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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sherrick01821 | @sherrick01821 | Oct 25, 2023

In reply to @ch2232 "Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you." + (show)

Has anyone gone cold turkey to get off this stuff? I would like to see what would happen going cold turkey for several days

geoffbean24 | @geoffbean24 | Oct 25, 2023

In reply to @sherrick01821 "Has anyone gone cold turkey to get off this stuff? I would like to see what..." + (show)

I have. Please don't do it. Talk to your doctor.

con123 | @con123 | Oct 26, 2023

In reply to @sherrick01821 "Has anyone gone cold turkey to get off this stuff? I would like to see what..." + (show)

Going cold turkey off psych meds is dangerous. You need medical guidance and to do it very slowly.

ljeva1968 | @ljeva1968 | Oct 26, 2023

In reply to @ch2232 "Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you." + (show)

Seizures can happen. Especially with clonazepam.

cherawgirl | @cherawgirl | Oct 26, 2023

In reply to @sherrick01821 "Has anyone gone cold turkey to get off this stuff? I would like to see what..." + (show)

I’ve gone cold turkey off ATIVAN multiple,times, but I never abused it. I only ever took 1mg per day. Stopping was easy, only withdrawal symptom is insomnia.

rickame | @rickame | Oct 27, 2023

In reply to @ch2232 "Has anyone tapered from 0.5mg of lorazepam per day? Can you share your experience? Thank you." + (show)

Could anyone specifically address the topic of weaning off of .5 of Ativan. A family member is on a number (too many) sleep meds, and wants to stop Ativan. What would be a reasonable approach if one was on for just about a year or so, initially taking 1mg, but now taking only .5 for a few months. Much online seems to only address higher doses...Can someone comment on perhaps going from .5 to .375 to .25 to .125 to stop make sense with at least a week between changes if no withdrawal is experienced. I'll ask another related question in another post, but any guidance appreciated.

rickame | @rickame | Oct 27, 2023

In reply to @grumpypants "I am on 0.5 in the evening for 1 year. During this time i also took..." + (show)

Can you or someone share experience or suggest tapering from .5m Ativan. A family member has been on for about a year, starting with 1m and just .5 for past few months and wants to suggest a schedule to Dr, perhaps 25% less every week or two (.5 to .375 to .25 to .125). Would that be reasonable, or would you suggest the staggered and longer taper schedule shared by Kawanhee above? So much info out there is for tapering from much higher doses. Looking for some guidance and experience. Family member also takes melatonin, sometimes valerian spray, and ramelteon for sleep. She used to just take melatonin, and I believe other stressors contributed to insomnia so they started to take (too) many meds/supplements. Any advise on stoping or weaning from the others first or ok to taper Ativan. They'd like to just get back to the melatonin and some camomile/lavender tea;) Thanks for sharing.

kawanhee | @kawanhee | Oct 28, 2023

In reply to @rickame "Could anyone specifically address the topic of weaning off of .5 of Ativan. A family member..." + (show)

Attached the the weaning schedule I followed. It was much slower than doctors recommended. I have been successfully off it since June. For the record, I’m not a medical professional, but thus worked for me. Good luck!!

rickame | @rickame | Oct 28, 2023

In reply to @kawanhee "Attached the the weaning schedule I followed. It was much slower than doctors recommended. I have..." + (show)

Thanks so much and glad you've been successful. FYI, I believe there is a typo on (5) meant to be .125 not .235, (or .25) if the same pattern continues. And can you clarify if each number in ( ) is a week or is that a step every 2-3 weeks, seems like its a week and the dose then reduces every 2-3 weeks if its a week and total taper off is 8 weeks...correct? Be well.

con123 | @con123 | Oct 28, 2023

In reply to @rickame "Can you or someone share experience or suggest tapering from .5m Ativan. A family member has..." + (show)

I am at the end of a taper of Klonopin - not sure how it compares to Ativan. My psychiatrist had me decreasing every 6-8 months - that is slow, but the actual reduction was more than the recommended 10%. 1mg - .75 for 6 weeks went well; to .5mg for a month went well, Then to .375mg for a month, then .25mg (this is where it got tough and I had horrible insomnia and anxious feelings). I went a full 6 weeks and then to .125mg. Here is where it felt like I was taking nothing. Still bad insomnia and anxious/jittery/irritable. The total process has been 9 months now. I have no refills left and my doctor discharged me because I was going to be 65. I still have a little stash of .25 and .125 and I will take occasionally at bedtime. I never knew this would be so difficult and I wonder sometimes if I will ever have a great night's sleep again. 1mg at bedtime gave me the assurance I would sleep at least 8 hours, maybe 9. For over a decade and now I can't have it. But I know it will be best in the long run, or so they tell me.