Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

I'd like know

I tried to do it myself, didn’t work. After both audio and visual hallucinations I ended up in a hospital for 6 days and out patients for a month.

@dwheels8

I am so sorry for what you went through. What were you on and how fast did you try to withdraw?
If you don't want to share this, that is fine. I hope you are feeling better now.

My case 3 mg of lorazepam daily was dwarfed by the other poisons. Benzo’s are fast acting and leave the system fairly quickly. That said prolonged use will force the body to fight back and make change to the CNS and brain chemistry that can take a long time to resolve.

In my case the regimen of all my meds has left me with chronic health problems the worst and best is accelerated neurogenesis, feels like losing my mind while my brain remaps, like after a stroke except much faster.

How fast the body recovers is dose and duration dependent and the recovery regimen. It must be active and purposeful

The body seeks hemostats..it rejects poison. Seek balance across all biological systems.

There is no such thing as mental heath.

There is only health and intention…

Claim your birth rite of good health and peace.

It is yours for the taking.

I take Ativan 0.5 mg daily, two months ago I was taking 1 mg but I reduced it with antidepressant and gummies, I hope it will continue to work without any problems. I used to work with a woman who took the same benzo I take and one day she was very upset, it seems her doctor had a stroke and she lost him without another doctor to take his place. She stopped taking the medication and had absolutely no problems with withdrawal symptoms? I was curious about this and my research said that a small percentage of people don’t experience any withdrawal symptoms but no explanation why, I surely envied her for that.

I,too, had to go off Lorazepam 4 years ago when the psychiatric group I went to stopped prescribing it. They gave me Valium with a schedule of weaning off that for several weeks, but at that time I was also taking 1 mg of risperidone. I've also cut down to .5 .I still have difficulty falling asleep so my psych presc 5 mg of busperone at night. The most important thing I found is to find a highly recommended psychiatrist. I also started walking daily and now can walk 3 miles thrice a week. It was hard but I stopped sugar and most caffeine. I don't eat any heavily processed food. I thought I'd have PTSD my whole life because of an abusive childhood, but I went to psychotherapy which has significantly reduced my anxiety. Luckily I'm retired because work was a major stress. All of it takes awhile before you feel the difference.Also be careful what you watch on tv. I didn't do everyone all at once but I feel the best I've ever felt in my life physically and mentally. And I don't feel guilty about taking what meds I need

Benzos are so difficult to get off of. Weaning down slowly is key. I know that Propranolol is used off label for anxiety but is usually prescribed for heart palpitations and high blood pressure. Another medication to help with anxiety and sleep is hydroxyzine. It is not addictive. It is like a "super" Benadryl and not addictive. Sometimes antidepressants can help as well, but as you probably know, they too have to be weaned off of, but if he needs an antidepressant, it could help. I take Cymbalta. I have been on many different SSRIs and SNRIs throughout my life. Cymbalta has helped pull me out of the hole I was in when I found my boyfriend dead in our house. I stayed sober, which is wild, but if I hadn't I would not be here to write this reply. You may know this already as well, but there are foods that can help with GABA production and also exercise, even just walking. I know that gut health is important. I use Psyllium Husks in water (tastes like raw mushrooms but I like mushrooms). I started with 1/2 a tsp in 8 ounces of water in the morning. Kind of detox for the gut. I have a gut detox regimen from a holistic doctor if you are interested, I can attach it here. Good luck, but take care of yourself first. Remember that no one can make anyone do anything. If that were the case, I would have gotten sober years ago for my mom and dad.

My friend's psychologist is managing her wean from lorazapam. It was originally given to her for sleep, but she also has "uncontrolled" anxiety. It is a several month process and the accompanying meds seem to be doing what they should. A toolkit for anxiety, in my own experience, should include EFT tapping, intentional breathing and a daily walk or two outside for at least a total of twenty minutes. Movement helps. For sleep issues, I went to Cognitive Behavior in the local Sleep Department and it was awesome. There is a specific diary to keep for a couple of weeks (naps, activities, times awake at night, etc) and then talking about the results and making a plan. It was an easy process.

My anxious husband takes Seroquel about an hour before bedtime and he is much better during the days. He is also on Zoloft. I do have 5-hydroxy gaba for occasional times when even I am wigged out, and it does not cause drowsiness. I first obtained it from a prescription lab.

"There's no such thing as mental health"? Seriously, say that to someone who's suffering from severe schizophrenia, or to their doctor, and see what they have to say on the subject.