I’m so sorry to read how badly you are feeling and why, I have nightmares about going through the same thing. I’m also 73 and I have been taking Ativan for about 23 years now, I also never increased my dose and it’s the only medication that works for my anxiety, I have tried so many different medications to no avail but this drug helps me to cope. My doctor is retiring this year and he’s the one who started me on this medication, I know that he’s leaving another doctor in his place but it doesn’t mean that the new doctor will provide the med so I’m already stressed. I think that you should keep looking for another doctor or nurse practitioner that is more comfortable with allowing you to stay on your medication, it’s just unfair to put a person through so much suffering. The whole problem started when the government decided that benzodiazepines are bad and now I’ve been reading so many stories about people who are forced to withdraw from their medication and causing total chaos, it takes years to properly get off the meds and if it’s too fast then chances are they will relapse. Please don’t give fight to get help even if you have to go to the hospital to get help, I sincerely hope that you will find someone else to help you with this situation,