Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

My family doctor said Buspirone I think it was

I think that is one some try, but it could take up to 3 weeks to work, if at all.

Here is a podcast from Dr. Christy Huff, someone who had to taper a benzo and used propranolol, which is similar to buspirone, but causes low blood pressure not high.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wJ3XVk7oKOcXhH3e7neqx?si=PfWbUN2nSHOgP7q1CxoSBw

Since lorazepam (Ativan) connects to GABA receptors I found the only way to get off of it has been using another GABA receptor medication
So I have been taking 10mg Zolpidem (Ambien) so I could sleep along with tapering my 1mg Loraz 4x day to 3x, 2x, then .5x
Now want to give it up completely
Without tapering or using Ambien I wound up in the ER thinking I was dying. Was one of the worst experiences of my life. And wish it has never been prescribed me. Will be really glad when I do get completely off of it

The only med I’ve heard may be at all helpful is propranolol, but it isn’t for everyone (Blood pressure issues). The point is, any drug will probably need to be tapered as well. If you are adding more chemicals to an already dis-regulated CNS, how are you giving your body a chance to heal naturally. So many receptors need to repair themselves. An anti-depressant is just going to tamper down more “normal” chemicals. It’s better for the body and mind in the long run to find ways to heal by CBT, clean diet, exercise, etc.

Try another drug to augment the withdrawal symptoms if you believe it will help, but what research there is, and a plethora of anecdotal evidence shows otherwise. Almost all doctors will suggest more meds. They are flying blind. Ask them to explain exactly why and how and how to get off in the end. They will give you the standard answers: they’re safe. It’s your body. I think you deserve proof.

I’m not anti drugs or medicine. I just don’t believe they are the best choice for anxiety, depression, pain or insomnia . ESPECIALLY not benzodiazepines.

Best!

Hi Ashley, so when you began your taper you were taking 1mg, 4 times a day? How did you do your taper?
I ask because unfortunately I'm on the same high dose.
I have scars on my lungs due to pneumonia. So my doctors said anti depressants could make them worse. I'm borderline agoraphobic and I can get through panic attacks but the problem is general anxiety disorder which is (for me) high anxiety all day long since I was 22. I'm now 58. Oh to have 1 day anxiety free!
So that's why my doctor put me on this dose or I'd never see further than my backyard. But its affecting my brain and I want off. I dont want to tell him this yet because the last time I said this he said start by cutting your daily dose in half! I went on some of those benzodiazepines buddy's sites and had the wits scared out of me. Wont go back!

Last November I did a cold turkey of .05 Ativan after about 7 months. I knew better but did it anyway. I had successfully tapered 4 years ago and had no problems or real sleep issues during that taper. Well this time the cold turkey really did a number on me. During the cold turkey I did not sleep for more than 0-2 hrs for three weeks. I finally went to my NP and she told me to tough it out. I finally talked her into prescribing the liquid Ativan so I could taper correctly. She raised my dose to get me "stable" from the anxiety I was having and told me to take as much Ativan as I needed. Thank goodness I did not listen to her. I finally found a doctor two hours away that had a clue. I started the taper again in February. This doctor put me on Mirtazapine as well to help with sleep. 7.5. I had some unpleasant side effects but it was definitely helping me sleep. If you would share how much Ativan you were on and how long you took to taper and the schedule if you don't mind. I am also tapering the Mirtazapine by using a compounded liquid to try to get to the lowest dose that will still allow me to sleep to try and minimize the side effects from it. I am now at 2.25 of Mirtazapine and still able to sleep on that. The 7.5 was too sedating for me along with the other side effects I had from it. I know you said you are doing well after the Ativan taper and wondering if you had anxiety during the taper and wondering if you plan on continuing the Mirtazapine for sleep? I am not sure my taper schedule is the best for me so would like to see what worked for others. Thank you for sharing

Hi Yvonne
I too was diagnosed with GAD and started out on 2mg Loraz 4x day about 16 years ago.
It helped me but think I felt high all the time.
My next doc cut it down to 1mg 4x day, which I am back on again.
However I have been tapering myself down to 1 every 8 hours instead of every 6 hours and am doing fine. I have at times tapered to 1 every 12 hours and that works as long as I can take zolpidem for sleep (it also connects to GABA receptors in our brains.
Right now though I am going through some scary new symptoms after having gone through endometrial cancer and have supposedly been cancer free for over 6 years. So my anxiety is up and I need to sleep so I am taking it one day at a time.
But I do know you can safely taper yourself and see how you feel. Just don’t go cold Turkey because I did once and wound up with no pills and in the ER where they lectured me on drug addiction when I hadn’t slept at all for 3 days.
Think the md who first got me on it ought to have told me about the addiction that goes along with lorazepam and other benzodiazepines
Wishing you the best. Take care of You < 3

No problems at all Yvonne when going from 2mg to 1 and felt s lot better on the lower dose.
However my present doc suggested going from 1mg to .5 and that freaked me out!! I tried doing it before and like one of my other docs said “that’s like licking the pill” LOL 😂