Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

I know somebody who went to an inpatient rehab center to withdraw from years of Ativan, and other substance use. While withdrawing he started having seizures, and needed more medical care as a result. This was 25 years ago so I don't know if the withdrawal procedure has changed. I guess I'd research it thoroughly.

@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.

Hi! There is another discussion called “how did you successfully taper off of lorazepam (Ativan)”
I was on .5 and I came up with a very slow taper because my pcp was too fast and Ashton manual too complicated. I was successful after weaning for 6 months and have been free since June 1!
Please look for it! Good luck!!

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.

Hi @kawanhee! Congratulations on successfully weaning yourself off this drug. Your story gives me some much needed hope. I will look up the other discussion thread now. Thanks so much for replying. Can I ask: did your doctor prescribe you anything else (like valium) to help with the weaning process? All the best with your continued abstinence, and taming the mental tiger of anxiety.

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?