1. < Depression & Anxiety

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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cking56 | @cking56 | Jun 27, 2023
In reply to @mikaylar "My family doctor said Buspirone I think it was" + (show)
@mikaylar

My family doctor said Buspirone I think it was

Jump to this post

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
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1 reply
mikaylar | @mikaylar | Jun 27, 2023
In reply to @cking56 "I think that is one some try, but it could take up to 3 weeks to..." + (show)
@cking56

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

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Thank you

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yvonne55 | @yvonne55 | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @azashley "Since lorazepam (Ativan) connects to GABA receptors I found the only way to get off of..." + (show)
@azashley

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

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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!

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1 reply
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @cking56 "The only med I’ve heard may be at all helpful is propranolol, but it isn’t for..." + (show)
@cking56

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!

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What you say makes a lot of sense. We have trust in our doctors and take what they prescribe. Benzos should be short term if prescribed at all. They truly wreak havoc on your system even if a low dose. So glad I’m off

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azashley | @azashley | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @yvonne55 "Hi Ashley, so when you began your taper you were taking 1mg, 4 times a day?..." + (show)
@yvonne55

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!

Jump to this post

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

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1 reply
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @benzossuck "Last November I did a cold turkey of .05 Ativan after about 7 months. I knew..." + (show)
@benzossuck

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

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Hi, I’m planning to stay onthe 7.5 mg mirtazapine at least through October. Have a lot going on till then. Then I’ll try to taper that as you’re doing. How are you getting it in liquid form? I just saw my doctor today and he’s thrilled that I’m off the Ativan. No major issues with my taper.
I started at .5 for over two years. Then did .5, .5, .25…for two to three weeks. Then .5, .25, .5, .25… two to three weeks.
Then .25, .25, .5…
Then .25 every day
Then .25, .25, .125 (I cut pill in quarters)
.25, .125, .25, .125
.125, .125, .25…
.125 every day
.125, .125, 0…
.125, 0, .125, 0…
.125, 0, 0….
Then done!!!
I hope that helps

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1 reply
yvonne55 | @yvonne55 | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @azashley "Hi Yvonne I too was diagnosed with GAD and started out on 2mg Loraz 4x day..." + (show)
@azashley

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

Jump to this post

Hi again Ashley,
When your doctor cut you back from 2mg lorazepam 4x a day, to 1 mg 4x a day did you have any withdrawal symptoms? After all you were losing 4 mg a day.
Wishing you the best too! 🙏

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azashley | @azashley | Jun 28, 2023

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 😂

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1 reply
greenville | @greenville | Jul 2, 2023

Is it possible to feel better as you taper off Ativan? I have felt better but I'm nervous going from .5 one day and .3 the next to .3 every day at bedtime.

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1 reply
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jul 3, 2023
In reply to @azashley "No problems at all Yvonne when going from 2mg to 1 and felt s lot better..." + (show)
@azashley

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 😂

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My initial prescription was .5. So maybe for you it would be like “licking the pill” but it did work for me at the time. I never had to go higher.
But even with that low dose, I had to wean. My doctor and I joked about licking the dust when I cut the .5 into quarters! But…it worked for me to get off it.

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