.

Had such side effects from just 5mg Lexapro, that I discussed it with the advice nurse at my health clinic and decided to not take any more. I’m just going through a period of anxiety due to stress. I don’t have GAD and I think my main symptoms are due to having built-up tolerance to lorazepam after just eight months. So I will continue with tapering off the lorazepam, no Lexapro. But a little melatonin before bed and a homeopathic calms forte in the middle of the night if needed. Last night I had one of the best nights sleep. I had in a while. I really don’t wanna take something that messes with my brain chemistry so much.

Amen, sister. And it is worse when they don't tell you in order for you to give informed cosent, and then even if you don't become addicted your become dependent which, for me, actually forced to continue taking them at higher does or taper off. I am choosing the later, but to do safely, it will take a long time so I will be tethered to the drug until I am off it and will have to live with what ever withdrawal symptoms I experience and pause the decrease until they abate. I want to get on with my life as I once knew it, and my life will never be the same. Hopefully my experience will be able to give others a heads up so they won't be chained to taking a drug I should have never been put on in the first place,

I started taking lorazepam over 25 years ago and it has always worked for me, my previous long term doctor started me on them and never had any issues about it until the last number of years before he retired. I was horrified by his ruthlessness, he wanted me to stop taking lorazepam and wasn’t helpful with making it possible, instead he just reduced my pills without talking to me or trying to get help for me. I even had cancer twice and I was filled with fear but he just didn’t care. I was truly traumatized by this and it really caused me so much anxiety to be treated this way, you trust your doctor and I was his patient for 25 years but I’m still working on recovery from my experience.

I have been 1mg Ativan 3times a day for over 20 years. My doctor and i decided I needed a change. She switched me to.5 Xanax 3 times a day. Direct switch. After a bad time with Xanax she switched me back to Ativan after two weeks. I’m having a hard time. Could I be having withdrawal symptoms

I think that you doctor should have gradually weaned you off Ativan and slowly introduced Xanax into your system, so many doctors make this mistake, they just don’t know enough about the medication and how they work in our bodies. They are both benzodiazepine but process differently within the brain, also Xanax is stronger and longer in your system than Ativan. Were you having a problem with Ativan, was it wearing off too quickly? This problem could happen and the doctor either increases your dose or switches you to a longer acting benzo like Xanax or Valium, whatever the reason for the change in your medication it must be done slowly to adjust your body to the new medication. I hope that you feel better soon and if you still feel that you need a change please research the information available online, it’s very helpful in doing the transition safely without a lot of unnecessary side effects.

Thanks. I did question her and she said that it was fine. They are comparable. I should have done my homework. Hard to find a second opinion. Thanks for caring.