HELP needed to get off Ativan

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HI,

 

I have been on Ativan for over 9 weeks now and started out taking 1mg, now at .25 - please see my history below. My question is - what is the best way to proceed from here? i have tried to do a crossover to long acting valium since i am told this is the best way to withdraw (been taking v for past 5 days..) to avoid protracted symptoms. however other people tell me this is complicating things and i should get off the v and continue to taper down from the Ativan. People say i shouldn't have problems but i have experienced a worsening of my tinnitus in the last several weeks which i am concerned about.. i am also feeling rather fragile.. 

 

Advice please?

 

those who have already responded to me in a similar post don't have to again (but of course they are also welcome to)

 

luv and hugs from down under

 

XOX

 

 

[[Lo...]]

Congrats, on getting the ativan down to .25. Those .25mg cuts can be hard, and due to the short half-life of ativan, it is so easy to relapse. I'd definitely recommend smaller ativan cuts from now on (do you have a jewelry scale?), and would not jump before you are at .125mg or so of ativan.....

 

Do you take both ativan and valium in the evening, or do you take them throughout the day? How is your morning anxiety? What amount of external stress do you have in your life? How do you cope with the symptoms? Do you find them manageable or do you get panic attacks that make you think of going to ER?

 

Is there a reason why you want to be off in 2/3 weeks?

 

There are various levels of withdrawal. For some people it's mild, and some are totally dysfunctional with most people somewhere in between.

 

Sorry about all the questions. Just asking, because, while being benzo free is a great goal, the amount of external stress and relationship stress and other things in life can definitely make the wd more difficult. Balance and patience are key here

 

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HI - i had been taking both at night but then it occurred to me that i should take them maybe separately so starting to take ativan at 6pm and then valium before bed (and through the night). i combined them coz i heard that you can have withdrawal between doses with ativan... so i thought taking the two at separate times might help (and i think it may have but it's too early too tell)

 

maybe i have been reducing too quick with the A - it's just that the tabs are so small and i only started on 1mg.. thought .25 at a time would be ok, plus i had started reducing after 3 weeks (tho the doses haven't always been consistent).. but maybe i am more sensitive than most?? it's hard to tell tho coz i think that half of the symptoms might anxiety INDEPENDENT of the drug withdrawal..

 

morning anxiety is moderate - sometimes worse, sometimes better, the evenings are best for me - this is when i am more able to relax (although it doesn't guarantee me a good night sleep..)

 

there has been much external stress - with job, with pets.. just put one cat to sleep dec 17, now have to do another today - very hard for both my hubby and i to handle..

 

my most worrying symptoms are the tinnutus and insomnia.. had tinnitus since 17 but worse in last few weeks coz of withdrawal/stress - i know it should fade with time but i worry that it might become protracted and that the way i withdraw might be a factor. do you have experience with this symptom? i know stress makes it worse. yesterday had a good day and it was reduced. today it is much worse due to pet issue..

 

i am happy to withdraw more slowly if that is what is required to make things smoother, but others say the valium is complicating things and i should get off it quick smart (have been taking it for last 5 days)..

 

i'm really not sure what to do.. do staying on the benzo's a little longer make the tinnitus worse or is it the way i withdraw that counts? i have read that coming off too quick can increase chance of protracted withdrawal.. that is why i have introduced the v

 

any advice would be appreciated.. esp re tinnitus

 

XOX

 

P.S. no scales good enough to measure small amounts - i just have to estimate with the splitting which is not accurate i know but best method avail to me

 

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it even occurred to me - since i have terrible trouble with waking early and not being able to fall asleep again - maybe i should take the .25 ativan at that time instead?? and reserve the v for bed time and maybe once during the day (e.g. .5 during day and then 1mg before bed?)?

[[Lo...]]

Yes, since you're taking all your doses in the evening, your probably experiencing the morning adrenaline jolts. Probablly taking .25mg ativan in the am is a better idea, so when the blood concetration falls by evening, there's the valium dose to save you . Valium has better sleep properties (it's a hypnotic), although that wears off after a while. I do use some melatonin for sleep as well.... Some people react well to it, some don't....

 

I'd pick an exact time to take that ativan in the morning and stick to it.

 

Please don't take my advice as a given. So much trial/error with this meds. It's a very inexact science. The most important thing in tapering is listening to your body and following your intuition.

 

Also, staying away from coffee, sugar and any other stimulants is wise.

[[...]]

thanks Lorazepamfree - so did you experience the early morning adrenaline jolts that prevented further sleep? if so what did you do re that? 

 

thanks

[[be...]]

HI,

 

I have been on Ativan for over 9 weeks now and started out taking 1mg, now at .25 - please see my history below. My question is - what is the best way to proceed from here? i have tried to do a crossover to long acting valium since i am told this is the best way to withdraw (been taking v for past 5 days..) to avoid protracted symptoms. however other people tell me this is complicating things and i should get off the v and continue to taper down from the Ativan. People say i shouldn't have problems but i have experienced a worsening of my tinnitus in the last several weeks which i am concerned about.. i am also feeling rather fragile.. 

 

Advice please?

 

those who have already responded to me in a similar post don't have to again (but of course they are also welcome to)

 

luv and hugs from down under

 

XOX

 

A cross over is typically only done when one has difficulty tapering directly from the benzodiazepine they are on. It looks like you had some pretty substantial cuts while you were on the Ativan. The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.  Reducing too quickly can cause some pretty rough symptoms...like the ones you listed.  Tinnitus is very common in withdrawal. Your use was fairly short. I don't know how long you have been on the V. If it has been just a few days you may consider stopping it and just tapering from the Ativan.

[[...]]

thanks benzos-are-cruel

 

i have been on .25 AT now for the last week, am i supposed to feel like i have stabilsed before cutting further? i have had a lot of stress, had to put to sleep 2 pets lately so not doing well.. i have been on the V for 6 days now - between 1.5 and 2.5mg - mostly 1.5mg. my idea was to rather than come off the V to do final cut of AT to .125 for the next week and in that time keep the V going for next few weeks, at least on an as needed, but certainly no more that 2mg per day (then of course wean off that). does this sound OK? i just don't feel confident about coming off the V yet as i am a bit of a wreck at times and feel i need a backup. Also concerned about tinnitus getting worse if the withdrawal gets more severe.. Please advise

 

luv and hugs from down under

 

XOX

 

P.S. had no idea at the time that my taper was too harsh - thought .25 was way to go and they are such tiny tabs - it's easy to underestimate their power..

[[Lo...]]

@[19...]

 

http://benzosupport.org/my_mornings.htm

 

I'd recommend you look at ativan support group at

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=44903.0

 

There are collective experiences of people who have been tapering ativan. Probably the best place to be on the forum for that. But, do trust your instincts and listen to your body. Try not to beat yourself too much about going up and down the dose. Now, you know what happens and you're more the wiser for that experience and know more about these pills than you did before. Yes, .25mg is a big jump when you take ativan daily, regardless if it is long term or short term....

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thanks sooo much Lorazepamfree

 

XOX