How did you successfully taper off of 0.5 lorazepam (Ativan)?

Posted by ch2232 @ch2232, Jan 8, 2022

Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you.

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@audriana

@colleenyoung @ch2232
I've been thinking about my response because I want to be helpful. So if I provide TMI, give me feedback. If you have questions, please ask.

I've reached a point where I take Ativan strictly as needed. I did the slow and deliberate decreasing through tapering. After .5 mg, I went to every other day , then every 2 days--slowly and steadily. When I gave myself permission to take it if I needed it, a tool in my toolbox--I had a kind of relief and release. I no longer put Ativan in my daily pillbox because I don't need it daily anymore. I carry a few in my purse just in case I have a full blown panic attack.
I haven't had one of those since April 2021. Ironically, when that happened, I didn't have anything with me...no Nitroglycerin, no aspirin, no Ativan. Now I keep the "kit" in my purse just in case--a security blanket.
I'm receiving Spravato treatments weekly. For the sake of controlling my BP, two hours before my appointment, I take 1mg Ativan & 6.25mg Coreg.

As I've explained in previous posts I combine strategies, including behavior modification and necessary medications that allow me to take care of my Body, Mind, and Spirit.
I wouldn't arbitrarily stop my blood thinner, but when it's medically necessary, I stop taking Brilinta. Then when I have medical clearance I begin again.

I use my medications with caution. I think of my brain as an organ. My thyroid is off, my meds are adjusted or changed. I need thyroid meds to maintain my well-being. I need thyroid meds to live. My brain is off, my meds are adjusted or changed. My psychiatric meds are whittled down to tools to maintain my health...Plus, talk therapy is essential. Body, mind, spirit.

I've also addressed "masking." I am learning that sometimes what I perceive as anxiety is the result of something else. For example, I really control caffeine because no amount of Ativan is going to help my jitters. I am so sensitive to caffeine that I'm vigilant about where it is hidden.
And when my thyroid is off, I also experience a false sense of anxiety--again Ativan doesn't alleviate it.

I hope I've contributed some helpful info.
"Hope is the joyful expectation of good things to come."

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I came across a Facebook group Anything Cardinals. A lady posted this piece of artwork
Her husband has taken up painting to alleviate his anxiety--self taught. Great strategy ...and he does it for fun, relaxation and no expectation of perfection--a purely creative outlet.

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@audriana

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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I've never been on any of those medications but I appreciate your response. I'm in constant contact with my Dr. No issues there. Just looking for people to share their experiences tapering from ativan.

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@audriana

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!

Jump to this post

Thanks for the great info!

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@audriana

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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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

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@ch2232

I've never been on any of those medications but I appreciate your response. I'm in constant contact with my Dr. No issues there. Just looking for people to share their experiences tapering from ativan.

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The drug I am tapering off of is Zoloft. The book that is helping me is "The Anti-Depressant Solution" by Dr. Joseph Glenmullen. Dr. Glenmullen has 30+ years experince getting people off these types of drugs.

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@audriana

I came across a Facebook group Anything Cardinals. A lady posted this piece of artwork
Her husband has taken up painting to alleviate his anxiety--self taught. Great strategy ...and he does it for fun, relaxation and no expectation of perfection--a purely creative outlet.

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That really is lovely! I especially that he does it for fun with no expectation of perfection. That makes it a perfect hobby to relieve stress!

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@colleenyoung

Hi @ch2232, first of all, congrats on successfully tapering down to 0.5mg of lorazepam. The home stretch can be especially challenging. As you likely already know, it's important to go slow. But how does one go slow once they've reached 0.5mg? In addition to @lindasmith1222's comment, I'd like to also invite @healthlady22 @cdcc @grandmar @audriana @elwooodsdad @sears @laleewal68 @ainsleigh @vfrifr and @layla26 to weigh in with their experiences.

Ch2232, how long have you been taking lorazepam? And of that time, how long have you been on 0.5? How are you feeling on 0.5?

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I'm on day 3 of half of 0.5 mg at bedtime. Finally tapered and so far only experienced a headache the last two mornings. Today no side effects. After this dose I will be off of ativan all together. Thanks for your help.

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I was prescribed Adavan after a surprise bouht of depression, I had had a stroke five weeks earlier and then a devestating accident to a pet. My world as I knew it no longer existed. A week at Mayo Mother Clinic I was ready to fight my way back. They prescribed 5 mg every 6 hours. The pharmacy and my regular Dr told me of the dependecys so I finished 20 and then I started to go every 12 hours and every other day until I could safely hand the rest of the perscription into my Dr. I know with out them I would not have recovered from this Demond . It was not easy with out them. I had a lot of helpCDs I listened to 24 hours a day,but what really turned my life back almost immediaely was the sudden tragic death of a friend. How bitter sweet. What caused my depression stopped my depression.

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I have been on !exapro for 8 years and in remission until this past year. My fatigue was overwhelming and I realized I had slipped back into major depression. My Dr. Increased my Lexarpro 1 1/2 and added 2 Wellington in A.M which seems to be working. Is anyone on this same combo and if so how long and have you had any side effects?

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