Protracted Benzo withdrawal

Today, Mayo Clinic Connect's member spotlight features someone many of you have interacted with in this discussion on protracted benzo withdrawal. Read @thankful's interview with @johnbishop to find out what brought him to Connect and how he finds balance in life.

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That's scary. I'm on both of those families of drugs (amitriptyline and valium). Today I reduce down from 4mg of Valium to 3mg. After I finish the valium titration I intend to d/c the tricyclic in the same super slow way. I figure even if I need to be on it, it's worth checking to see if that need exists 2 1/2 years later. Some things give me hope. The plasticity of the human brain is not fixed. It can heal after brain injury even into old age. Also, when I was young it was generally understood that the brain does not produce new brain cells. Not true! I'm trying to remain hopeful but it's hard and it's scary. My short-term memory is practically nonexistent.

@elsa1000
I don’t see how those meds would help with those symptoms. I’ll never take a benzodiazepine or an Antidepressant. Have you tried a muscle relaxant?
Why are you unable to walk?
Do you have a diagnosis?
Jake

@jakedduck1 - I think you tagged the wrong person.

@elsa1000
Yes I did, thank you for letting me know
Jake

@elsa1000
Your a very intelligent person.
Always smart to take the lowest possible effective dose.
I can relate to your memory issues. Mine are both short and long term. I lost all memories from age 15 back. And many more years throughout my life.
Speech Pathologists can be helpful with memory issues. I’ve been to three. You might want to consider it.
Best of luck,
Jake

I know I am not nearly too bad, but I do need some help and support. I am 68, and because of my age, and the addictive ness of Ativan, my doctor wants me to get off it. I have taken .5mg for about 6 years, at first to deal with panic attacks as I had diverticulitis and colitis, then continued to help me sleep and stay “even”. He gave me 2 months at first, but I knew that wouldn’t work. I remember weaning off Paxil many years ago and, even with a low dosage, it took me a year. Well, it has been 3 1/2 months now taking .25mg. I figured that it is time to cut down again (the dr has given me 6 months to get off it). Where do I go from .25? I decided to try to stop taking it a couple of days ago. I had a bit of trouble getting to sleep but I slept good, and I felt really good in the morning! So I didn’t take it last night either. Today, I feel horrible! My lower limbs are prickly, I have a horrendous headache, I feel dizzy and nauseous and I am getting brain whooshes and loud ringing in my ears and I am freezing. I think that it was a bad idea to cut back, and I need to go slower. So tonight I took about .20 to see if it helps at all. I’m afraid if I skip every other day, I may just feel like I am on a roller coaster. Where do I go from here? Looking for some wisdom. Am I on the right track?

Hi, @debra51 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You sound familiar with being in a process of weaning off a medication and realistic about it taking some time.

When your doctor gave you 6 months to taper off the lorazepam (Ativan), did he by chance give you a tapering schedule? If not, could you call his office to let them know what you are experiencing and get some input on how he wants you to taper from .25?

@lisalucier Thank you so much for your response. No, my doctor did not give me any kind of schedule. I have called his office this morning and I have an appointment for tomorrow ( unless they get a cancellation and can get me in today) I feel better this morning after taking the Ativan last night, but I still have a horrendous headache and feel sweaty, etc. I will continue with the .25 until I get a plan.

@debra51
Hi Debra,
Not sure if a compounding pharmacy would be an option you’d be interested in or not. If so, they can prepare medications to any formulation. You may want to mention your concerns about titrating down to your doctor.
I have a suspension however he might have you reduce your dose by half which is to much considering how long you’ve been on it. If it were me, I’d ask to have a Compounding pharmacy reduce your dose by no more than 10% and take that dose for 2-4 weeks then reduce by 10% until your off.
Tell your doctor you’ve already cut it by approximately 20% but had withdrawal symptoms and need to reduce more slowly.
Will be thinking about you,
Jake