Protracted Benzo withdrawal

Posted by aarniek @aarniek, Oct 30, 2016

Taken of 8mg of Ativan daily in 3 weeks and suffering terribly nearly 4 years now! Unable to walk ,have insane muscle tightness,no memory,tinnius is unbearable,unable to picture things in my mind ! After 45 months it's worse than ever and 2 neurologists have tried only medications which all made me even worse!

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kawanhee | @kawanhee | Jul 29 6:25am

In reply to @rosebookay "So true! Also they blame EVERYTHING on withdrawal" + (show)

Yes!!

nanagizer | @nanagizer | Jul 30 10:58am

Why did you have to take such a high dosage for such a short period of time? Maybe it has to do with that?? I have been taking 1mg per day split into two doses, for about 4 years now and I cannot imagine even being able to stay awake on 8mg per day.

barbarasolinski | @barbarasolinski | Jul 30 3:20pm

Having been on Ativan for over 20 years my new Dr is trying to taper it down as it can lead to increased falling especially in older people. I had been on 1mg twice a day. Been decreasing it by 2.5mg every other month. Seems to be doing well. Switched to buspar 10mg twice a day with no problems. Again it's been very slowly!! Only problem is with having to split small tablets that aren't scored to get the small amounts. No it does not come in smaller size than .5 mg & i need half that. Very frustrating as they don't split evenly. I'll be glad to be off them. One less medicine to take!!

barbarasolinski | @barbarasolinski | Jul 31 7:52am

In reply to @barbarasolinski "Having been on Ativan for over 20 years my new Dr is trying to taper it..." + (show)

Sorry , the decrease has been by .25mg. every other month. So it's been very slowly!!

jhenson | @jhenson | Jul 31 4:25pm

In reply to @barbarasolinski "Having been on Ativan for over 20 years my new Dr is trying to taper it..." + (show)

I was wondering how severe your anxiety is. Does Buspar work well for you? I read somewhere that Buspar isn’t as effective if one has taken a benzo. Though, everyone is different. Glad it’s working for you.

scruffy1 | @scruffy1 | Aug 1 8:50am

In reply to @barbarasolinski "Having been on Ativan for over 20 years my new Dr is trying to taper it..." + (show)

@barbarasolinski buy a pill splitter - $5-$6 on amazon or your local drug store

kdalda75 | @kndaustin71 | Aug 1 12:52pm

If you have been on this medication for 20 years has your current condition changed to make the PCP feel that you are now at increased risk off falling or developed other conditions that place you at risk. When you attempt to half a half of a tablet you're not really getting accurate dosing anyway. I have the patients that I've had get very little benefit to this medication. 2.5 is such a minuscule amount might as well stop it as you are probably getting varied doses anyway. Just my thoughts