Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

Can you describe what "feeling sick" was for you? I am curious about the side effects of cutting back on this med. I am only on 1 mg daily but having a hard time reducing from there. I am trying it the Ashton way myself since I have always been on a lower dose, though it has been about 4 years now. 🙁

I think it’s different for everyone but for me it’s a feeling of being unwell, i.e., I have no appetite for food, sleep eludes me and I’m restless unable to focus on anything, most of all I’m anxious because my body is craving the dosage it’s used to. I take the same amount as you and have done so for over 20 years, I depend a lot on Ativan and it’s kept me grounded when other drugs have failed to help me.

Thanks for your reply. I feel the same but have heard that it is hard to stay at the same dosage. I guess I fear that I will need more and more as time goes on. That is my reason for feeling the need to try and get off of them. What is your experience with that having been over 20 years? I am going to be 70 in a few months and just wonder if it is worth it for me to try to go through this withdrawal process......

I understand how you feel, it worried me too when I read how many people got used to their dose and had to increase. I do have times when it feels like the Ativan isn’t enough but it doesn’t last, it could be my body or head space, I’m not really sure. I used Valium many years ago and even though it has a longer effect than Ativan, I could always feel it wear off and I’d need more, I suppose it’s an individual thing because they often switch you to Valium when tapering off the drug. I think it’s a good thing wanting to give up some medication but it’s a lot more stressful when you’re doing for fear of it not working for you anymore, I was doing the same thing because my doctor is retiring this year and I got worried about the next doctor not wanting to give them to me but it was just too stressful for me, I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I’m there.

That is exactly what I am fearing. My doctor is going to be retiring as well in the next few years and I don't want the stress of having to "beg" for the medication. I have always had GAD but it really hit me while going through some health issues a few years ago and that is why he prescribed it for me. It has worked wonders for me so far but now I have GAD over trying to get off of it. It's just a vicious circle darn it. Wish I could find a way to quit thinking about so much and just trust that God will guide me down the right path. My best to you as well.

I don’t know why you have to get off the Ativan at this point unless you’re having trouble with it, you mentioned that your dosage is high so perhaps that’s why they want you to stop taking them. I think it’s a difficult situation for most people to stop them but I truly believe that maybe you could just lower your dosage very slowly with help doing so but it is a lot of stress to put on older patients, I’m 74 years old and I also take Ativan daily, I have been pressured many times to stop but I just can’t, not anymore.

I have been on 1mg daily for about 4 years now. I have not been asked to come off yet but feel that my gastro doc (prescriber) will be retiring in the next few years and I don't want to have to face being "cut off" if his replacement is against it. I am ok physically but mentally I am madly searching for the proper method to get the best tapering process so I can start doing that. I do not like being dependent on these meds and am doing everything I can to minimize my anxiety. From what I have been reading you are not alone at all! I just joined a couple of Facebook support groups on tapering and there are thousands of people right there with us. I cannot imagine any doctor making you come off this after such a long time without the proper support. Are you having problems with side effects? What is the dosage you are on? We are all here with you no matter what though. < 3

This is unfortunate because there are still some doctors who will help you with this issue, I’ve read many accounts from others that they eventually found another doctor who helped them, I am on a low dose, 1 mg. daily, it will still take me a lot of time and strength to get off of the Ativan and I truly don’t have it in me anymore, as others have said before me, I am not looking for quantity just quality of life. In my opinion any doctor who puts an older patient through this is not a doctor in my opinion.

I take 1mg 3 times a day. One day I accidentally skipped a pill. The immediate reaction was awful. I was extremely anxious until I took my next dose. I would absolutely say that it’s way too much of a reduction.

Please don’t feel like you’re a bother to anyone, you’re a human being who is being neglected by the doctors, it’s an outrage that you have to go through this especially at our age. I wish that you could connect with someone here that lives near you and can help you find a doctor to help you, I live in Canada and we have a shortage of doctors and nurses. If you refer to the Ashton manual online and just start with the first step to reduce your dose but only by 10% and follow her instructions completely, also check with your medical centre for someone who is experienced with withdrawal from this type of medicine and tell them that you need this help to make sure you’re doing okay with it. Please don’t let anyone pressure you, it’s your God given right to get the help you deserve and if you need to talk I’m happy to help you whenever I can, take care and stay strong.