1. < Depression & Anxiety

Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

Posted by healthlady22 @healthlady22, Feb 5, 2019

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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scruffy1 | @scruffy1 | 1 day ago
In reply to @aldo2 "Hi I have been taking 1 mg Lorazepam for more than a year. Initially my psych..." + (show)
@aldo2

Hi
I have been taking 1 mg Lorazepam for more than a year. Initially my psych prescribed it to help me sleep through the night due to AUD (alcoholism). But I’ve managed to cut drinking back significantly (only take a drink if out with friends - not often at all - about once every 3 weeks). My wife and I agreed to stop drinking alcohol at home and that’s been working well and I’m through the AUD withdrawal which wasn’t too bad.

Now comes the Lorazepam as the next challenge. How do I taper (titre) off 1 mg? I know it’s supposed to be done very slowly. I’ll ask my Dr of course but looking for similar experiences. I think the smallest dose marketed is 0.5 mg.

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Google the "Ashton Method for Benzo taper" and look for your drug and dosage - often is 6 months

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 1 day ago
In reply to @dfb "All psychiatric medications make changes to the brain…real changes in the way the brain is wired...." + (show)
@dfb

All psychiatric medications make changes to the brain…real changes in the way the brain is wired. Everything you and everyone is experiencing is the brain fighting against these poisons.

They are not therapeutic they treat symptoms not cause and they suck at doing that.

The are poison…full stop.

The body simply rejects them.

Who was the idiot that approved a drug that “might cause suicidal thoughts or actions” if that was the case with antibiotics we’d all be dead from infections or suicide.

Psychiatry is voodoo, there is no science supporting any of this.

We are all the victims of a self organized system that prioritize profit over human suffering.

And I am going to tear it to the ground; watch for Thrive: The Theory of Abundance and The End of Suffering.

They should have killed me when they had the chance. Well I’m still here and I am going to tell the world what they have done. The Single Biggest Crime ever perpetrated against huminaty.

Think Tobacco on steroids.

All that being true do not stop taking your meds cold turkey…I’ve tied to kill myself more times than anyone knows. This has noting to do with being weak willed or “mentally ill” it is because my brain is damaged by childhood trauma, cortisol dis regulation, years of poisonous psychiatric medications, 19 season of ECT , long Covid, a pulmonary embolism caused by the meds…on and on and on.

My brain is swollen, like everyone to one degree or another. My doctors are finally paying attentions.

All “mental health” problems are brain swelling/trauma/cortisol feed back loop. One has to break the feed back loop by address all three.

Nutrition
Exercise
Electrolytes as much a you can stand.
Meditation…it is real it heals the brain.
Love, love, love for yourself and others.
Get away from toxic people especially doctors that don’t listen they are to be feared worse than death.

I review this site everyday and litany of suffering is more than I can take I am going to do something about it. If anyone thinks this is hyperbole from a bipolar patient, Google me…Im back and I want a reckoning.

Hang on, I witness your suffering and intented on making the world witness it…so help me…you know who.

Warn them…I’m coming.

Peace and good heath are your birth right take it back.

PM me anytime.

Enough of this; time they help us get off the poison they addicted us to.

Suffering sucks, unacknowlged suffering really sucks, being blamed for your suffering really, really sucks, suffering caused by those who are supposed to help is criminal…they need psychiatrist in prison to…maybe they can get out early by cleaning the bathrooms.

Oh yeah I’m angry.

By the way I as on 14 mediations 18 months ago…I am on nothing now and have recovered physical mentally and spiritual beyond my base line. If I can make it anyone can. I no what prescription for Cannabis, 100mg a daily versus 3000mg of psyche meds… cannibis being illegal is another artifact of the profit system. The AMA opposed making it Illegal because it is so useful…but its not profitable…cause you can’t patent a plant.

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@dfb, I understand and hear your anger. Mental health is complex and no two people are alike. Please be careful about sweeping statements that may not apply to everyone. For some people, medication is a life saver, for others a bridge to better health, and for others not helpful.

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1 reply
dfb | @dfb | 1 day ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@dfb, I understand and hear your anger. Mental health is complex and no two people are..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@dfb, I understand and hear your anger. Mental health is complex and no two people are alike. Please be careful about sweeping statements that may not apply to everyone. For some people, medication is a life saver, for others a bridge to better health, and for others not helpful.

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It can be a bridge to better health if people are told the truth.

I’m strongly recommending that…good health begins and ends with informed consent.

We are being lied to.

One can not chose what one does not know.

I see nothing threatening about be told what my options are.

Psychiatrist are not gods…

Informed consent is a guiding principle in every area of medicine except psychiatry.

It is wrong.

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1 reply
sears | @sears | 17 hours ago
In reply to @dfb "It can be a bridge to better health if people are told the truth. I’m strongly..." + (show)
@dfb

It can be a bridge to better health if people are told the truth.

I’m strongly recommending that…good health begins and ends with informed consent.

We are being lied to.

One can not chose what one does not know.

I see nothing threatening about be told what my options are.

Psychiatrist are not gods…

Informed consent is a guiding principle in every area of medicine except psychiatry.

It is wrong.

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Truth! I was never told what the drugs I was prescribed could possibly do to me in the future. My physchiatrist, internist, pharmacist, OBGYN, nothing from anyone, not one word or warning for over 25 years. Terrible. Had I know the possibilities I, in all likelihood, would not have taken them, for sure not as long as I did.

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dfb | @dfb | 9 hours ago

My point exactly…failure to inform and gain consent is prima facia legal malpractice. There is going to be hell to pay.

On can not choose what one does not know.

I Will contend with debilitating side effects for the rest of my life and they knew from the before anyone ever wrote a prescription.

If one knows and chooses…fine. Chemo makes people sick…my sister refused it.

Would you have refused psych meds if you’d known?

Especially if you were told there were other options that did not poison you.

This is criminal malpractice on an epic scale…watch it is all coming down.

If your meds work for you, bless you, change nothing. In my experience you are one of a very small minority be very grateful…having one’s psyche torn to pieces is not a side effect anyone should agree to.

There is a reckoning coming and not from me…as is the case with most corrupt systems it will implode all by itself..it’s already happening. That risks meds not being available to the minority who do need them.

The crime committed against humanity is unquantifiable…but some lawyer will try to…count on it.

Claim your birth rite to peace and good health.

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dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | 6 hours ago
In reply to @halloweengirl78 "@dorothy1914 I have an appointment with an actual Doctor, nothing against nurse practitioners or anyone else,..." + (show)
@halloweengirl78

@dorothy1914

I have an appointment with an actual Doctor, nothing against nurse practitioners or anyone else, but after everything I've been through, just not good experiences with them.
But I have an appointment on the 10th at 10:45. So thankful it's a morning appointment. I just pray that she will be able to help me.
I'm going to be alone from Monday till, I think Thursday. I'm worried about being alone while I'm feeling like this.
I am seriously so scared to be alone. I don't have friends, and absolutely no one I can talk to. What if I do have a nervous breakdown and I'm alone?
Amy

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@halloweengirl78
How are you doing? I canceled my psychiatrist appointment for April 10 but then reset it. I still don’t know if I will be able to go. I think if I am able to make it, once the doctor sees what terrible shape I am in, he won’t even see me for a second visit or may even cancel the first visit. I spent all day yesterday in the emergency room 4/6/25. I went in for sky high blood pressure 199/99/79 and heart palpitations. At 1;30am I called emergency services and they were very nonchalant about the whole thing. They said I should stay at home and have my husband drive me to the ER in the morning so that’s what we did. No one there understands anxiety and panic attacks.
Claudia

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