High Dose Ativan 4-6 mg?

[[dr...]]

Hi,

  I see a lot of doses a lot lower than mine, and I haven't even begun my taper. I am pretty intimidated. I was on 4 mg for 3 years and 2&1/2 mg for 3 previous. (6 the last 3 weeks) I wondered if anyone on high doses can weigh in. Am I going to be doing this for 5 years or what?  Any positive words will help.

DD

[[...]]

DD,

I was on 30 mg Ativan and came off it for a year and thought I would just die. A year later, I was put on Valium and had to take it because I was responsible for two young children and needed to function again. I knew nothing about benzos or withdrawals but wow did I feel them!! I crossed to 30 mg Valium = 60 mg drop in Ativan.  I thought I would never come off benzos again because of my negative experience with that doctor in 1990 but I am here to tell the tale and to say I am coming off V now and am off all other medication since this year.

 

This is not a competition on doses but yours is not that high and you will manage to come off it if you use the Ashton method and cross over to Valium first, stabilise for a month and then start tapering. It is not a walk in the park.... there are withdrawals but it is possible to taper and feel fairly well throughout the months. The slower the better is the general consensus. I am on benzos since I was 18 (38 years) so I am 56 now and the taper is going fine and I have come off a few anti depressants first.....it is all okay, a day at a time. You will be fine. Just get some support and read the Ashton Manual http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/ or look up Professor Ashton on Youtube, she has been wonderful in paving the way for so many. She gives an overview of medications and equivalents in Valium (because it has a longer life in the body and is best to taper from). It is possible to taper from Ativan too - there is a thread here with information - read up, inform yourself and draw up a program to prepare yourself and get a doctor you trust to help you, keep an eye on you etc. I am in full control of my taper, this is essential for me. I decide when I cut, I decide what medication I need. My doctor is supporting me and psychiatrist too.

 

Good luck with your taper and just get information - knowledge is power. You need to feel good about yourself and believe in your ability and be able to take time to rest if you need it....all the best, Moya x

[[be...]]

Hi,

  I see a lot of doses a lot lower than mine, and I haven't even begun my taper. I am pretty intimidated. I was on 4 mg for 3 years and 2&1/2 mg for 3 previous. (6 the last 3 weeks) I wondered if anyone on high doses can weigh in. Am I going to be doing this for 5 years or what?  Any positive words will help.

DD

 

It won't take you five years. Far from it. Hang tough!  You can do this, as so many others have.

[[ca...]]

drad dog, i am not coming off Ativan but Klonopin 4mg`s and almost 20 years so i think you will be fine won`t get technical on ya but have you concidered a Valium cross over to a lower amount  of Ativan with Valium added this way your start a taper while switching over? I am doing that to get off K and then on a lower dose of Valium to fully taper. If you look at my doseage reduction you will see where i am at. Having some bad days but also some nice windows and for the most part staying pretty much active !Sure i have some W/D issues but so far other then a Panic Attack driving my truck at 65mph in the rain nothing to bad lol and actually feeling alot more alive !So let me know what ya think and don`t get to wrapped up in the bad stories on W/D`s it will just make things harder but if you do get some wierd shit ask about  it on the boards and most have probally had it. You we do fine Buddy dig deep but go Sloww it`s the destination you want not the ride so go Sloww !

[[dr...]]

    Thank you guys/gals so much. Moya, you are an inspiring story. I am misty eyed right now. I was so down I wanted to check in to my partial detox/taper tomorrow morning but never got the phone call back. Anyway it will happen soon and when it does I don't know what to expect. I was really suffering on 4 mg for a long time. I asked for and just went to 6 mg for comfort while waiting to get a new psych and a plan for a taper etc. But maybe it was too much. I feel the worst of both worlds; I'm sluggish and sleepy and high anxiety depressed with my IBS kicking in pain like a punch in the gut (which is the most prominent part of my situation usually)

  I am on 30 Prozac and also 1.8 Remeron trying to taper it off. However in hosp I think they are going to ask me to up the remeron and I think they may be right. I just don't know. I also can't figure out how they are going to do much progress in a week, pre-taper.

  My new psych is on board with a 36 stage taper but to Librium, which is ok as far as i know. I just worry about being able to stabilize. I have been out of work since 8/1 and can't see my way back. Applied for disability and everything. I was there 27 years.

  I admit I got a little down every time I saw someone in a lot of pain trying to come off of 1/2 mg A after 3 months.

All your contributions will make my days better. I'll try to add something to the mix. Thanks

DD

[[Ba...]]

I started at 60mg early august and I am now at 20mgs. I started with valium so didn't have to wrestle with the cross over which for some can be problematic - I don't think it will take 5 years to get off. I do know that I will start going slower the lower I get. However I am going to keep pushing through with cutting and holding (2 weeks hold) until I hit the road block. I don't know whether that will be 15mgs, 10 or 5. If not at all I will push through until 5 then decrease my dose drops to 1mg then. (0.5 if life is unbearable).

 

Everyone is different, and if it does take a few years even, just be assured that you are healing as you go down. Slow and steady wins this race. Listen to your body and try to make sure you have a supportive medical team around you and that your loved ones know and understand the big journey that you are facing.

 

Good luck with everything and we are always here to give support, advice, encouragement or just a shoulder.

 

Wishing you smooth sailing full of windows xo