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How did you successfully taper off of 0.5 lorazepam (Ativan)?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Nov 28, 2023 | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
@ch2232 I take lorazepam occasionally now, 1mg. I did take it regularly before bed, way back around 2005-2006. My doctor never mentioned that it could be addictive until I had been taking it for a long time. When she mentioned that, I stopped taking it and I actually had no problem with it except that I was back at ground zero and having anxiety interfering with my sleep -- I was going through a very difficult time. I don't remember if it was 1mg or.5mg, probably .5, but I think at that dose it may not be too difficult, especially if you try as you mention, taking just a half pill.
I guess some of us get addicted to these things more easily than others but I have taken a number of different prescriptions over time that are said to be addictive yet never had a problem when I stopped. Try the half dose and see how it goes. I would think it would go fairly well. Have you spoken to your doctor about it? He/she maybe be able to give you some guidance if you are having a problem. Pharmacists can often help too.
If you are having a problem and you are taking it primarily for sleep maybe you should try melatonin. Many people have success with that. It is not recommended that you take more than 3mg because more than that tends to cause nightmares. It is best to start at just 1mg and go up to 2 and then 3 if the lower dose does not help.
JK
Replies to "@ch2232 I take lorazepam occasionally now, 1mg. I did take it regularly before bed, way back..."
I don't want to be rude. I just want to comment on my experiences with Melatonin, chronic insomnia/anxiety connection, and communication. Considering that everyone is different, my sleep specialist told me how to take Melatonin:
• take it two hours before I expect to fall asleep
• it doesn't work "as needed"
• it has to be taken at least 6-8 weeks to take effect
• don't exceed 6mg/night
I appreciate doctors who are open to a variety of resources. Also, the sleep specialists told me that meds such as Belsomra, Lunesta, and Ambien are not effective for chronic insomnia...in a recent 2021 study, researchers indicated that the 3 main sleep meds help a person fall asleep 6 minutes earlier than the control group.
In my case, Belsomra did not keep me asleep--1.5 hours and then I was awake. On Ambien, I sleep-eat, sleep-drive, sleep-text, sleep-shop...you get the point. Lunesta was ineffective.
My psychiatrist referred me to a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and we're working on an individualized plan for me related to the chronic insomnia/anxiety connection.
Talk to your doctor. Recently, I had the guts to ask my primary physician to talk to my endocrinologist. That was a very effective intervention. And I asked my psychiatrist to talk to my Spravato provider/ Pharmacist & vice versa.
Communicate! What a great concept!
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Thanks so much for your reply! I have never felt addicted to it thank god but it's always been my goal since the day I was put on it to eventually get off of it. Prozac has done wonders for my anxiety, it has made me feel so much better. I've made this taper plan with my doctor she is amazing. I guess I'm just afraid of the physical dependence I may have but I need to just go for it. 🙂