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How to manage side effects from 30 years use of Lorazepam

Posted by cwrobbins @cwrobbins, Jun 4, 2025

I have been given this drug for over 30 years. My dr does nothing to help me get off of it so after I did my own research I thought I could tapper myself off. I’m 5 months in and side effects have only gotten worse. I’m hoping someone on here has had these same issues but found a way through. I need guidance. I don’t trust anyone who hasn’t dealt with this personally. Each day I suffer from panic attacks and depression. Taking anti depressants gives me horrific night terrors which only fuels my anxiety. Recently I wake up to panic attacks in the middle of the night. My depression grows every day which is affecting my work and personal life.

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rosebookay | @rosebookay | 23 hours ago
In reply to @laughlin1947 "@rosebookay Wow, thanks for the information! I had no idea that Valium lasts so much longer..." + (show)
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@rosebookay Wow, thanks for the information! I had no idea that Valium lasts so much longer in the system. It's really considerable, as you say. I haven't checked out lithium and Clorazepate yet. If fact, I haven't heard of Clorazepate before. I wonder if my PCP would be willing to change me from taking clonazepam to valium. However, that footnote about taking valium 4 to 5 times day is very puzzling. Clonazepam is only one tablet per day. I'd go nuts taking valium every 5 to 6 hours every day. My PCP has never been in support of me taking clonazepam, for reasons she has never expressed. Since I'm 78 years old, she probably worries about the geriatric physical effects like loss of balance, cognitive decline, etc. I wonder if there would be any need to taper off the daily clonazepam tablet before changing over to valium. Anyway, thank you again!

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@laughlin1947 It’s not Lithium its Librium (Chlordiazepoxide). I take Valium 2x per day. 4-5. Would usually be for people with seizures. Heather Ashton sometimes used it 3x per day depending what drug someone was withdrawing from and how often they took it.

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frouke | @frouke | 19 hours ago

I read that there’s a big difference in how the mind uses Valium as opposed to Lorazepam, I was given Valium by a therapist many years ago and it didn’t affect me for very long so I had to take it more often. I was confused about why a longer lasting Vallium wore off faster than a shorter one like Lorazepam and the research explained how it was dispersed in the body vastly different, I don’t remember the exact details but it seems that the Vallium stays in your system a long time but apparently the drug gets stored in the fat cells and this can make it feel like the effects have worn off.

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