**HELP**Any suggestions on tapering off of lorazepam (Ativan)?

I have personally decided that I do not want to take this medication anymore, or any other benzodiazepine for that matter. I have heard from a large quantity of people about how bad benzo WD's can be. I've heard of people having HEART ATTACKS or even DYING from the WD's. If I would have known this information from the start, I would have never started taking this medication last year.

Now, here's some info. I have been prescribed 90 Lorazepam (generic for Ativan) 0.5mg tablets, directed to take three times daily for acute anxiety and panic disorder, one script a month, for about a year now. I normally do not miss a dose. And sometimes, I take extras just to feel good because I do believe that I am starting to develop a tolerance. Most days, I take one around 9am, another between 12-2pm, and then one between 7-10pm. So, that's generally 1.5mg a day. But sometimes I take as much 3-4mg, sometimes even 6mg, a day....just like tonight. I took one this morning at 9am, then two at 1pm, another at 5pm, then two more at 9pm, and one last one at midnight. I took 3.5mg just today. That is not a good sign at all.

The bottom line is, I need to get off of this shit. I am aware of this.

But I don't know how. I've never tapered off of anything and don't even begin to know how to do so. I DON'T WANT A HEART ATTACK. I DON'T WANT A SEIZURE. I DON'T WANT HEART FAILURE, OR ANY OTHER ORGAN FAILURE. I JUST WANT TO GET OFF THIS SHIT.

I would rather deal with my panic attacks and anxiety on my own, rather than have to put this substance in my body any longer.

So....

As of right now, I have 30 0.5mg tablets left in my script for this month. I am not getting a refill next month due to personal choice.

Can anyone help me come up with a plan to ween myself off of this dreadful substance with these last thirty pills, so I won't die from WD's and I can be free from the death-grip of benzo addiction?

please....

 

Talk to your doctor, and tell him you want to get off of it, and your reasons for so. Then HE can slowly taper you down at a SAFE rate, and might even give you another 1 or 2 prescriptions to help with the uneasy feeling of getting off of it. Do not try and do it yourself, please!

That is the best advice that I think I can come up with.

Also, 200th post!

 

Thanks for the honest and safe advice, U4IA! I was planning on doing that anyway on my next visit, but I don't know what to do with these last 30 pills until then... I really don't want to take them. But it seems as if I have no choice here. I mean, am I even on a dangerous level of addiction yet? I can't even tell.... I mean I've heard of people taking way higher daily dosages of more powerful benzo's like XANAX and KLONOPIN for years, and then just stopping cold turkey. Not that I plan on doing that at all, I just am really confused here. I think my year of taking lorazepam is nothing compared to some people's benzo addiction. could it really be that bad, in my case?

 

I really don't know, I have never been a benzo user. I am prescribed Xanax but I rarely take it. Sorry I can't help any further.

 

If I were you I'd just stay on your recommended dose until you talk to your doctor. You aren't going to make any potential addiction worse by waiting that amount of time. Or if you feel comfortable enough you can half each pill and take 0.25mg til your doctor can advise on what's best for you. If you're addicted physically, you'd definitely notice withdrawal symptoms if you go without it.

 

Hi sweetheart! Glad to see your post. I am soon to be a Registered nurse after several years in the health care field and I've got my drug books in front of me. So, first of all the dose you have been prescribed is a very low dose. The usual dose is 2-6mg/day given in divided doses. Your daily dose is 1.5mg/day in divided doses of 0.5mg, so right off the bat you are under the norm. Ok, so you went up to 3.5mg the day you wrote this. Does this happen often, or was it a one time thing? If it happens often, you'll be needing to taper down from that starting point(3.5mg). Either way you need to put a call in to the Doc that prescribed this for you and let them know, and ask what their recommendation is. The drug book says with long-term use, you need to taper off over 8-12weeks. So, set an appointment with your doctor, because you may need to ween yourself with a next prescription of a 0.25mg. To allay some of your fears and anxiety, usual adverse reactions ( cardiac arrest and collapse, seizures) are due to too rapid of administration via the intravenous route, and usually at much higher doses. So, take a deep breath you can do this and we're all rooting for you!! If you'd like to message me with any questions, I'd be very happy to hear from you. Lots of love and peace your way!!!

 

Yea man don't worry about having a seizure or anything like that, thats usually when someone does anywhere from like 6-15 mgs a day of xanax or klonopin. ativan is already a weak benzo. I think it should be fairly easy to taper off, and like everyone else said just talk to your doctor about it, he's a professional and I'm sure he'll give you a good tapering plan.

 

Yep, like others have said, don't taper yourself. Keep taking it until the visit, and let HIM taper you off.

 

well, i've been thinking and i'm not sure if i'm going to taper off or quit taking ativan at all. i kinda changed my mind after a panic attack i had yesterday.

i've been doing some research and i've discovered that, indeed, my dose of ativan is very low compared to most and with lorazepam already being one of the weaker benzo's, i don't think i'm in much trouble by taking my usual daily dose, no matter how long i am prescribed it. i think the trouble is when i decided to take more and then started doing that more often. i think that will build a tolerance and a pretty bad habit after a while, so i'm just gonna settle with taking my medication AS DIRECTED.

because in the giddiness of me thinking i was coming off of medication, i lost sight of why i WAS put on it to begin with.... anxiety and PANIC ATTACKS!!!

Lorazepam really does help me with my panic disorder and i think i am better off in the long run just taking it normally. i just have to watch myself and not let it get out of hand. It damn sure helped me yesterday. and i'm glad i had it.

So, thank you very much to all your replies!!! it really means a lot to me as they were very informative and i could tell that some of you actually really enjoy helping people and that's why i'm glad i joined this forum. you people are the shit. thank you very much!!!