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How did you successfully taper off of 0.5 lorazepam (Ativan)?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Aug 11 4:46pm | Replies (113)Comment receiving replies
@2cents thank you for sharing the story about your acquaintance. I've read similar stories of people needing rehab, but I recall them being on much higher dosages. I feel lucky to have a primary care who knows me so well, and refused to go beyond 0.5mg despite asking him in the past. In addition to the lorazepam, I take 40mg of Prozac, which I've been on for almost 20 years. Was your acquaintance on 0.5mg for many years like me? I'm at a point in my life where I need to find a good psychiatrist who has experience with taking these medications long term. I won't make the mistake of overtaking the lorazepam, or changing course without proper guidance. It was hell for the 6 days I was off it.
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I think he was on a higher dose, and had been for several years. It must have been hard to function as the director of a large nursing home facility. He was a different person, even looked very different, after withdrawing from he medications. I was told that the use of Ativan can bring on increasing anxiety and depression, and that it should only be used for anesthesia. People I knew took it were prescribed by a local mental health clinic. They were not told it was addictive, even at very small doses. The Rehab facility was aware that they were being referred more and more patients from this mental health clinic. I'm not sure if they were required to report it to the medical society. I'm sure your primary care doctor is aware of the most recent findings, and keeps up with your visits.
It's really sad so many people's lives were hurt by this drug. Maybe it was a money maker for some mental health clinics. People got addicted fairly early, and kept coming back because they'd notice withdrawal symptoms they couldn't tolerate.