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Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?
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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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
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1 ReactionI 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.
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1 ReactionHi 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
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3 ReactionsHopenr, 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
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2 ReactionsHopenr/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.
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3 ReactionsI 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!
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2 ReactionsSeveral 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.
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4 ReactionsGood 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!
I find all your posts interesting.
I am 74 and very active for my age. Unlike all of you my PCP has no problem keeping my dosage of Clonazepam/ Klonopin where it has been for over 30 years. It works well with my antidepressants and as my first psychiatrist said “ If it isn’t broke don’t fix it”
Over the years I have tried other antidepressants trying to avoid sexual side effects. I always came back to Zoloft and have even reduced my dosage from 100 mg to 50 mg.
It would be nice to stop taking Clonazepam/ Klonopin not because of any adverse side effects but rather because unlike my other medications I can only get a 30 day supply because it is characterized as a controlled substance.
I hear horror stories from people on this post regarding withdrawal symptoms. My PCP questioned why I wanted to put myself through that if it was not causing me any problems.
I look forward to hearing from others regarding this subject.