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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 SOME OPTIMISTIC WORDS. I ONLY KNOW THERE SHOULD BE SOME CULPABILITY FOR THE DOCTORS WHO HAVE PRESCRIBED IT FOR SO LONG. I HAD NO IDEA IT HAD A BLACK BOX WARNING LABEL, JUST RECENTLY UPDATED IT AND IT IS WORSE THEN THE FIRST WARNING. SAME BLACK BOX LABEL WARNING AS "OxyContin". I NEVER WOULD HAVE STARTED LORAZEPAM IF I KNEW NOW WHAT I DID THEN. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ TELLS ME IT WILL GET BETTER. I THINK SLEEP WAS THE WORST CULPRIT ONLY 2 TO 3 HOURS OF SLEEP FOR WEEKS AND WAKING UP TO GO TO THE BATHROOM EVERY OTHER HOUR. KEEP THE FAITH! WHAT IS "NEUROTRANSMITTER AMINO ACIDS? Laurine
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1 ReactionDefinitely try the liquid. Much more manageable
Tell me about your withdrawals. For sure the lower dose is a plus when withdrawing from Lorazepam. The length of time is not as much a plus. I started with .5mg of Clonazepam plus other meds and I am now on .25 after 8 months. I am going to ask my Doctor if I could do .125 one day and .25 the next day and see what she says. I just hope it works, I really want off this poison.
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1 ReactionHave been on Ativan several years. Take 1mn morning and midday. Last May an ER doc suggested I get off the drug because it can can cause falls. Under provider guidance I very slowly began tapering off the drug. I'm not going to tell you it is easy because it surely isn't. It has been 11 months and at this point I am taking 0.125mg morning and midday and my next step is to begin taking it once a day, in the morning. Tapering off the drug, my anxiety has increased and I detest the feeling of my heart racing, being jittery and sweaty.
I wish the best to anyone tapering off this drug. Take it very, very slowly and be kind to yourself.
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1 ReactionEVERYONE TRYING TO GET OFF LORAZEPAM. Go online to Ashton Manual on Benzos.org. You will fee like you are finally in charge of successfully getting off Lorazepam.
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1 ReactionI have been given medications for depression and anxiety for many years and none have worked. I think the psychiatrists were wrong to treat me when I just needed help with learning to get through high stressful life events.
I believe lorazepam is a horrible medication . I have been given it on and off all my life. The doctor gave me the highest dosage you can give as an outpatient, 6mg per day 2 years ago. I have been tapering off slowly at home. I am now at 3 mg per day for almost a month and the withdrawals are very extremely difficult mentally and physically.
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1 ReactionI hope all the best for you both. I was foolishly prescribed an increased dose so I could sleep at night and not suffer too much during the day. I just turned 60 and the drug does not do anything but make me sick physically and I believe it is the cause of depression and extreme tiredness , confusion and more.
I have been tapering off very slowly . I am now down to total of 3 mg per day for almost a month. …. Withdrawals are rough.
Thank you for your post
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2 ReactionsWelcome @mau. I moved your comment about tapering off lorazepam at home to this existing discussion
- Has anybody successfully tapered off of lorazepam (Ativan)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tapering-off-of-lorazepam-ativan/
I did this so you can connect with others like @laurine7 @kmhickey13 @ch2232 @sears @lindasmith1222 @goggy @surferdude9 and others.
As many have shared, take it slow. Are you tapering with the help of a medical professional? What withdrawal side effects are you experiencing?
I've successfully tapered. I've posted here also tp get opinions while in the process. What I've learned is every experience is different. I slowly tapered over a course of over a year. I jumped about 3 months ago. My lowest dose was half of a half of .5. So about 0.125mg. I never had a problem tapering and I feel great since I've stopped. This was a major goal of mine. I'm thankful for what the ativan did for me at a time I couldn't sleep due to anxiety/ massive panic attacks. But I was not going to be on it for life. Good luck!
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1 Reaction3 weeks ago *** not months I apologize