Ativan and long-term use

Used, similar, 1 mg. clonaz.... for almost ten years, for sleep, and never increased it and have no bad effects but I am concerned about the threat of dementia.....though not sure they are valid concerns. I think those who have issues are those who over-use any drug, including alcohol.
I was drug tested by my doctor before my last script, which was rather absurd, but the drug didn't even show up on the test, but cannabis did....ooops.

I’ve never used CBD. In your opinion what works better- the clonaz or cannabis? Thannks

@jhenson
I have taken it a short time for panic attacks.

I have read that you don’t want to take this long term. It can cause many side effects and dependence.

Have you had a sleep study? Have you tried different medications or reviewed other options with your doctor?

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326015
2. https://elderlyguides.com/ativan-side-effects-in-elderly/
3. https://drugabuse.com/benzodiazepines/ativan/effects-use/
4. https://psychcentral.com/drugs/ativan-side-effects

@jhenson, Hi, I too have been taking Ativan for over 20 years, I got off them twice in the earlier years but now I’m afraid it won’t be as easy. I was taking one milligram daily, half in the morning and half at night, I stayed on this dose for years but sometimes when the evil cancer makes another appearance, I may go up a little to cope with my anxiety. In recent months I cut my dose in half so now I take 0.5 at night but I used cannabis to help me with withdrawal, I used it on and off for years but I can only use gummies, no more inhaling. I’m not recommending cannabis use to do what I did, I know what I can use and how much and so far it’s helping but I hope it lasts, I am trying to prepare myself for the doctor’s retirement so I don’t know if the next doctor will allow me to keep my medication, it has been very helpful over the many years where other meds have failed to do so.

I have used another benzodiazepine, temazepam, for about 15 years and never went up on the dose. But I only took it 3 or 4 times max per week. In spite of that, when we moved to Texas, doctors decided I shouldn’t take it at all. It is not good when they take something away from you that works and hasn’t harmed you.

I’ve heard many times that benzodiazepines can cause dementia, I have also read that there’s no definitive evidence of this being true. I believe that they are just trying to manipulate the people with these headlines, truth be known, we use drugs every day and they all have side affects, some are very scary if you research them.

I am trying to get off lorazepam but its brutal. Is it worth just staying on it

It’s only you who can answer that question, is Ativan helping you with what you need it for, are you having any unpleasant side effects or is the medication not working well and you’re needing to increase your dose. If you don’t have any other problems with this medication then why fix what isn’t broken, if you’re being pressured by your doctor to get off them for no apparent reason then you should tell your doctor that you don’t want to stop taking them for the time being and then see what they say. I realize that some people are being pressured to do a short withdrawal and then stop them however this isn’t a good option because it usually leads to relapse, as you probably already know but the taper must be slow to be successful, my questions are how long you have been on Ativan and perhaps your age and general health because they all matter when thinking of stopping this medication.