Connect
Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?
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!
.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
Click on the schedule to enlarge
I thought the question was anout lorazapam taper?
They are both benzodiazepines and so is Xanax so it doesn’t really matter witch one . They are identical benzodiazepines.
Different doses taken perhaps but they are all benzodiazepines. I think Valium might also be a benzodiazepines I’m not sure because I was never on it and if you follow this issue you should find Valium withdrawal complaints.
I don’t understand why you made the point that Atavan was the sole subject of this discussion. Are you having benzodiazepine withdrawals? I was inpatient for two months and they lost my list of my current medications.
So the hospital used a three year old list from a previous hospital visit. I was not taking klonopin three years ago so they wouldn’t give it to me for the two months I was there.
So it was an instant stop.
When my withdrawal symptoms began driving me crazy I asked for a klonopin but they refused. “We’ll give you atavan instead.” I figured it was better than nothing but I soon learned that I was on a 1 mg dose every 24 hours. What? Unacceptable. It wasn’t enough to ease not taking klonopin. I took a fit and told the nurse to contact the doctor. After waiting 2 nightmarish hours I was approved for 1 1mg every 12 hours. Not good enough but it did help take the edge off slightly. As soon as I was discharged to my home I took a 1 mg of klonopin and within 1/2 hour I was relieved of the withdrawal symptoms so they didn’t give Atavan to take home and that’s why it was easy to completely quit the Atavan because I had no choice.
I’m fine now but I can’t get off the klonopin so I went from 1 benzo to another benzo.
Xanax is a much tougher medication to get off of then valium and some others. Of course one has to take doesage into account. I won’t take that medication because getting off them is simply too difficult. Valium will do just fine with less suffering.
I was on 1mg Ativan (lorazepam) for years dealing with anxiety.
Decided to change with retirements of myself and my psychiatrist.
10 mg of Melatonin at night seemed to help with withdrawal plans
from this low dosage of Ativan. I had not developed tolerance over
the years. My primary MD and I planned a transition to Lexapro (escitalopram) a different class SSRI drug cutting down the benzo to .5 mg then .25 over weeks and adding 5mg then 10 mg. generic Lexapro.Minimal side effects and no anxiety attacks. After 3 year I am trying to reduce escitalopram to 5mg.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI tried Xanax years ago but I no longer take it because my psychiatrist wanted me off benzodiazepines a long time ago and I don’t remember any withdrawal symptoms. But I was put on SSRI’s and I guess that helped. I am on seroquel for sleep 150 mg at bedtime. It works good.
But I’ve been put on 1 mg of klonopin at 4:00 pm.
150 mg of Wellbutrin in the morning with a 0.5 tab of klonopin. I’m feeling ok but I fall asleep during the day but I’m seeing my psychiatrist next week and I plan on asking him for advice.
I completed a GeneSight Genetic Analysis and it will be at my psychiatrist before I get there so we’ll see what happens.
I think that discussions about any benzodiazepine taper are helpful as they are similar drugs. I hope so anyway.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHas anyone weaned off lorazepam and if so how did you do it?
I’m currently trying to wean off of lorazepam 1.0 mg, last night was my first attempt at halving one tab and tonight I’ll take the full dose and so on. I might add it was a difficult night of sleep for me so good luck!
I have read we need to wean off slowly.
I will post after I learn more, seeing a physicians assistant next week.
I was all over the map taking this med, trying to wean too quickly then needing to go back.
Like a seesaw, not sleeping much. The last straw was the other night, no sleep at all. I knew I had to seek professional help. It’s not all I deal with. I have a lot of health issues, almost died a couple years ago, in icu 16 days. That’s what messed my sleep, repeated awakenings in icu for all kinds of tests, blood work, etc, awakened all through the night each night. Day was fine but awakened while trying to sleep was what got me where I am now.