Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

I have been on 0.5 mg of lorazepam since 30 May 2023 ~ only dose I take now and at night to sleep ~ (took this med since 1992)
~ Got off the .25 at noon because it was not making feel good ~ and decided if it doesn't make me feel good then I am not going to take it ~ but I should qualify that with ~ 'it took months of noon time and night time dose to get to that point ~ Now ~ I am considering tapering off the night time dose but not yet ~ need to take it slow ~ very slow. So will live with only the 0.5 at night.
I am too sensitive to medication so am not taking anything else ~ Might try melatonin to help me sleep better ~ will see. ~ Day at a time ~ thanks,

I meditate, do yoga, some EFT ~ Emotional Freedom Technique (an energy therapy) and a balance exercise ~ walk daily weather permitting, of course. All of which helps me.

@cmck I also use meditation, yoga (am a certified instructor), walking, and other forms of exercise to keep my anxiety in check. We have to use every tool at our disposal to function with bad anxiety. In the past, when I've been what I consider to be my best, I wasn't taking any lorazepam, and was doing yoga several times per week. There's hope to get back there. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Hi @geoffbean24! My pcp suggested Valium but I didn’t want to have to wean off of that, too. I started taking 7.5 mg mirtazapine because I began relying on lorazepam for sleep. I am still taking that because it’s not a benzo.
Happy to answer any more questions. You can definitely do it! Please let me know if you can’t find my post.

Somebody please tell me I will be okay when get done weaning off Ativan. I am at .3 MG going down to .25 in a few days.

@greenville we’re here for you, and you’re going to get through this. Getting down to 0.25mg is a huge accomplishment. Continue to follow the advice of your doctor, and you’ll be fine. What are you most worried about at this point?

I quit Xanax cold turkey. Not a good idea.
Hope you picked up your rx and are doing okay.

I am down from 3 mg a day to nothing or up to 1mg a day, as needed,

It has been difficult but I found that Lorazepam was adding to my depression.

I stopped drinking a lot of coffee ( from 6 cups to 3 a day) stopped eating sugar, wherever possible. And I exercise 2 hours a day six days a week.

All of my bipolar symptoms have improved markedly. I still take a lot of other meds, but at least I can function,

I started this after reading a book Brain Energy by Dr. Palmer (Harvard an Mclane). It has changed my life.

Good luck on your journey🌅

I've just read too many horror stories about people that have tried to get off and their lives are a wreck and it is scaring me.

I totally understand where you’re coming from, and was in the same position myself less than a week ago. The fear is being fueled by your anxiety. Ironically, we come to an online community for support, read these horrific accounts, and our minds convince us “that’s going to be you.” Remember, it’s just the anxiety. There’s always going to be someone out there who’s had a worse experience. Think of how far you’ve come, and what you’ve accomplished. You’re on the path to recovery, and that takes time. Wishing you the best, and some moments of peace today. Remember, it’s just anxiety.

Thank you so much for the positive thoughts. I remember when I first started this journey a nurse friend told me remember the brain tells you strange things. I started at 1mg a day back in 1995 and now I was on .5mg for two years and now at .3mg for a few weeks. I want to go down to .25 soon but we are getting ready to move and I'm afraid of to much anxiety.