Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

Posted by healthlady22 @healthlady22, Feb 5, 2019

Has anybody successfully managed to successfully wean off of Lorazepam?
If so how was it done?
And if it was by way of switching to other drugs, were you then able to taper off of those entirely under a doctor's guidance?
My husband has been on Lorazepam for 16 years
He did well for 14 years, but dragged his feet about trying to withdraw while he was feeling better.
In May he had a relapse of anxiety, and insomnia, with brain fog, heart palpitations, and more.
Currently he's doing better, thinking better, but still feels like crap a large part of the time, can't sleep without the drug, can't nap.and still struggles with anxiety.
At this point, I believe it's the drug that is actually causing the problem. Currently he's doing 1 mg at bedtime and 3/4 mg when he wakes up at 2:30 am.
I know it takes 2 years for the brains GABA receptors to normalize after taking Benzodiazepines.
Also know it's really hard to withdraw, has to be done extremely slowly, and the side effects are exactly the same as the symptoms it is meant to help.
My goal is to eventually wean him off of all drugs as functional health tests show they block his nutritional absorption and may be damaging his intestinal lining. I would like to be able to repair his health using nutrition, supplements, and neurotransmitter amino acids.
All feedback is welcomed!
.

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ddn | @ddn | Jul 9, 2023

In reply to @yvonne55 "Hi! Did you not get a boatload of withdrawals going cold turkey?? Yvonne" + (show)

Yes I did. It was awful. I certainly don't recommend it. Taper off slowly. I was so upset the way the doctor spoke to me, I just quit taking it. It really was horrible.

greenville | @greenville | Jul 9, 2023

I have a big question...for those who have successfully tapered off Ativan does anyone feel better physically or mentally? I know tapering off is the best thing for me I'm at .3 mg a day but I'm scared. Keep hearing horror stories.

naturalblondeone | @naturalblondeone | Jul 10, 2023

I was on 2 mg three times a day for a very long time. I have managed to taper back to one pill at night. I had to do this very slowly starting in quarter increments.

naturalblondeone | @naturalblondeone | Jul 10, 2023

I was on 2 mg three times a day for a very long time. I have managed to taper back to one pill at night. I had to do this very slowly starting in quarter increments. I have been doing fine on that. I would eventually like to taper completely off that off too but since I also have long Covid right now, I will wait until I am better. Honestly, my body is just chemically dependent on it right now and doesn’t help with my anxiety anymore. I’m also on two other depression medication‘s that help with my anxiety.

pkraft12 | @pkraft12 | Jul 17, 2023

In reply to @ainsleigh "I tapered off successfully. The smaller the doses you taper the better. Do not reduce more..." + (show)

I only take 2mg max at bedtime sometimes only 1. Any suggestions on how to taper that?

agakahn01 | @agakahn01 | Nov 3, 2023

I don't have any suggestions, just the same problem most of you have. I've taken .5 mg lorazepam per day for 10 years, usually at bedtime. I started after heart issues put me in the hospital and I had a defibrillator / pacemaker put in my chest to prevent recurrance. Lately, I've been having anxiety problems and for a short time a couple of weeks ago I doubled my dose to .5 mg twice per day only to find it's harder to go back to .5 mg per day now. My doctor recommended I start Fluoxetine (Prozac) for relief of anxiety but I fear getting on another med will just make things worse. Has anyone used Prozac or Paxil to wean off lorazepam? Any advice? Or will this just be another drug that will cause more problems. I've been reading this thread, very helpful advice from all and much appreciated.

kawanhee | @kawanhee | Nov 4, 2023

In reply to @pkraft12 "I only take 2mg max at bedtime sometimes only 1. Any suggestions on how to taper..." + (show)

Slow, slow taper worked for me. Have been off it since June.

biggsy | @biggsy | Nov 5, 2023

In reply to @naturalblondeone "I was on 2 mg three times a day for a very long time. I have..." + (show)

What are the 2 meds that help your anxiety?

lgumerman | @lgumerman | Nov 5, 2023

In reply to @biggsy "What are the 2 meds that help your anxiety?" + (show)

Seroquel.

notdeadyet | @notdeadyet | Nov 5, 2023

I would be careful with SSRI and SNRI meds. Prozac caused a gigantic surge in cholesterol for me, which is apparently a pretty common side effect for SSRI meds. SNRI meds almost killed me.

Ativan helps me a great deal. I've only had it when admitted to the hospital, and every time it has worked to calm my anxiety AND my pain. I have multiple cancers and Anxiety that is worse than the pain, because it is making it impossible to function. Mindfulness isn't helping. Yoga, nothing. I can sometimes "keep busy" and ward off the surge of terror caused by anxiety, but only for so long. And sometimes, I can't do a thing because it feels like I am having a heart attack.

I guess I'm just not brave enough to face having multiple cancers. I applaud those that are that brave, and I wish I could find my courage somewhere, but right now, it has deserted me, and I need medication or my life will end sooner.

There is supposed to be help in the form of Palliative Care in California, where I live. That would include medicine for both pain AND anxiety. But actually GETTING that care? Good luck with that. All I have gotten is the death stare and/or the "opioids are bad" shuffle. Seriously, when a patient has multiple cancers, two of which are incurable and only "manageable" if I have a good doctor (I don't) and a whole bunch of luck (VERY unlucky year for me), at what point will the Medical Mafia acknowledge that sick people like us still have stuff to do, like get our affairs in order, and we CAN'T DO THAT WHEN WE ARE SCREAMING IN PAIN AND SORROW.

Sorry for the rant. I'm literally sick to death of being sick, and can't get past the horror of having to have my genitals removed to try and slow down cancer "down there." I just can't get there. I'm also poor, and am finding out - the hard way - that poor patients are just plain screwed. I guess our lives really do NOT matter.