ativan taper

[delta50]

its been one long week since starting the Ativan taper. Increase of panic attacks and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, bad dreams, chest and shoulder tension, no appetite, no energy, no motivation, weight loss.Is there any help for this?Worse than the original anxiety symptoms a year ago when this was prescribed. I will ask my psychiatrist of course but wondering if anyone has some wisdom to share. decreased from 1mg to .5mg once daily.

[AnxiousSilver]

I forgot from the other thread.

Are you taking an anti-depressant with the Ativan, or just the Ativan?

[delta50 in reply to AnxiousSilver]

Just Ativan. Tapered off Cymbalta in late July which was not fun and this is much worse

[AnxiousSilver in reply to delta50]

Alright.. I can see your psych telling you 1 of 2 things.

1 - Stick with the slow taper of Ativan. (and basically white knuckle it)

or

2 - Go on a small dose of an anti-depressant for a while, let the Antivan completely come out of your system, and then go off the anti-depressant.

.

If things are "That bad" ATM.

Option #2 may be the suggestion to possibly think about. (if you and your psych are on the same page with it)

Either way, I wish you nothing but the best, and I'm rooting for you.

[delta50 in reply to AnxiousSilver]

My psych says I need to be medicated. She says being on Ativan alone is not adequate to treat anxiety and panic disorder. Right now the symptoms from the taper are truly exhausting and concerning - especially the intrusive thoughts of hurting myself. I don't want to do that and yet can understand why ppl get pulled under. I feel lost in some ways. It's a scary feeling/thought. I don't want this to be my ending.

[AnxiousSilver in reply to delta50]

Alright, so when's your next psych appt?

[AnxiousSilver in reply to AnxiousSilver]

"I don't want this to be my ending."

It won't. This is temporary, and you will get through this.

You just need to get stabilized with your meds again.

.

If you don't have a psych appoint, please do me and yourself a favor and call your psych and schedule an appointment.

Let's get you stable, and feeling normal.

[delta50 in reply to AnxiousSilver]

I have an appointment tomorrow. I did eat breakfast and am trying to eat something every few hours. I am drinking cold water also. I'm nauseous most of the time but I understand that I need to eat. I've lost some weight and I'm already tall and slender

[AnxiousSilver in reply to delta50]

"I have an appointment tomorrow."

That's great!

.

"I did eat breakfast and am trying to eat something every few hours. I am drinking cold water also. "

& That's great too.

Keep up the good work!

[AnxiousSilver in reply to delta50]

"Right now the symptoms from the taper are truly exhausting and concerning"

In the mean time, until your next psych apppt, can we please get some food and water in you, because your body needs energy, and you would feel a little bit better if you gave your body some energy.

.

"I am able to eat fruit, a few crackers, toast. I drink lots of water."

Is there any way that you can eat something in the mean time, or at the very least drink some water so you can stay hydrated?

[delta50 in reply to AnxiousSilver]

Glad I have this group to help me through this

[AnxiousSilver in reply to delta50]

"Glad I have this group to help me through this"

NP, (no problem) we are here for you.

That is what this community is all about.

.

*Again* If your psych suggests the possibility of a low dosage of an anti-depressant to help get you off the Ativan, I'd say go with it. (but that of course is between you and your psych)

Either way, I just want to see you get better, because I've been where you are at. (coming off a different benzo. That was a long time ago, but still)

.

& FWIW, (for what it's worth) I still take a benzo with an antidepressant. Klonopin/Clonazapam with Lexapro. But that's just me, and everyone's body chemistry is different.

For now.. The plan (for you) is to get that psych meeting tomorrow, keep food and water in your system, and to get you stable.

& Again.. I'm rooting for you.

[delta50 in reply to AnxiousSilver]

Had my psychiatrist appt which was ok. New prescription for Mirtazapine which I am now afraid to take even if it may help. My husband wants me to get to baseline but I'm not sure I can do that while tapering off Ativan..every day is different. Yesterday I was feeling ok and today, anxious and nauseated. Want to eat but no appetite. Maybe all of this is completely normal given the circumstances