I was prescribed Ativan 1mg per day as needed. For a few days I took 2 mg per day. Then went down to 1mg per day for 30 days taking .5mg in morning and .5mg at night. 2 weeks ago I decided I no longer wanted to be on it so my Dr. began weaning me off. He tapered me down to 1/2 twice a day for 2 days. Then 1/2 at noon for 2 days. I was then supposed to take 1/2 for 5 more days. Then I had surgery on my shoulder on the 3rd day so the Anesthesiologist told me to take any medicine I take in the morning. So I took my 1/2 in the morning before surgery. But before I was given Anesthesia they gave me 2 heaping Bags of Ativan intraveneously to aid in the process which is procedure. So that set me back a bit. So the next day I tried taking just the 1/2 at 3pm but by evening I was breaking out in huge welts and rashes that itched really bad and I became anxious a bit that evening so I took the other 1/2. So again I was set back. The next day I went back to the 1/2 at 3pm and had some dizziness and palpitations. But I didn't take another 1/2. So now I am taking half and really don't know what to do next. I no longer get the welts but I get really weird feelings of being on a cloud or spacey. And tonight I am experiencing a feeling of motion sickness but not vomiting. PLEASE HELP I AM SCARED AND WANT TO GET OFF THIS MEDICINE. PLEASE HELP ME KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. THANK YOU
Hey Danita, first don't panic. You're gonna get trough this. It is normal to experience withdrawal symptoms with Ativan, even at that dosage. I'm no specialist of course, so I recommend you to take an appointment with your doc and set up a plan. But I experienced Ativan withdrawal once and I remember the hell I had to go trough. Just try to remember that you're not gonna die from dizziness and palpitations nor from motion sickness. You're not gonna like it of course, but give your self a chance to adapt or to get trough this. I know it is scary and extremely incomfortable...but it passes. If I was you, I would try to stabalize my dosage for a few days, at a point where i'm "comfortable"/where I feel safe. From that point I would taper slowly instead of rushing the process. Also, tell a friend or your family and ask for support around you You don't have to be alone during this period.
Go see a specialist and remember, it will pass. You're stronger than you think you are.
Hi Jim thank you so much for your encouragement. I have been working with my Family physician (he prescribed the medicine) but he is really not much help. What type of specialist do you think I need? Also, I have been on this 1/2 a dose since last week Thursday and I am still having that cloudy or weird feeling and...is this normal? why am I feeling this way if we have tapered me the right way?
Oh I also meant to say that I have been experiencing a little bit of insomnia...something I have never experienced in my life before.
Hi Danita..the best way and the way recommended by Benzo specialist Proffessor Ashton is to swop to the equivalent dose of Diazepam as it has a longer half life.Google the Aston protocol ..print it off and take it to your GP
good luck..it needs to be done SLOWLY
Thank you Pat...will do!!
Yes I think it's normal. I'm currently getting off 2mg of diazepam that was prescribe to help me cope with zopiclone withdrawal....and I must say it was a mistake to take it. It is extremely hard to get off diazepam. I'm now at 0.5mg per day and i'm experiencing insomnia, shaking, dizziness, loss of memory, vivid dreams, feeling of being depress, intrusive thoughts, agitation, trembling, feeling of not being my self, cold, nausea, blurry vision, electric shocks sensation in the head. Well, this is getting ridicule. But I keep telling my self that it will pass. I don't know when, but it will. These are side effects, not a irreversible condition. So be wise with diazepam