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Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

Posted by healthlady22 @healthlady22, Feb 5, 2019

Has anybody successfully managed to successfully wean off of Lorazepam?
If so how was it done?
And if it was by way of switching to other drugs, were you then able to taper off of those entirely under a doctor's guidance?
My husband has been on Lorazepam for 16 years
He did well for 14 years, but dragged his feet about trying to withdraw while he was feeling better.
In May he had a relapse of anxiety, and insomnia, with brain fog, heart palpitations, and more.
Currently he's doing better, thinking better, but still feels like crap a large part of the time, can't sleep without the drug, can't nap.and still struggles with anxiety.
At this point, I believe it's the drug that is actually causing the problem. Currently he's doing 1 mg at bedtime and 3/4 mg when he wakes up at 2:30 am.
I know it takes 2 years for the brains GABA receptors to normalize after taking Benzodiazepines.
Also know it's really hard to withdraw, has to be done extremely slowly, and the side effects are exactly the same as the symptoms it is meant to help.
My goal is to eventually wean him off of all drugs as functional health tests show they block his nutritional absorption and may be damaging his intestinal lining. I would like to be able to repair his health using nutrition, supplements, and neurotransmitter amino acids.
All feedback is welcomed!
.

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sears | @sears | Jan 11, 2022
In reply to @audriana "I don't want to be rude. I just want to comment on my experiences with Melatonin,..." + (show)
Profile picture for Shirley Hugh-Jesst @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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Thanks for the great info!

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Profile picture for JK
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 11, 2022
In reply to @audriana "I don't want to be rude. I just want to comment on my experiences with Melatonin,..." + (show)
Profile picture for Shirley Hugh-Jesst @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

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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1 reply
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vfrifr | @vfrifr | Jan 13, 2022
In reply to @ch2232 "I've never been on any of those medications but I appreciate your response. I'm in constant..." + (show)
Profile picture for ch2232 @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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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 17, 2022
In reply to @audriana "I came across a Facebook group Anything Cardinals. A lady posted this piece of artwork Her..." + (show)
Profile picture for Shirley Hugh-Jesst @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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ainsleigh | @ainsleigh | Jan 18, 2022
In reply to @ch2232 "Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you." + (show)
Profile picture for ch2232 @ch2232

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

Jump to this post

Very very slowly!!

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goggy | @goggy | Jan 22, 2022

Hello all. I started Ativan 12 years ago to help with sleep due to tinnitus caused by noise exposure. It helped me sleep but now I would like to get completely off as I feel it fogs my thinking in the morning. I have never taken more than 1 mg per day and currently cut 0.5 MG tabs in half and take 0.25 twice a day. I can tell when it is time for next dose. Cutting half a tab into a quarter is difficult. I could skip the AM dose but that would be a 50% reduction and that seems too much. A few years ago I forgot the med while on a trip and it was unpleasant to say the least.
Maybe the liquid form would help?

Thank you and I appreciated this forum

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1 reply
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ch2232 | @ch2232 | Jan 25, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @ch2232, first of all, congrats on successfully tapering down to 0.5mg of lorazepam. The home..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @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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lvon | @lvon | Jan 26, 2022
In reply to @ch2232 "Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you." + (show)
Profile picture for ch2232 @ch2232

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

Jump to this post

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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roxiesmom13 | @roxiesmom13 | Jan 26, 2022
In reply to @ch2232 "Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you." + (show)
Profile picture for ch2232 @ch2232

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

Jump to this post

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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surferdude9 | @surferdude9 | Feb 7, 2022

Hi there, I was wondering how your husband has been doing since your post as I am currently dealing with what he is going through, if he is seeing any specialist, etc. thank you.

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