1. < Depression & Anxiety

How did you successfully taper off of 0.5 lorazepam (Ativan)?

Posted by ch2232 @ch2232, Jan 8, 2022

Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you.

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gmamrj | @gmamrj | Aug 11, 2024

So far I’m 5 weeks into tapering.
2 weeks .375 a night
2 weeks .25 a night.
The last 5 days I have felt more myself than I have in a long time.
I have also been sleeping better the last 5 days. I won’t deny that I have had some rough days and nights
Tomorrow I tapper to .125 for 2 weeks. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

REPLY
kayraymat | @kayraymat | Aug 11, 2024
In reply to @carolinlv "For those of us that need help with these issues, I have found benzos to be..." + (show)
@carolinlv

For those of us that need help with these issues, I have found benzos to be the most successful for me. I feel like I’m being chastised for taking them as well as being embarrassed by my inability to handle my problems without medication. (from the general public, thankfully, not my doctor!). Right now, I have an extreme desire to stop taking both my anxiety and sleep medications, but I think I would just have to trade them in for others that are probably less effective. Why should that be necessary? I can’t wait to hear my doctor’s opinion!

Jump to this post

I love my Lorazepam for anxiety & sleep. I have used it for years & don't seem to have any side effects. I am 80+ & if it is affecting my brain, I can't tell so far, so do not intend to stop something that helps me. Forget what other people say as they are not you! I also take an anti- depressant= maybe that is why I am usually a happy person. My husband just died in June & without these helps I would be a MESS!
Good luck with whatever you decide. KayR

REPLY
3 replies
frankaventura | @frankaventura | Jan 20 12:00pm

I tapered from 1.5 mg lorazepam to .75 mg and had a lot of insomnia. I have now been staying with what the psychologist recommended .25 in the morning and slow tapering from .5 mg down to .475 in the afternoon reducing 5 % on the afternoon dose every 2 or 3 weeks. I will then try to taper the morning dose once they are both .25 mg. It requires a lot of patience. I weigh 10 pills with a miiligram scale divide by 10 and then file off 5% then in 3 weeks I will file down 10%. I learned the technique from benzobuddies.com. Slower is better. When the pyschiatrist dropped me 25% the insomnia was terrible.

REPLY
1 reply
frankaventura | @frankaventura | Jan 20 5:57pm
In reply to @kayraymat "I love my Lorazepam for anxiety & sleep. I have used it for years & don't..." + (show)
@kayraymat

I love my Lorazepam for anxiety & sleep. I have used it for years & don't seem to have any side effects. I am 80+ & if it is affecting my brain, I can't tell so far, so do not intend to stop something that helps me. Forget what other people say as they are not you! I also take an anti- depressant= maybe that is why I am usually a happy person. My husband just died in June & without these helps I would be a MESS!
Good luck with whatever you decide. KayR

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Please do understand that it does not work well for certain people and is very addictive and very difficult to come off of

REPLY
1 reply
sears | @sears | Jan 21 1:37pm
In reply to @frankaventura "I tapered from 1.5 mg lorazepam to .75 mg and had a lot of insomnia. I..." + (show)
@frankaventura

I tapered from 1.5 mg lorazepam to .75 mg and had a lot of insomnia. I have now been staying with what the psychologist recommended .25 in the morning and slow tapering from .5 mg down to .475 in the afternoon reducing 5 % on the afternoon dose every 2 or 3 weeks. I will then try to taper the morning dose once they are both .25 mg. It requires a lot of patience. I weigh 10 pills with a miiligram scale divide by 10 and then file off 5% then in 3 weeks I will file down 10%. I learned the technique from benzobuddies.com. Slower is better. When the pyschiatrist dropped me 25% the insomnia was terrible.

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You should see if your doc will prescribe liquid lorazepam. It comes in a bottle with a dropper. You can pull up tiny amounts. It’s inexpensive and can be gotten at any pharmacy. Much easier and more accurate than shaving pills.

REPLY
kayraymat | @kayraymat | Jan 21 2:19pm
In reply to @frankaventura "Please do understand that it does not work well for certain people and is very addictive..." + (show)
@frankaventura

Please do understand that it does not work well for certain people and is very addictive and very difficult to come off of

Jump to this post

Yes; everyone is different in their tolerance & should
always be guided by a physician & a good pharmacist,
AND read ALL the directions on any meds. K

REPLY
1 reply
frankaventura | @frankaventura | Jan 21 3:28pm
In reply to @kayraymat "Yes; everyone is different in their tolerance & should always be guided by a physician &..." + (show)
@kayraymat

Yes; everyone is different in their tolerance & should
always be guided by a physician & a good pharmacist,
AND read ALL the directions on any meds. K

Jump to this post

When you start to taper off the medication. Insomnia is a common side effect

REPLY
kayraymat | @kayraymat | Jan 21 6:28pm

I've had problems sleeping since turned 60 but
can't understand why. Did not need meds until then,
but anything that helps is welcome.
Did not know that insomnia is a side effect of
tapering off some meds.

REPLY
1 reply
daveshaw | @daveshaw | Jan 22 9:21am
In reply to @kayraymat "I love my Lorazepam for anxiety & sleep. I have used it for years & don't..." + (show)
@kayraymat

I love my Lorazepam for anxiety & sleep. I have used it for years & don't seem to have any side effects. I am 80+ & if it is affecting my brain, I can't tell so far, so do not intend to stop something that helps me. Forget what other people say as they are not you! I also take an anti- depressant= maybe that is why I am usually a happy person. My husband just died in June & without these helps I would be a MESS!
Good luck with whatever you decide. KayR

Jump to this post

Good for you. In your 80’s if it is not broke don’t fix it.
I am sorry about you loss. Hang in there.

REPLY
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