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Rebound Insomnia after titrating off of Ativan/Lorezepan
I have been taking Lorazepam for about the last five years nightly for sleep issues. I am on lowest dose 0.5 mg per day and sometimes during the day for dental/medical appt. A couple of months ago my husband helped me titrate off the drug which on a jewelry scale a pill weighs 60 milligrams. Each day he cut a tiny piece off (1 mg) and after almost two months I was done. I felt fine for a couple of weeks after that and then I developed the most horrible insomnia of my life. Literally no sleep at night. I was desperate and took a pill again and sleep great that night. My husband feels that CBT-I would be beneficial to me and maybe I should temporarily go back on the nightly pills so I can get some sleep and we could work thru a CBT-I workbook together. My husband is very kind and understanding and wants to help me get thru this. I only slept for two hours last night and I can't continue like this. I tried sleepy time tea last night but it didn't help. Please if anyone has any advice concerning this rebound nightmare I would be so appreciative. I am 75 years old and in fairly good health.
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Thank you so much for responding to my question. I am older so I need to check to see if this might affect me. Adversely. It does sound like a wonderful solution to a very difficult problem. All the best. Have a great weekend.
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1 ReactionThanks so much for that. In fact I had nearly stopped taking the antihistamines as they were contraindicated for another issue. I only take occasionally but use melatonin and also self hypnosis tapes which concentrate on keeping things in the now.....hugely helpful not to worry about past or future. Thanks again
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3 ReactionsHi gmimri
I am wondering how you are doing on hydroxizine?
I tried it but caused elevated heart rate
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2 ReactionsIt worked for two nights. Then caused extreme anxiety
Not using it now. Back to .25 mg Ativan. Seeing a sleep specialist next week.
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2 ReactionsIs it addictive, im down to 0.12.5mg of ativan and taking 25mg hydroxyzine , but no that will soon lose it effect if I take to often.
I am on 1 mg of Ativan at night, down from 2mg about 1 year ago. I am going through unresolved GI issues that are poorly understood. These include SIBO SIFO IMO, dysbiosis, and more than likely, parasites. I am intolerant of anything sweet other than blueberries ever since I took COVID vaccines. If I eat 3 dates I have nausea. Prior to that moment in Dec '21 I had no food intolerances. I am now experiencing Histamine intolerance also. My life revolves around cooking and just now I am starting to have a cough with green phlegm. My doctor told me to have a CT scan of my thorax because she is concerned about possible scleroderma due to elevated ANA and another marker, I ignored her and now I am worried. I have been healthy physically until I took vaccines. (most likely Post Vaccine Syndrome) which was identified at Yale in the study of Long COVID.
To lower Ativan I take L Threonine 500mg, Camomille tea, Passion flower 700mg, and I will add
Lemon Balm soon. Nonetheless I can't decrease benzo at the moment as I don't tolerate the insomnia. I will also try melatonin 3mg only and take it around 5 PM. I am trying mind-body work like Qigong,
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1 ReactionYour GI issues and histamine intolerance may be caused by the Ativan. The insomnia will most likely not improve until you have fully tapered off the Ativan. There are Facebook groups for people trying to get off benzodiazepines and YouTube videos for how to do it. I have taken a different one for a long time and have found that nearly everything I’m being treated for, including SIBO, was caused by the benzodiazepine.
supip, how do you know that everything you're being treated for was caused by the benzo?? I believe the Covid vaccine causes all kinds of issues for people. Including everything bubbles4bubbi is experiencing. And his or her insomnia will only get worse if not taking the benzo.
gmamrj, no sleep or poor sleep is far worse than taking lorazepam. I would keep taking the Lorazepam if I were you. Your body needs sleep! Very hard on your body and your mind to not get adequate sleep. I know alot of people are very against taking benzos....But, for those of us who really need them.... They are a lifesaver!
bubbles4bubbi, you should get your thyroid tested. I unknowingly had hypothyroidism and it caused all kinds of issues. Finally had my thyroid tested and found out I had hypothyroidism.