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Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?
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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I would like your weaning schedule if you don't mind. Did you have any abdominal pain? I realize everyone is different. Congratulations for tapering successfully.
I took lorazapam for sleep for several years. The doctor told me to stop taking it and I did, no problems at all. I take Trazadone to sleep and a CBD gummy. I take gabapentin for the peripheral neuropathy I have in my feet caused from breast cancer chemo. I think it acts as a happy pill for me. My mind is sharp. My kids turn to me to sleuth out information they want.. I love the internet for that reason. I'm 81.
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1 ReactionIf you look at my response above, you’ll see what I did after the doses you’re on now.
After the half pill, then quarter pill ever other day, you’d do quarter,(.125) quarter, half, quarter, quarter, half etc for about two to three weeks. Then a quarter pill every day for two to three weeks. Then quarter, no pill, quarter, no pill for two to three weeks.
Then quarter, no pill, no pill….
Again two to three weeks.
Then done!
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1 ReactionThank you! I'm just hoping and praying....I've been on Ativan for 28 years but never more than 1mg a day. Well if I'm being honest I did take one in the middle of the day a few times. I have been on .5 for a couple years. Your weaning schedule looks great but I think I'll take more time. Thank you so much.
28 years is much longer than I was on it! Taking more time is a good idea! Best luck to you!!
That sounds like a smart, conservative way to wean.
I have found Trazodone very effective for sleep. I take .5
I tried Trazadone but it affected my liver enzymes. I have several friends who are on 100 mg and it helps
I would be interested in your weaning schedule My doctor also put me on mirtazapine but I had some side effects from that so I got it made it a liquid form and also tapering to a lower dose of this.. I would love to have more information on your taper, what dosage you started at and how long it took. Thanks so much
My oncologist seems to have no trouble prescribing it.