I have been taking .5 mg of lorazepam for about a month for anxiety. After reading all the horror stories I want off it. When I asked my psychiatrist if I didn’t take it would I have any problems and he said no it’s such a small dose use it only if u need it.
Thank you la12 for your positive help on this forum. I notice this was three years ago and wondering if you are still doing well. I myself am coming off Lorazepam and have dropped from 4mg to 3mg in 8 weeks. Over the next 8 weeks my doctor is dropping me .5 mg off my first 1 mg of the morning. Do you have any positive advice for me.
Back in 2003 I was addicted to adivan. I was on 0.5 mg every other day to every third day. Nobody could believe that I was addicted on such a very low dose. I was in the same position as you I wanted positive feedback. The one thing that I can tell you which was true for me was that once you are off of Ativan and you’re with drawl is done you are less anxious than you were before you ever took your first adivan. I read that online and it was so true for me. Just hang in there it does get better just have to have faith in that.
Thank you so much Gary. That has helped me so much. I have dropped from 4mg to 3mgs in 8 weeks and now down to 2.5 mg and things are getting better already. It is more the fear of what is going to happen because of some horrendous reviews I heard. Another thing that has helped me was a person who said it is a psychological attachment. Once you know this, it is not so frightening. Also once you make up your mind that you hate this drug because it and doctors can control you it gives you more determination to gradually reduce and get it out of your system. Thank you again because your outcome was positive.
I thank you for your positive help. It is really helping me. Personally I did not find the Heather Ashton Manuel helpful. I found it quite alarming.
I used to keep a sign above my computer that said "The only way out is through". I used to read that to myself a lot. Don't forget, benzo w/d runs the full spectrum. From very mild to very severe withdrawal. I was VERY SEVERE. The scariest thing for me was the unknown. Not knowing when it would all end was the worse. No matter how long it takes it will be over at some point and you will get on with your life, guaranteed. I was like you. I would frequently say I only want positive stories, not horror stories. So I understand.
BTW taking Calcium/Magnesium tablets helped with the anxiety while going thru w/d
Did you decide to come off Ativan at your pace. Whilst I want to be off these and determined to do it my doctor is pushing me and also I am recovering from shingles but this did not make any difference to her. Treated shingles as though it was just a cold. I really want to be under a doctor who lets me take it at my pace. Any advice. I have dropped 1 1/2 in 6 weeks with very little w/d. Mind you I had shingles four weeks ago and still suffering so I probably did not notice withdrawal too much. Planning to drop another half this month.
Think doctors just want people off these and there is a big push to do this.
Do not think there are any other doctors in Medway area who would be more understanding. Our local pharmacist said they are all the same!!!!!
Yes I did the w/d all myself. I cut those tiny ativans with a razor blade. I was seeing a psychologist who refused to believe that ativans were addictive. He though after two weeks you would be done with it. During w/d I was cold all of the time and would cry at the drop of a hat.
Hi everyone!
I will start by saying that I have scared the crap out of myself by reading all the horror stories of getting off benzo's. I will not go on benzobuddies again! I was prescribed .5mg of ativan back in 2016 for my occasional anxiety attacks. I was having bad anxiety over certain triggers. I only took the ativan when needed at that time. Fast forward to almost a year and a half ago and I started getting anxiety in the night. I would wake up with heart palpitations and shaking. So i started taking .25mg of ativan at night, every night. I asked the doctor if it was safe to do this and he said yes it would be fine. I wish he would have told me no, stop immediately. Skip forward to almost 2 months ago. I hurt my back and ended up getting sick from the prednisone they put me on. Then here came full blown anxiety! Every morning I have been waking up shaking uncontrollably. I started to take a little more ativan here and there but nothing consistent and then decided to go back to my .25 mg every night. I have had my thyroid checked completely and they even tried to put me on zoloft and it seemed to make my shaking worse so I got off. I now finally think that it is the ativan that is doing this to me and I want off. I have been on .25mg for that past 3 or 4 nights. I still wake up shaking every morning and have terrible insomnia. My whole body shakes during the day but it gets better if I get moving and keep busy.I threw up this morning but not sure if its from withdrawal or nerves. I wonder if i built a tolerance to it and now am in tolerance withdrawal. I just want off and want this poison out of my body. My anxiety before taking ativan was much more tolerable then it is right now. My plan is to take the .25mg for 7-10 days, then cut them in half to .125mg for 7-10 days and then get off. This would be considered too fast on most of the websites? So I am not sure what to do. I am already going through withdrawal and I haven't even began to taper. I do go to my new doctor on Tuesday who also wants me off the ativan. Any advice or positive thoughts would be very much appreciated!
Firstly do not go in benzo buddies or other non positive forums. A man on this forum helped me. He said the addition is mainly psychological. What you are on is minimal but as soon as you know you are coming off your brain tells you to panic. Because it is a habit just like any other which pattern has established itself in your brain. You decide what you are going to do. Plan how much you are going to drop and do it how your body feels. I have come down from 4 a day to 2.5 a day in six weeks. Every time I started to think about dropping I told myself the habit is psychological and also I am a Christian and prayed to Jesus to withdraw me with no anxiety. However I am realistic too. Go at your own pace. There is no hurry. Just listen to good reviews generally people on benzo buddies have had bad experiences. I have been on these tablets 17 years and so far going from 4 a day to 2.5 has not been too bad. I also have a very pushy doctor who feels she cannot leave me on them even though I am seventy. Just take everyday as it comes. If you feel your doctor is not understanding get in touch with NHS England who have an email you can talk to them. They helped me and actually rang the practice manager and since then I have had more co-operation from my doctor. If you want the email address I can give it to you. I will pray for you that you find the help and co-operation you need. Hope this helps. Godbless Gillian433545
Thank you Gillian! The uncontrollable nervous shaking and anxiety that has been going on for the past month is scary but I know my body is trying to tell me something. Something has got my nervous system in overdrive and the only thing I can think of is the Ativan. It goes away for a little while at night after taking the Ativan so I am almost positive it is my body saying it needs more but I won’t give it more. I do not care for meds and while I believe there is a time and place for them, I would never have taken this horrible drug had I known the consequences I haven’t met my new doctor yet. She came highly recommended and I was told is not quick to medicate. One of the stipulations of them taking me on was that we get me off Ativan which I am all for! I have 3 small boys I stay home and care for and the thought of not getting through this scares me! I am normally a very happy, outgoing person and this is taking a toll on me. I also called and talk to my pharmacist yesterday. He was very helpful, we live in a small town and I know him well. He said he took .25mg of Xanax every night for a year and then just quit cold turkey and was fine. That I wish I could do but read everywhere that it is extremely dangerous
Yes I understand how you feel with small boys to care for. You must emphasize that you are in this position to the doctor who has a duty of care. Do you have any help or family who can help. It makes me cross when they want you off these and just leave you without support. Ask to speak to a psychologist for back up. Keep in touch. Get in touch with NHS England they will put pressure on your GP to help.
Do not go cold turkey just gradually taper. I encourage everyone on this site to get behind you. One man on here said once off he felt calmer than ever
Just take care and keep in touch.
Annie1963, how are you doing with your taper? Are you Benzo free now?
Gary can I ask you how long you were taking Ativan for and how long it took you to taper and get through all the withdrawals?
I am glad to be of help.
I had been taking ativan for 20 years or so before w/d. However, in the beginning I was taking one about every month. I slowly of the years increased to .5 msg every other day or so. I took about 2 months to get off of it.