First off, are you okay? second off, if you have taken a med for a week and typically don't take it for 3-4 days, then it makes sense that you are relying on it so much

It’s a very insidious drug and doesn’t always like to cooperate with our plan to stop. I remember when I first started taking this drug, I could take it on and off without any problems and I even stopped taking them for a while but before I knew it I started feeling physically ill and I wasn’t even sure what was causing it until one day I took an Ativan and everything went away, I should have stayed off them but I just couldn’t cope anymore…that was over twenty years ago. My advice to you is start now with your withdrawal, you’re in a good place to begin a slow taper, you mentioned that your dose is 0.5 mg. so I would recommend cutting it down to 0.25 mg and adjust to this for perhaps 4 weeks or more depending on how you feel, the main thing is to go very slow to avoid relapse. There’s also lots of good info online that can be very useful. I think that you have a good chance to get off them and perhaps if needed ask your doctor to give you something else that’s not addictive to help you cope if needed, best wishes for your recovery.

@jebz88 First, I'd like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you have already received support that you've found helpful. I understand the struggle with anxiety and trying to figure out what works best.

While I mostly understand how benzodiazepine medication such as Ativan works I can only comment on my own experience. As @frouke commented, this class of medications is insidious. You are very wise to be concerned with tapering off and how to do that. For now, and from what you've written the anxiety and panic attacks you experience ramp up at times. I went through that same scenario when I first experienced panic attacks. This was over 30 years ago and I worked with a psychiatrist who helped me find an antidepressant (desipramine but there are better antidepressant medications with fewer side effects now available) medication that worked to bring down the anxiety and the depression I was feeling so I could better cope. Since I took the antidepressant daily I didn't have to "react" and worry about panic attacks. I learned coping skills for when I did feel anxious.

Are you already taking antidepressant medication that works for depression and panic attacks? There are many medications that your doctor can try with you to see what works best. It takes patience on your part to go this route as it takes time to get to the dosage level that works best for you and for your body to adjust.

Here is information from Mayo Clinic:

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI):

--https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/snris/art-20044970

Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors:

-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825

There are other medications too that are not in the above classes that work for anxiety and depression.

Are you seeing a mental health therapist who can help you develop coping skills and help you with the stress you are experiencing?

Naturegirl,

I would have to agree with you. I also struggle with the same thing. I have also struggled with anxiety for about 3-4 years now.

to answer any questions, no I am not.

On bad days I take 6mg but that is rare. This talk about tapering off scares me.