How to manage side effects from 30 years use of Lorazepam

Posted by cwrobbins @cwrobbins, Jun 4 12:32am

I have been given this drug for over 30 years. My dr does nothing to help me get off of it so after I did my own research I thought I could tapper myself off. I’m 5 months in and side effects have only gotten worse. I’m hoping someone on here has had these same issues but found a way through. I need guidance. I don’t trust anyone who hasn’t dealt with this personally. Each day I suffer from panic attacks and depression. Taking anti depressants gives me horrific night terrors which only fuels my anxiety. Recently I wake up to panic attacks in the middle of the night. My depression grows every day which is affecting my work and personal life.

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frouke | @frouke | Jun 9 4:20pm

In reply to @carolynhughes75 "Just the connection between drugs like that and dementia, would make me want to get off..." + (show)

To date there’s no evidence of this medication causing early dementia, it’s simply scare tactics to push people into withdrawal…doctors are hurting their patients by forcing them into withdrawal, many are seniors who have taken them for many years without problems and none have reported any decline in their mental health…forcing withdrawal is killing them.

nanagizer | @nanagizer | Jun 10 1:13pm

In reply to @frouke "Perhaps perfect worlds do exist and we have to earn the privilege to live in one,..." + (show)

How much do you take daily? Have you ever had to increase to get the same benefits? I guess I am a bit fearful of having to do that. 🙁

frouke | @frouke | Jun 10 2:21pm

In reply to @nanagizer "How much do you take daily? Have you ever had to increase to get the same..." + (show)

I have been taking .05 mg. for 3 months now but I was on 1 mg. for many years. I have always maintained my regular dose but sometimes when my anxiety goes up especially when I’m dealing with cancer, I may have increased it to cope, I know that one problem people have with this drug is that they have to increase their dose to get the same effect and that’s a problem, it would probably be better to start weaning off them and getting a different drug to help you cope with anxiety.

nanagizer | @nanagizer | Jun 10 5:13pm

In reply to @nanagizer "How much do you take daily? Have you ever had to increase to get the same..." + (show)

How did you taper down to .5 from 1? I think I should start trying to do the same.

jacie1272 | @jacie1272 | Jun 12 10:44am

In reply to @frouke "I have been taking .05 mg. for 3 months now but I was on 1 mg...." + (show)

Hi. I am in the same position as you - except it’s clonazepam. I am down to .5 but I am curious as to you saying to try something else for anxiety. May I ask what, if anything, you have tried?

frouke | @frouke | Jun 12 1:43pm

In reply to @jacie1272 "Hi. I am in the same position as you - except it’s clonazepam. I am down..." + (show)

I have tried several different medications, i.e., antidepressants which didn’t help and they made me sick, I basically reduced my dose and dealt with the symptoms this caused, I tried cannabis gummies to ease the stress and it helped me to some degree with appetite and sleep. I wouldn’t recommend cannabis to anyone who has never tried it because it doesn’t always affect everyone the same way and it could possibly cause you more anxiety. It’s really hard to know what works best for you, weaning slowly over a long period of time is probably the best way to do it, the Ashton Manual is a very good program to follow and it can be downloaded from the internet so you don’t have to pay for it.