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Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (926)Comment receiving replies
@happytoseeyou Please let me offer you a late welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I see that @bajjerfan, @ashleyharris728, @berekann, @laughlin1947 have all been able to give you their experiences and thoughts, which is awesome!
I don't use any medication for insomnia because it interferes with my other meds for end stage renal disease and cancer. What has worked for me includes the following:
-limit screen time late in the evening
-don't exercise too late in the day [it gets your entire system in an "up and get going" mode, and may not let you relax!
-no caffeine after 5pm, but perhaps chamomile tea?
-try a relaxing hobby [reading, crochet, artwork, etc.] to calm your mind down
-create a comforting environment [dark room, cool temperature so you cuddle under the covers] with as noise-free as possible
-journal your thoughts to get them outta your head!
Do you think any of these ideas might help you?
Ginger
Replies to "@happytoseeyou Please let me offer you a late welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I see that..."
@gingerw Thank you for welcoming me to Mayo Clinic Connect and I'm very happy to be in this wonderful place and so appreciate your input and all of the input from @diverdown1 @ashleyharris728 laughlin1947 @berekann and @bajjerfan and everyone!
I'm sorry to hear about why you cannot take medication for insomnia and I so appreciate your kind and thoughtful suggestions and am sending support, love and light your way.
Yes, I do all of the above and will continue to and have lived with severe primary insomnia without meds for decades, but then tried a few over the past few months due to several nights of no sleep at all, and am currently tapering off of Ativan after taking 1mg nightly for 5 weeks, have just completed 1st week of taper to .75mg and now scared to make the next cut, to .5mg and wondering if I should stay at .75mg longer before cutting to .5mg? Withdrawl has been overall manageable, but significant and have been able to get a few hours sleep, except last night, none at all and my Nurse Practitioner suggested Depakote or Mirtazapine, not sure what to do and if either would be helpful or negative value added, paradoxical effect, etc.
Thanks so much again and any input is greatly appreciated!
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@gingerw thank you!actually I do pretty much all of those things, including listening to a sleep meditation, which helps to relax me. Then I take 1 mg melatonin ; my sleep meds are not working as well as they used to. I have restless nights so I will try and focus on your ideas and just save the sleep meds for times really needed.