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Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?
Has anybody successfully managed to successfully wean off of Lorazepam?
If so how was it done?
And if it was by way of switching to other drugs, were you then able to taper off of those entirely under a doctor's guidance?
My husband has been on Lorazepam for 16 years
He did well for 14 years, but dragged his feet about trying to withdraw while he was feeling better.
In May he had a relapse of anxiety, and insomnia, with brain fog, heart palpitations, and more.
Currently he's doing better, thinking better, but still feels like crap a large part of the time, can't sleep without the drug, can't nap.and still struggles with anxiety.
At this point, I believe it's the drug that is actually causing the problem. Currently he's doing 1 mg at bedtime and 3/4 mg when he wakes up at 2:30 am.
I know it takes 2 years for the brains GABA receptors to normalize after taking Benzodiazepines.
Also know it's really hard to withdraw, has to be done extremely slowly, and the side effects are exactly the same as the symptoms it is meant to help.
My goal is to eventually wean him off of all drugs as functional health tests show they block his nutritional absorption and may be damaging his intestinal lining. I would like to be able to repair his health using nutrition, supplements, and neurotransmitter amino acids.
All feedback is welcomed!
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@sle737, I think you have this under control and are making the right decisions for yourself. I must apologize for coming off so aggressive about doctors but some of my own struggles fueled my response, I have never felt so bad like I do now and my struggles are more with my family doctor who is failing me in his lack of care, I used to think that I had the best doctor and sometimes a friend for 20 plus years and I realize he’s only human perhaps dealing with problems of his own. I would also like to thank @ellerchim for saying that you’re fortunate to have a doctor who helped you taper because my doctor hasn’t a clue how to do that, his idea of help was to reduce my pills by half without even taking to me or leaving hurtful messages via his secretary. Today he put the responsibility with the pharmacy which poses other problems, their job is to dispense medication not to try and counsel people at the counter in front of strangers, I call this a form of shaming. I too live in Canada and you’re fortunate to have found another doctor who hopefully will be helpful when you need it, Frouke.
All I can say is pick your poison. I also have used Ativan successfully for many years. The only drug I take without visible side effects that does it's job. I am treating "my today" and just trying to get through what I need to now. Good luck!
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1 ReactionNot sure if my experience will help. Psychiatry engages in overmedication when perhaps major lifestyle and behavioral interventions will help a lot. I took many benzodiazepines over 4 decades. The last one was clonazepam. At the time my psychiatrist and neurologist supervised my taper off of it. August 2017 to January 2019. It was successful. I did have a seizure risk at the time so it was scary. As the taper progressed my cognition improved. It was like my brain waking up. My seizure has healed.i have an abnormal eeg called a breach rhythm but it is non epileptic. The ony psychiatric med I take now is esitalopram 10mg. I do take lamotrigine for seizure prophylaxis. I am very sorry you are going through so much. My journey was worth it but only you can decide
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3 ReactionsI’m wondering so many months after your post if you found help weaning off your Ativan? I have taken alprazolam .5 mg daily for several years and really want off the stuff. I’m pretty sure it’s now causing increased anxiety and depression. I’m 72 years old and had a litany of meds I was blaming for this issue, but never the alprazolam. Well, with the doctor’s help, I’ve stopped statins and beta blockers. Now, nothing left to stop but 50 mg of Losartan which doctor said stopping is out of the question. A have an ascending aortic aneurysm that needs protecting. Wondering if you ( or anyone else) can help with weaning off this drug?
I did wean off. 7/11/24 thru 8/26/24
Original dose .5mg a night
2 weeks. .375 mg
2 weeks .25 mg
1 week .125mg then stopped.
It has been hell. Started back .25
Saw sleep doctor today. She said to stop Ativan tonight and start .2mg of Lunesta. Having a sleep study done in a couple of weeks.
The thought of taking Lunesta and reading some of the side affects has my anxiety soaring.
I've had no problems with Lunesta at all. I do often have to take another 1mg around 3am to get in a full night, but when I'm awake from it, I am fully awake and no weird behaviors. My sleep is sound with dreams.
I will say that was a very rapid taper. It took me 9 months to taper off 1-1.5mg of Klonopin and I still had problems with insomnia and anxiety for the next year. Lunesta solved the insomnia problem and I just use yoga, meditation, exercise, nature, puzzles, birding, music and dance for anxiety!
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3 ReactionsI did a VERY slow wean from .5 Ativan over 6 months. Earlier, the wean recommended by my pcp was too fast. I have been off it for two years.
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2 ReactionsI took my first Lunesta pill last night. 2 mg
I slept a solid 6 hours. No problems. I feel great.
How long have you been taking Lunesta?
Thanks for this help! Did you do half the dose or skip days…curious about exactly how you did it if you have time to explain. I’ve tried just talking .25 in the am and the same in the pm and wasn’t the best feeling. I don’t expect this to be easy, but day 1 wasn’t encouraging☹️