Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

Thank you for your reply. Were you able to get off the klonipin easily?

Yes...And I strongly recommend only doing so with qualified medical supervision, as with any other benzodiazepine.

The word “ Reba” is a spellcheck error that I failed to notice during my proofreading and the word is “Rehab”. I found it easy to quit klonopin but I was placed on Seroquel as I have GAD and I need to sleep at night and it makes a big difference when you sleep as I get 100 mg at bedtime instead of klonopin.
Is it the same thing as klonopin? I don’t know but all I know is I get a good nights sleep. Very important for us to sleep and stay asleep all night.
Was I abandoned by my psychiatrist? I don’t think so because he is a phone call away whenever I need him.
He’s not just medicating me and flying off to the Bahamas.
I can reach him anytime.

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought "Reba" was an acronym or nickname for some other medication or medical marijuana. I recently read that people are using the medical marijuana for withdrawals. So many experimental avenues out there that it can make a person's head swim, after a while.

Hi. I know it may sound like I'm questioning my doctors decision, but it's not that. Long story short I've been on 0.5 ativan for 1 year. During this year I've also taken 0.5 in the morning 2 times and tapered down 2 times also.Now I've started tapering the 0.5 i was taking in the evening (for 1 year), following my doctors tapering schedule. It consists of skipping 1 day 6 times(that means 1 day i take it, 1 day i don't for 6 times). Then i move to skipping it for 2 days x 6 times and so on.I'm wondering if it's not to fast? What should i expect? If anyone has been in a similar situation.Thank you all.

This sounds too fast and skipping every other day is not a good idea. If you’re not familiar with the Ashton Manual please google it and read it. It’s the best tapering method there is to date . The Manual tells step by step how to taper, although it will require you to switch over to Valium for the smoothest taper. This method has helped countless people. It’s tried and true.

Yes, this is too fast. I have been on Ativan for 7 years, just one at night 0.5 like you. I am now on another medication for an unrelated issue that makes me tired so I cut my Ativan in half at night. Now I am more nervous during the day. It is very, very hard to get off of and there are many ways to do it. A good doctor will work with you and not just cut you off on days. Check Google and they will give you several options if you don't like what your doctor is suggesting.

Years ago a friend ended up in the hospital to be withdrawn from Ativan. It was a small dose, but given by a doctor for anxiety. The doctors had to closely monitor his vital signs as they withdrew the drug cold turkey. He'd become very depressed, had bouts of amnesia, and became very combative. They said it was the drug, even though he stayed on the small dose. Maybe you should get an expert's decision. I thought it was used mainly during anesthesia procedures, not behavior health.

I've been on lorazepam for a year now. I had started a taper through Mayo over the summer, a very slow one, and I was down to 1/4 of a 1mg pill per day and I got really sick. My psych dr from Mayo retired. When I went to my local dr, whos response was "why are they tapering you off the lorazepam if that's what works for your anxiety?" assured me I would be better going back on it and "there are worse things I could be taking" Now I'm up to 4 mg daily and I WANT OFF. I started a 1/2 mg taper daily 3 weeks ago. I'm already having more anxiety but have been dealing with it through therapy stuff like deep breathing, self acceptance, etc. I plan to start my next 1/2 mg taper next week for another 3 weeks. Since I was SO SO SO close to being off it 5 months ago, and now I'm taking an outrageous amount I am really upset. I recently saw an ad for Montkush CBD oil and I want to try it but seeing not to use them together. At this rate it's going to take me 8 months so get off the lorazepam and that's IF my body accepts the taper!!!!! Does anyone have experience using CBD oil to help with the effects of the taper like making the taper issues non existent????? Someone please tell me yes, I want to be off this drug!!

I have lived my life with Ativan for many years…I got off them twice, the first time I used Paxil and I was through with them all in a couple of months and stayed off them for two years…sadly I relapsed and the good doctor put me back on them…as I said I quit twice for substantial periods of time..it was still in the earlier stages so I was younger and stronger to cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I do take responsibility for going back to them but the doctor should have tried other meds, I would have complied with his choice. I truly believe that if you haven’t taken them too long it’s sometimes easier to stop them…trying to make me stop them now in my seventies and poor health, is overwhelming…I also have heart problems and I’m afraid of the stress it puts on me. I wish that they didn’t paint everyone with the same brush, I have read so many stories about people who use their meds responsibly going through so much pressure because of the abusers that make it worse for the rest of us.