Looking for help to taper off Ativan (lorazepam)

I am at the end of a taper of Klonopin - not sure how it compares to Ativan. My psychiatrist had me decreasing every 6-8 months - that is slow, but the actual reduction was more than the recommended 10%. 1mg - .75 for 6 weeks went well; to .5mg for a month went well, Then to .375mg for a month, then .25mg (this is where it got tough and I had horrible insomnia and anxious feelings). I went a full 6 weeks and then to .125mg. Here is where it felt like I was taking nothing. Still bad insomnia and anxious/jittery/irritable. The total process has been 9 months now. I have no refills left and my doctor discharged me because I was going to be 65. I still have a little stash of .25 and .125 and I will take occasionally at bedtime. I never knew this would be so difficult and I wonder sometimes if I will ever have a great night's sleep again. 1mg at bedtime gave me the assurance I would sleep at least 8 hours, maybe 9. For over a decade and now I can't have it. But I know it will be best in the long run, or so they tell me.

I am at the end of a taper of Klonopin - not sure how it compares to Ativan. My psychiatrist had me decreasing every 6-8 months - that is slow, but the actual reduction was more than the recommended 10%. 1mg - .75 for 6 weeks went well; to .5mg for a month went well, Then to .375mg for a month, then .25mg (this is where it got tough and I had horrible insomnia and anxious feelings). I went a full 6 weeks and then to .125mg. Here is where it felt like I was taking nothing. Still bad insomnia and anxious/jittery/irritable. The total process has been 9 months now. I have no refills left and my doctor discharged me because I was going to be 65. I still have a little stash of .25 and .125 and I will take occasionally at bedtime. I never knew this would be so difficult and I wonder sometimes if I will ever have a great night's sleep again. 1mg at bedtime gave me the assurance I would sleep at least 8 hours, maybe 9. For over a decade and now I can't have it. But I know it will be best in the long run, or so they tell me.

You may be in trouble when your stash runs out. Be careful here.

Hello everyone.

Long story short I've been on Ativan for 1 year, with 0.5 morning and evening. I tapered the morning dose 2 times in the past year. It's been a week since i finished my 2nd taper for the morning dose. I've noticed an increase in anxiety in the past week so obviously I'm scared of stating the evening taper.

I'm doing all of this under the direction of my doctor. And she does a taper that is once 1 day off several times, then every 2,3,4 days over the course of 2 months or so.

To be honest idk why i made this post. Maybe just wanted to put my fear of withdrawals, seizures somewhere.

Thanks for the positive encouragement. Can you please re-share that taper schedule here, and given that the lowest available dose of Ativan/Lorazepam is .5mg, how did you get it into very very small doses? Thanks.

Can you or someone share experience or suggest tapering from .5m Ativan. A family member has been on for about a year, starting with 1m and just .5 for past few months and wants to suggest a schedule to Dr, perhaps 25% less every week or two (.5 to .375 to .25 to .125). Would that be reasonable, or would you suggest the staggered and longer taper schedule shared by Kawanhee above? So much info out there is for tapering from much higher doses. Looking for some guidance and experience. Family member also takes melatonin, sometimes valerian spray, and ramelteon for sleep. She used to just take melatonin, and I believe other stressors contributed to insomnia so they started to take (too) many meds/supplements. Any advise on stoping or weaning from the others first or ok to taper Ativan. They'd like to just get back to the melatonin and some camomile/lavender tea;) Thanks for sharing.

Staggering does is not a good way to go although a lot of doctors tell you to do that. Your taper needs to be consistent and never more than 10 percent per month. It takes a while but believe me it is the safe way to go. My doctor gives me a script for Ativan liquid and I taper 5 percent every two weeks. I have tapered for 9 months with 5 more months to go. At this rate my body is not really too bothered with the decrease. Good luck.

So you can get a liquid? And if only tapering from .5mg and been on for a year, seems 10% per month may be ok. Some have suggested up to 25%. Thoughts?

I am not a medical doctor but have done two Ativan tapers. I never thought I would let myself get back on this awful drug. This time when I decided to go off i went cold turkey even though I knew better. I lived through hell for 3 weeks until I reinstated and started a slow taper. Yes it is called Ativan suspension. Not t sure why doctors do not prescribe this for tapers. Some insurance companies won’t pay for it. It is about $60 but lasts a long time. Maybe u r seeing a doctor that is not experienced with tapers? My fist taper I saw a Naturalpatic (sp?) doctor that prescribed the liquid. This time around I am seeing a psychiatrist that specializes in all kinds of drug withdrawals. They are few and far between. I have to either do a zoom visit or drive two hours to see her. I googled “ drs that specialize in withdrawal. I think it was the Benzo Coalition. She uses the Ashton method which never recommends more than 10 percent reduction per month. It is a long process but it worth it if you can avoid going through nightmarish withdrawal symptoms.

Might be challenging to taper off a liquid that is 2mg in only 1ml. if one wants to go down to .1m or so before stopping. Wonder if you can dilute the liquid where there is like .5 rather than 2mg per ml. Thoughts?