Connect
← Return to How did you successfully taper off of 0.5 lorazepam (Ativan)?
Discussion
How did you successfully taper off of 0.5 lorazepam (Ativan)?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Dec 8, 2025 | Replies (210)Comment receiving replies
Lots of good points, @audriana.
I did try a prescribed sleeping pill many years ago but I found that I didn't like the morning after feeling, I was sluggish.
I would also be concerned about the prescribed medications for insomnia. Are they not habit-forming and I thought you were only supposed to take them for a limited amount of time. I could be wrong on that, as I said my experience was so long ago that I am really not clear on it.
I have read that anything over 3mg of melatonin can cause disturbing nightmares. I have never taken more than that, plus I find that it does not get me through the night. It was suggested to me that when I wake up in the early morning hours I might want to take a second one to help me get through the rest of the night.
JK
Replies to "Lots of good points, @audriana. I did try a prescribed sleeping pill many years ago but..."
Connect
@contentandwell yes, many prescribed sleep meds are controlled substances and supposedly only for short term use. But my doctors kept renewing my Ambien prescription. Just a quarter to a half of a 5 mg tablet would get me to sleep. Because I re-ordered every month and they renewed it, at one time I had six bottles.
Then, this summer it stopped working - Possibly being due to taking Flagyl and Cipro (and no alcohol), So I upped the amount of Ambien that I used. And since then, it didn’t work well - Put me to sleep within 10 minutes for maybe 2 to 3 hours, then I’d take more and sleep another 2 to 3 hours and feel miserable the next day. So my doctor tried me on lorazepam for insomnia anxiety. But he didn’t explain that it was addictive and after not quite six weeks, I’m now having to wean myself off .5 mg. He has me taking one tablet one night and nothing the next for a week, then next week skip two nights between doses and then be done. Learning to sleep again is challenging, but will be worth it in the end.
And tonight is an off night so I plan to try melatonin; Hopefully, it helps a little bit.
Reading about others experiences is so helpful on our journey through life. Thank you