Weaning off Lorazepam, any ideas?

[Khonkaen]

Was given Lorazapan to take and foolishly didn't check and it is additive, so I am trying to wean myself off it after 7 months. I should have used it sparingly, only when needed, anyway have had 5 bad nights, fighting to sleep and then getting around 4 hours. I could make do with 4-5 hours before my HA, but it is the effort required to sleep that is exhasting.

It doesn't help that I am back in Thailand and it is hot, or that I now have a cold, so any suggestions of how to get off ot would be appreciated.

I have tried all the sleep stuff on the internet, hypnosis, music, etc and listening to rain works the best, but I am so damn tired by then.

[Hidden]

Are you slowing & carefully weaning yourself off them, I don’t think you can cold turkey & stiff upper lip off them.

[Khonkaen in reply to Hidden]

I was only taking 1mg for all that time, 2 tablets for anxiety attacks, I took a half tablet for 4 nights and nothing last night. All 5 nights were the same.

[Khonkaen]

Can I assume that everyone who was given sleeping/anxiety tablets didn't take them continuously?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Khonkaen]

Hi Khonkaen

Perhaps you may find the support and information you need on the Anxiety forum?

healthunlocked.com/anxietys...

I hope you find a way to feel calmer and more at ease soon.

[Thecyclist]

I don't have any personal experience of Benzodiazepine addiction/withdrawal but know of others who have, I have suffered with horrendous anxiety though but have always avoided medication for it.

You need a proper taper plan to get off the Lorazepam, stop starting it won't work. You also may need to change to another type of benzodiazepine with a longer half life. I don't know how short the Loprezapam is. Speak to a doctor asap.

For the long term solution some of the app's (Calm is amazing) do help but you need to get to the bottom of the drivers of the anxiety and the subsequent insomnia. I have recently studied an NLP course (Neuro Linguistic Programming) which really helps understand how the unconscious mind and out internal and external language drive our behaviour. I can't recommend it enough. It has really helped me in getting to grips with anxiety which is totally driven by the unconscious mind and will have been caused by something that happened in your life at some point.

Best of luck!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Following my accident in 2008 I was on Tramadol for some months. Tramadol is an opioid pain medication and by its nature somewhat addictive after a few months. Cold turkey was not an option (I was on eight a day) so I gradually reduced over time. One thing I noted is that having had four bad nights on a half tablet you took nothing on the fifth night. If things have not stabilised you should not reduce further. It takes time and patience.

I was on Tramadol post bypass and reduced gradually after the first week home. By around five weeks I was off painkillers.

Good luck...

[Hidden]

Titration.

Reduce the dose very slowly over months.

I was weaned off diazepam (similar drug - benzodiazepines) 2mg every 2 weeks.

Good luck

[Khonkaen]

I have only been on 1mg and did taper that to 1/2 for 4 nights, now 2 nights of nothing, no difference. Thailand is very hot now, night and day and we bith have headcolds, so just keep trying.

Not sure whether to take one every week?

[17Nevil]

If you need them for your heart condition does it matter that they are addictive ?

I wouldn't stop any prescribed medicine without medical advice

[Khonkaen]

My original cardio in Thailand didn't give me any instructions and another has since told me to use only when needed.

[Dolphin14]

This Med needs to be tapered slowly. When you are down to half tab you should then cut to 1/4 tab.

If you go too fast you will have symptoms.

Your md or pharmacist should be able to give you the instructions to wean properly. You really should seek their advice.

If you go too fast it could effect you BP and heart rate.

Be careful.

[Khonkaen in reply to Dolphin14]

I have read about the dangers but they all relate to higher doses. I cut down to 1/2 (1mg) tablet for 3 nights and it was like taking nothing. It doesn't help that we both have nasty colds at present a bug that is going around here, the worst in mqany years.

I have been keeping an eye on my BP 138/89 so only slightly elevated.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Khonkaen]

Maybe get over the head cold first and then start tapering down. Also talk to your GP - you may need a maintenance dose of the medication.

[Khonkaen]

There are no decent GPs here that I know and the cardio is unavilable, but yes, I have put this on hold. Had a really bad panic attack this afternoon, after a power cut, resulting in heart pain and few other nasties.

[Khonkaen in reply to Khonkaen]

Yes, I was in a proper state, heart was acting up and couldn't wait, there was something wrong, so took a tablet and after 10 minutes took another and after 20 minutes started to settle down. Went to and won the pubquiz, got back home at 11pm fell straight asleep and first woke at 9am. Yes, waiting for the headcold to go. I am also looking at a local pschic approach.

[nilmonisikdar40]

Hi Khonkaen, I believe that will some will power and you return to colder climes in U.K., you will succeed in weaning off Lorazepam. What strength of Lorazepam are you on. Have you tried cutting the tablet in half and then half. Many of the tablet are scored and cutting into half is easy and if not buy tablet cutting device from pharmacy. Please do not have afternoon nap because it will affect night sleep.