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Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

Posted by healthlady22 @healthlady22, Feb 5, 2019

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!
.

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rickame | @rickame | Oct 31, 2023
In reply to @benzossuck "I am not a medical doctor but have done two Ativan tapers. I never thought I..." + (show)
Profile picture for benzossuck @benzossuck

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.

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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?

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benzossuck | @benzossuck | Oct 31, 2023
In reply to @rickame "Might be challenging to taper off a liquid that is 2mg in only 1ml. if one..." + (show)
Profile picture for rickame @rickame

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?

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Oh yes you can dilute with distilled water. My husband is a whiz at math so he is able to dilute and figure out my dose. I would think if your doctor can’t help, your pharmacist could help. We have a smaller bottle and an eye dropper that we use to dilute.

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rickame | @rickame | Oct 31, 2023
In reply to @grumpypants "Hello everyone. Long story short I've been on Ativan for 1 year, with 0.5 morning and..." + (show)
Profile picture for grumpypants @grumpypants

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.

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Thanks..hoping the doctor will work with her...not meeting until Dec.

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agakahn01 | @agakahn01 | Nov 3, 2023

I don't have any suggestions, just the same problem most of you have. I've taken .5 mg lorazepam per day for 10 years, usually at bedtime. I started after heart issues put me in the hospital and I had a defibrillator / pacemaker put in my chest to prevent recurrance. Lately, I've been having anxiety problems and for a short time a couple of weeks ago I doubled my dose to .5 mg twice per day only to find it's harder to go back to .5 mg per day now. My doctor recommended I start Fluoxetine (Prozac) for relief of anxiety but I fear getting on another med will just make things worse. Has anyone used Prozac or Paxil to wean off lorazepam? Any advice? Or will this just be another drug that will cause more problems. I've been reading this thread, very helpful advice from all and much appreciated.

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kawanhee | @kawanhee | Nov 4, 2023
In reply to @pkraft12 "I only take 2mg max at bedtime sometimes only 1. Any suggestions on how to taper..." + (show)
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I only take 2mg max at bedtime sometimes only 1. Any suggestions on how to taper that?

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Slow, slow taper worked for me. Have been off it since June.

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biggsy | @biggsy | Nov 5, 2023
In reply to @naturalblondeone "I was on 2 mg three times a day for a very long time. I have..." + (show)
Profile picture for naturalblondeone @naturalblondeone

I was on 2 mg three times a day for a very long time. I have managed to taper back to one pill at night. I had to do this very slowly starting in quarter increments. I have been doing fine on that. I would eventually like to taper completely off that off too but since I also have long Covid right now, I will wait until I am better. Honestly, my body is just chemically dependent on it right now and doesn’t help with my anxiety anymore. I’m also on two other depression medication‘s that help with my anxiety.

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What are the 2 meds that help your anxiety?

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lgumerman | @lgumerman | Nov 5, 2023
In reply to @biggsy "What are the 2 meds that help your anxiety?" + (show)
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What are the 2 meds that help your anxiety?

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Seroquel.

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notdeadyet | @notdeadyet | Nov 5, 2023

I would be careful with SSRI and SNRI meds. Prozac caused a gigantic surge in cholesterol for me, which is apparently a pretty common side effect for SSRI meds. SNRI meds almost killed me.

Ativan helps me a great deal. I've only had it when admitted to the hospital, and every time it has worked to calm my anxiety AND my pain. I have multiple cancers and Anxiety that is worse than the pain, because it is making it impossible to function. Mindfulness isn't helping. Yoga, nothing. I can sometimes "keep busy" and ward off the surge of terror caused by anxiety, but only for so long. And sometimes, I can't do a thing because it feels like I am having a heart attack.

I guess I'm just not brave enough to face having multiple cancers. I applaud those that are that brave, and I wish I could find my courage somewhere, but right now, it has deserted me, and I need medication or my life will end sooner.

There is supposed to be help in the form of Palliative Care in California, where I live. That would include medicine for both pain AND anxiety. But actually GETTING that care? Good luck with that. All I have gotten is the death stare and/or the "opioids are bad" shuffle. Seriously, when a patient has multiple cancers, two of which are incurable and only "manageable" if I have a good doctor (I don't) and a whole bunch of luck (VERY unlucky year for me), at what point will the Medical Mafia acknowledge that sick people like us still have stuff to do, like get our affairs in order, and we CAN'T DO THAT WHEN WE ARE SCREAMING IN PAIN AND SORROW.

Sorry for the rant. I'm literally sick to death of being sick, and can't get past the horror of having to have my genitals removed to try and slow down cancer "down there." I just can't get there. I'm also poor, and am finding out - the hard way - that poor patients are just plain screwed. I guess our lives really do NOT matter.

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kathy5645 | @kathy5645 | Nov 6, 2023
In reply to @rickame "Can you or someone share experience or suggest tapering from .5m Ativan. A family member has..." + (show)
Profile picture for rickame @rickame

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.

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The Benzo coalition
They have the latest and best info including supplements you shouldn’t take and taper schedules. No more than 10% a month taper. Board members include a cardiologist who was damaged by Benzos. Very reliable info.

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pitilina | @pitilina | Nov 12, 2023
In reply to @pamee "Hi my name is pamee. I need help as I have a rare disorder from Ativan...." + (show)
Profile picture for pamee @pamee

Hi my name is pamee. I need help as I have a rare disorder from Ativan. It's horrific excruciating pain 24/7 with minimal sleep so I'm also sleep deprived. The pain is killing me at times I want to die. I take 2 mg 4x a day fir 13-14 yrs and recently been having blackouts. I'm scared. Can anyone please give me suggestions whether I taper one dose at a time or should I taper all 4 doses in a day at about 1/4 of the pill. Thank you for any help you can give. Kind regards, pamee

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Hi guys. I ve been taking Lorazepam for 5 years 1 mg before bed. I want to taper off. Do you think going to 0.5 mg is good?
thanks

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