I'm 73 and have been taking as much as 2 mg / clonazepam for about 40 years. I did stop taking any at all when I lost my job and insurance for over a year 30 or so yrs ago and felt somewhat "withdrawn," taking on a high profile job with a mid-size company. I only took the job because my wife was in grad school and needed the insurance for her. I would have had the VA to fall back on, working or not, but never really used them except for treatment relating to injuries sustained in Vietnam. Just before quitting the job, went back on Benzos--1-2 mg/day of clonazepam again, but the doctor added Ambien as well because I'd developed insomnia during the course of the four years of working for the high tech company as an upper level manager. I felt so relaxed and at ease in what had become extremely pressure-packed situations that I was more than Okay with taking all of that crap. I continued taking all of this medication and even was prescribed higher dosages when we moved abroad--never expecting to return to the U.S. In 2018 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's and we returned to the states only to find out that it was non-idiopathic nerve problems and the VA denied me Parkinson's Disease disability due to traumatic brain injury and the long-erm effects of "medication." I did however lose most of my Social Security upon return to the U.S. because I hadn't been paying into Medicare Part B--useless outside the U.S. We were running out of money while looking for work and a place to live when my wife got a job that gave me regular health insurance. Sure enough, the psychiatrist I was seeing for my Bipolar mood disorder prescribed me Benzos once again; this time 2 mg of Xanax which had me buzzing with relaxing high. It even relaxed me to the point where, even though I was experience moderate tremors, I was able to continue surfing, playing tennis, and even teaching martial arts, at least for the next couple of years when my nervous system condition worsened and began losing balance, falling down, had severe insomnia, rigid muscles and joints, and several other symptoms of what many Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism sufferers experience; but the VA shut the door on my claim for Parkinsonism--finally approved conditions for disability for the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune, as well as for Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. I'm currently unable to work--severe tremors, speech problems, and some cognitive decline. The VA acknowledged all this, but continued to reject my claim for compensation, so I found a doctor who prescribed 1 mg of alprazolam/day (the VA will not prescribe Benzos, linking them to the opioid epidemic, so I took the "medication" once again because it lessened the effects of whatever nervous system disorder I was suffering from. Looking back, I wish I'd never taken any of this stuff in the first place, but at my age, I figured I may as well use them, but only as needed--which is most days now allowing me to live a more "normal" life. My psychotherapist told me that since I was only taking 0.5 mg alprazolam, she said that at my age and with my condition, she sees taking the Benzos as beneficial for me. Most doctors these days do not share her opinion and refuse to prescribe Benzos; probably a good idea for people who would be coming on board for the first time, but for long-term users such as myself (and Benzos should never have been prescribed long term--I firmly believe that, now). I'm stuck running around looking for a doctor who will prescribe 0.25-0.5 mg or alprazolam (we recently relocated) and it appears I'm going to have to stop taking them anymore. Now, except for how much suffering I would cause my wife, I feel as if I have only a worsening condition to look forward to, so I pretend to be content with what I (we) have (are), and often wish I could simply end it all. After all my years of big-wave surfing, which included an early near-death experience when I was still a teenager just before getting drafted, I have absolutely no fear at all of death, if in fact that state does exist. I don't believe in religion, so if we return to universal dust or get reincarnated or go to hell or whatever; I'm simply not concerned. But what's the harm in taking the tiny dosage of Benzos at this point in my life if it at least will allow me to be a loving partner for my wife; at least until my brain turns into oatmeal, at which point my wife and I have agreed to doctor-assisted suicide should either one of us reach that state. The U.S. government knew that many of the troops in Vietnam were using opium/heroin but let it slide. Now, it's holding a hard line on Benzos. I'm actually looking forward to leaving this loony bin of a planet. Some states, however, are experimenting with giving patients such as myself hallucinogens tor treatment. At least some people are attempting to make some much-needed improvements.

I am in the process of withdrawing from Ativan. My PCP provided me a slow tapering schedule that I have been following following now for 11 days
Previously I was taking .5mg once a day.
Tapering off by reducing by .25 every 2weeks.
My main withdrawal symptom is not sleeping. I tried melatonin which was a BIG mistake. Horrible. ..couldn’t sleep period.
Now curious if a small glass of wine before bed would help. I need my sleep.
Any other suggestions?

@frog43, my dear man, I am shaking so bad after reading the tragedy you are going through, I don’t even know what to say yet I find myself reaching out to you. I must admit that I was having a very bad day filled with anxiety and racking my brain for ways to stop the madness that has become my life, I do believe that God works in strange ways at times, you most definitely need help with what has happened to you, the inhuman treatment you’re going through is absolutely wrong. I truly hope that someone hear will read this and help you with your problems or finding a course of action to get you through this. I live north of the border where things are not as bad as in the US but it’s definitely started making a presence, I also am a victim of benzodiazepines and a family doctor for 24 years who treated me callously taking little to no responsibility for giving them to me. There’s a lot of conversations going on here with people like us who share their lives and thoughts with each other and it’s giving me some well needed information and a whole bunch of comfort in numbers. I’m wishing I could do more for you in your time of need but I feel confident that it’s going to come your way, you are 81 years young and know a lot about life and people, being your age is a great achievement and I hope you will have many more good years ahead, stay strong and make some noise so no one gets to overlook your needs,

Good advice. Thank you

I have a long history of anxiety and depression. My original diagnosis was acute and chronic anxiety with hyperventilation. Over the years not much has changed. I started out on Librium, then Valium, and now Lorazepam. It started way back in school in the fifties and sixties. I was in bad shape then and also had to be hospitalized for a nervous breakdown. In the seventies I was in Germany where I was started on lorazepam 2.5mg x 3 times a day. That was way too much so I went back to Valium. When I returned home after living in Germany for ten years I was put back on lorazepam 1mg x 3 a day. I am comfortable with that but now my most doctor wants to wean me off of this and I'm a bit apprehensive as I feel like I will be returning to the dark ages. I also had a severe reaction to an antidepressant that led me to a full course of ECTs. I am now 77and do not feel like going back to my earlier life.
Sorry this is so long but this is just the highlights, or maybe the lowlights? Thank You.

I’m 76 and off lexapro for 1 year. I use propranolol 40 mg a day and sometimes take 2 a day to relax my anxiety and stress. It works!

I’m wondering so many months after your post if you found help weaning off your Ativan? I have taken alprazolam .5 mg daily for several years and really want off the stuff. I’m pretty sure it’s now causing increased anxiety and depression. I’m 72 years old and had a litany of meds I was blaming for this issue, but never the alprazolam. Well, with the doctor’s help, I’ve stopped statins and beta blockers. Now, nothing left to stop but 50 mg of Losartan which doctor said stopping is out of the question. A have an ascending aortic aneurysm that needs protecting. Wondering if you ( or anyone else) can help with weaning off this drug?

I did wean off. 7/11/24 thru 8/26/24
Original dose .5mg a night
2 weeks. .375 mg
2 weeks .25 mg
1 week .125mg then stopped.
It has been hell. Started back .25
Saw sleep doctor today. She said to stop Ativan tonight and start .2mg of Lunesta. Having a sleep study done in a couple of weeks.
The thought of taking Lunesta and reading some of the side affects has my anxiety soaring.

Just walked 2.5 miles. Working off anxiety
Praying tonight I’ll sleep well
My sleep Dr also recommended that I use CBT-I.
You can find self help books on Amazon. Also maybe you can find a psychologist that does this. I’ve heard a lot of great results from this.

I recently had an MRI with anesthesia. The doctor advised me to stop taking my .5 Ativan at bedtime because it delays the anesthesia withdrawal. He said the dose was so small that stopping it would be a no-brainer. Doctors tell me thing slick this without realizing how sensitive I am to meds. I did stop and then started taking .25 at bedtime The thing is- since I did this I cannot sleep. Like hardly at all. Can stopping it this way cause a rebound type of insomnia. I certainly hope so cause I am a mess. Please share any insights or experiences.