Getting off Ativan

[GucciPaddy]

I'm seeking advice and recommendations to coming off Ativan, I'm on 0.5mg twice daily (one before bed and the other first thing in the morning). I've been on this dosage for at least 4 to 5 months. I'm extremely concerned I'll become addicted to this drug and this worries me, hence I need to come off it.

I attempted to come off recently by reducing the dosage to 0.25mg (i.e. half of a half 1mg tablet - not easy to cut a 0.5mg!) for two days and then stopping altogether but had major withdrawal problems after 2 days. I just couldn't cope with these withdrawals - even though I tried for 3 days. It was too much for me to handle as they involved headaches, major anxiety, constant agitation. insomnia, loss of appetite and feeling absolutely rotten!

I had to go back on the two daily 0.5mg doses before I got relief and back to feeling as I did before attempting to come off - i.e. reasonably stable with no particular issues.

Did I taper too quickly or what? Can anyone advise?

Paddy

[b1b1b1]

Yes, you probably tapered off way too quickly. Ask your doctor how to do it slowly, so that you do not experience side effects.

[Starrlight]

Yes try going on less for like a week or two . I know those pills are hard to cut without crumbling. I think still it may be difficult but you can do it if you put your mind to it.

[GucciPaddy in reply to Starrlight]

Appreciate your response, thanks will try the taper over at least a week.

[designguy]

Usually a pharmacy sells a pill cutter that might help you cut the pills easier. I've also found that a lot of doctors and even med prescribers underestimate how long you should taper off a med, slower is better.

[Dolphin14]

You def tapered too fast. I've been tapering for months.

This is how we are doing it and I will use your dose as an example

Ativan .5 2x's a day. Get that pill cutter

Start with only taking 1/4 off the first dose and stay there for awhile ( I'm doing it by the month). Take the second dose as ordered

Next round you do another 1/4 off the second dose

Then go back to the first does and drop another quarter and so on

It's slow and conservative. I have been on a Benzo a lot longer than you. I'm getting symptoms doing it this slow but they are tolerable

I don't think there's a major rush to taper off. The fact that you are doing it is a success story

🐬

[GucciPaddy in reply to Dolphin14]

very much appreciate your response. Will definitelly follow your advice even though it’ll taken longer than I would have imagined.

Paddy

[Dolphin14 in reply to GucciPaddy]

It's def the long route. My Dr and I took the long path. Was it your Dr cutting you down that quickly?

[GucciPaddy in reply to Dolphin14]

I’m afraid it was my own decision to come off. I’m seeing a Psychiatrist for depression for some time now and Ativan was prescribed to help with anxiety. He didn’t really push the Ativan on me just suggested it and I have been taking it for a while now as it’s proven to be a great help in relaxing me and indeed sleeping better. I’m due to see home till Dec 20 and thought I might get off the Ativan before then.

Appreciate your response and comments.

Paddy

[Dolphin14 in reply to GucciPaddy]

Ok I understand. You most def should talk to your doctor. There is a safety issue with coming off too quickly. See what the psychiatrist recommends

Best of luck to you

[GucciPaddy in reply to Dolphin14]

Many thanks.

[Frankie24]

You need to work with your Dr. or Psychiatrist, it is never recommended to come off benzodiazepines by yourself !

[Toddzen]

Tapering can take months. I have tapered off of Klonopin. I sliced the pill with a razor blade. You are on small dose so maybe it takes a month. The main point is don't rush the process.

[GucciPaddy in reply to Toddzen]

Appreciate your response - good tip with a razor blade for slicing. Will use one, thanks.

[Rubyphoenix]

talk to your pharmacist. They know more about your prescription than any doctor and they can cut your pills for you or request a lower dosage from your doctors office. They can inform you of alternative medicines as well. Your doctor gets incentives from the pharmaceutical company’s to prescribe their medicines so they might not always give us the best choice. That’s why we should never decline that consultation with the pharmacist.

My baby doctor put me on Ativan when I was pregnant. Said it was the only thing I could take while pregnant. I only used it for 4 or 5 days because it turned me into a zombie and I could not care for my kids and I could have burned the house down cause I would nod out like a heroine addict. I had a bad panic attack at my next doctors appointment so the doctor told my partner to take me to the ER. That’s where they told me that if I took Ativan during my pregnancy the baby would be born addicted and they would have to wean her off. Needless to say I flushed that script as soon as I got home.

[GucciPaddy in reply to Rubyphoenix]

Many thanks for your response and your related experience with Ativan. You certainly went through some bad effects! Thankfully I eventually managed to get off it. Your advice also re the Pharmacist I will also heed. Thank you again.

Regards, P

[Dolphin14]

You definitely tapered too fast. Is your Dr advising you to go this quickly? You need to re address this with your Dr.

You should just be reducing one dose and probably by 1/4 of a tab over a length of time. This is not medical advice this is how I've been doing it, under supervision

Please be careful.

I'm just seeing this is an old post and I probably repeated myself How are you doing now?

🐬

[GucciPaddy in reply to Dolphin14]

Thank you for your response. I’m off Ativan now for two weeks and hopefully can stay off it! I still unfortunately get mood swings but am trying to cope without any heavy meds. It’s not easy.

Regards