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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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I wish I had a doctor like yours, mine was doing just fine for a long time, then for some strange reason she decided I have to be off of ativan that I have taken for many years. I would find a different doctor, but how does one go about finding out if he/she has a problem prescribing benzos?
Thank you for writing, I am happy to find out that there are still doctors who don't have a problem with prescribing one of those drugs.
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I’m in the same situation, my doctor for 25 years gave me Ativan and I never stopped using them, the doctor started giving me problems a few years ago and made numerous attempts to cut them off, he commented that they are bad to use for so long. I have never had problems with them and stayed on the same dosage always, they helped me when other meds failed and they kept me anchored during cancer, my doctor is retiring this year so I too hope that the next doctor will help me out. I have read some heartbreaking stories here about how the doctors took their medication away from them, some people were in their upper 70’s and 80’s and they took them for over 40 years only to be dismissed, I am praying that it will all work out for the best amen.
Im on 0.35 of ativan at night. I was taking 0.5 mg and have tapered down to 0.35mg. I started taking 0.5 to help with a trazdone taper/ withdrawl. That was horrible. Ive been on it for 2 and half months. I only take for help with sleep. What kinda of symptoms should I expect on such a low dose? Scared after the trazdo e to go lower
I’ve been taking Ativan for over 20 years, I somehow managed to stop in the early days and now it’s a different thing. I take 0.5mg. daily and haven’t tried to reduce any more at this point, I wish to stay on them because they work for me, I don’t respond well to antidepressants and have tried many to no avail. I read that you’re taking 0.35 mg. and you want to know what to expect at this point in time, it’s very difficult to say because they effect everyone differently, even though you’re dosage is low it’s still in your system and affecting you without really feeling anything, I’m sure you will feel it if you stop taking them. I think that if you decide to stop taking them then you must still go very slowly to do so, there’s lots of people who have managed to get off Ativan so it’s hopeful to do so, best wishes.
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2 ReactionsTalk to your doctor. I’ve never taken it but I know you need to wean off of most medications. (I take carbamazepine and it’s one of those that has horrible side effects of stopped too quickly.)
I know with mine, when I couldn’t afford the office visit to get renewed (😢), she was going to taper me off 1 pill a week. I bit the bullet and spent the $250-300 the office (discounted) visit PLUS almost $200 for the labs. The alternative is I’m not a very nice person.
Our (US) American health care/insurance system is so behind most countries.
As I have said before if it isn’t broke why fix it.
Klonopin is part of my daily regimen to fight depression and anxiety. That is along with eating right and exercising regularly.
My PCP said if I am not accelerating my usage or combining it with alcohol and have no adverse effects why would I stop and become not a nice person.
Just expressing my opinion. I hope it helps someone out there.
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4 ReactionsYou’re right about that but it really depends on your doctor, I’ve read so many stories from people who are going through horrible withdrawal due to their doctors not wanting to prescribe this medication for fear of losing their license. It’s an even bigger tragedy that many of these people are seniors who have never misused their medication, they are forced to go through a rapid withdrawal and then get cut off.
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1 ReactionWhy would you want to? If you feel better taking it, why torture yourself trying to wean off it?
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