Looking for help to taper off Ativan (lorazepam)

I cant tell you how much I despise arrogant doctors! This doctor did not know me, did not know how sensitive I am to meds and gave me bad advice. This is not the first time this has happened and my job is to remember to listen to my body first,

Reply to hopenr, I know exactly what you mean about arrogant doctors. My primary doctor wanted me off of Ativan for the past two years, and now it has finally happened. Now I am back to where I was so many years ago. We had a problem finding a psychiatrist in my area who would manage the Ativan. One way finally found just prior to Christmas. He started tapering me off Ativan which was ok as long as I could take at least 1mg A day, but now I am completely off and my old problem with dysphagia is back. It doesn't seem to matter what the reason was I was taking the drug, the main thing was the doctors wanted me off of it period.
I hope my primary doctor is happy now that I am having trouble swallowing again. I don't know where to go, or what to now. Maybe I'll just start looking for street drugs, or just stop eating altogether? The final solution comes to mind, but I really don't want to go that route. I am seventy eight and probably don't have that much time left anyway, so I don't feel I need to get off this drug that I am taking so little it anyway. I didn't mean to burden you with my problem, but I felt I needed to tell someone. Thank you for reading this.
Dave S

I am so sorry you are going through this. I hope that there is a solution that makes life better and I hope you hang around to find it. The most Ativan I have ever taken is .5 and thats in 24 hours. I am happy to be back on it and have yet to experience cognitive impairment.
Again, I wish for you to feel safe, happy, healthy and at ease.
Hope

@sudsy, I just wanted to say that your doctor is a monster for putting you through this suffering, totally unacceptable for a medical professional, you mentioned 78 years of age and a benzodiazepine withdrawal just isn’t right. I’m 74 and I take Ativan daily, I was using 1 mg. a day but I reduced it to 0.5, I used gummies with cannabis, especially thc which is the active ingredient in cannabis, it’s not for everyone but it works for me, I need it for appetite and sleep and it keeps me grounded with my anxieties. I don’t know what to tell you but I would try the hospital, I was told to do this if I didn’t get Ativan from the doctor, give it a try, they can give you some Ativan and possibly provide a referral to a doctor they know that can help you, best wishes.

Hi Frouke, Thank You for your reply. I have also come to the conclusion that my PCP is not looking out for my well-being, but rather her own agenda. There was no benefit to risk consideration, she just wanted me off of them. This flies right in the face of what she told me five years ago. I had a ruptured appendix, and when it was over with she said she wanted to take care of me. I don't see my present problem as taking care of me. I have thought about going to the hospital but I didn't think it would help. I will keep that in mind if things really fall apart. I really appreciate your suggestion, thanks again.
Dave S aka sudsy

Hopenr, Thank you for your message and concern. I have an appointment with my PCP in two weeks and I will tell her what I think about all of this. Her reasoning behind this is that the Ativan will cause problems as I get older. It's not causing any problems now, so why not wait and cross that bridge when I get there?
Thank you.
Sudsy

Hopenr/Frouke, Regarding my forced withdrawal from lorazepam: I don't know where my planned actions will lead, but I have decided that I must have a showdown with my PCP regardless of the outcome. My doctor says she wants me off this drug so I won't have problems in my old age. At 78, how much older do I have to get before I am in "old age"? I believe her agenda for wanting me off of this drug borders on elder abuse. I have yet to experience any problems, and I don't think I will ever have any kind of problems she is referring to.
Thank You for your support.

I will be 72 in 2 weeks and just went through a 2 1.2 hour neuro-psych test. With the exception of visual/spacial I scored in the 99th %ile for all categories and I have been on .5 Ativan since my 2018 following a mild brain injury. Doctors can be appropriately right-sized as we self-advocate. You seem pretty sharp to me!

Several years ago my PCP diagnosed me with dementia after a brain scan showed a slightly shrunken brain. I found out later that it is normal, age related, for brains to shrink a little. I told her that I was born demented, which is why I am so goofy most of the time. She didn't buy it, but that's ok, I still tell everyone that I am demented and then act completely normal..... for me anyway. I had a test also to find out how much dementia I had and I found out that I am completely normal for my age. Go figure. The only reason I need lorazepam is for my problem swallowing that I have had most of my life. It is the only thing that helps me feel at ease when I eat. I choked on a popcorn kernel when I was real young and I believe that is what bothers me today. I turned blue and was not far from crossing the rainbow bridge. I am going to ask the doctor about withholding medicine from a person in antiquity is abuse. I might get run out of her office, but we shall see.

Good luck to you. I pray that you will have an understanding doctor who will clearly see your need for it. God Bless. Please keep us all posted!