Ativan withdrawal

Posted by gmamrj @gmamrj, Dec 4, 2023

I am 81 years old. Have been taking Ativan for 5 years for PTSD after open heart surgery. Started off with 1mg a day and have reduced it to .5 mg per day for about 4 years now.
I am now feeling anxious, jittery and dealing with insomnia. Do not want to increase dosage. I want off Ativan My
PCP prescribed Lexapro (small dosage) to take along with Ativan to start withdrawal. That was the worse 2weeks of my life. Insomnia, climbing the wall. Quit the lexapro. Still on .5 mg of Ativan.
Feel terrible. Any help would be appreciated.

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frouke | @frouke | Dec 4, 2023

@gmamrj , hi how are you, I just read your comment and I truly appreciate where you are coming from…being dependent on meds is not always easy to live with, I’ve been talking Ativan for over twenty years and I use 1 mg per day, .5 in the morning and.5 at bedtime…I did get off them twice but somehow with the help of my doctor, I ended up back on them again. I think the worst part was that later when I got cancer it made things worse, my anxiety was off the charts and that’s when my started putting all this pressure on me to stop them, he would even reduce my dose without talking to me about it. I did try many antidepressants but I too got sick from them, between the cancer and the doctor I started to have a meltdown. I truly believe you will do just fine, you’re on a very low dose and you said it has been five years that you have taken them. I did get off Ativan with Paxil and it worked out for me but I had not been on Ativan very long. With help from your doctor you can perhaps find another antidepressant to help you do so and then eventually cut your dosage in half, a 1 mg Ativan can easily be divided into four pieces. I wish you good luck with your journey, you must be doing something right to be 81 years young, good for you 👍😊

gmamrj | @gmamrj | Dec 4, 2023

In reply to @frouke "@gmamrj , hi how are you, I just read your comment and I truly appreciate where..." + (show)

Thank you for your positive response

frouke | @frouke | Dec 4, 2023

You’re very welcome anytime

sears | @sears | Dec 5, 2023

So your Ativan has stopped working? You’ve hit tolerance?

gmamrj | @gmamrj | Dec 5, 2023

In reply to @sears "So your Ativan has stopped working? You’ve hit tolerance?" + (show)

That is what I thought. Don’t want to put my dosage. Just want to quit taking it !

gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jan 4 6:31pm

Can’t describe this feeling. I have seen ‘brain zings ‘ mentioned.

gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jul 11 6:08am

I have been taking .5mg of Ativan every night for over 5 years. I am wanting to get off of this drug. My doctor has prescribed a tapering schedule which should wean me off of the drug in about 8 weeks.
My question is what will the withdrawal symptoms be?
Anyone had this experience?
Have you used a supplement to ease symptoms??
Thank you

Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jul 11 12:03pm

In reply to @gmamrj "I have been taking .5mg of Ativan every night for over 5 years. I am wanting..." + (show)

Hello @gmamrj - I moved your discussion and combined it with your previous discussion on Ativan Withdrawal - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ativan-withdrawal/.

Here you met @frouke and @sears who may appreciate seeing your updated protocol and plan.

I'd also like to invite @cherawgirl and @riverpark who you met in another Ativan tolerance discussion.

gmamrj | @gmamrj | Jul 11 1:08pm

My pcp provided the following withdrawal plan
I have been on .5 mg for 5 years
Now start withdrawal
.25 mg for 2weeks
.125 mg for 2 weeks
.125 mg every other night for 2weeks
Then stop. !!
Here is hoping this works.
I really want off this drug.

mikaylar | @mikaylar | Jul 12 8:26am

I love this drug. I works, no side effects (that I know of) and have been taking it for years......I take .50 mg to sleep at night and for the last year have reduced to .25 mg some nights. My doctor actually upped it for pain. In later life we just want to be comfortable.