Ativan user seeking advice on taper

[[Dj...]]

Hi all. I'm 36 and I started taking Ativan in late July of last year because I was having panic attacks. I would take .5-1 mg as needed and 1mg before bed. In the past couple months I've felt a lot better and am down to .5 before bed nightly. I started to wean a few weeks ago but was also very sick so decided to go back to .5 until my cold was gone. Since then I've felt nauseous, very drowsy and rundown. I think this is my body withdrawing while I'm still on the benzo but I can't be sure.  Anyone out there experienced this? Also looking for a help making a taper plan appropriate for someone at my dose and duration. Very happy to be here, don't wanna do this alone!

[[be...]]

the recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.  A gradual taper is the best way to minimize symptoms.

[[Dj...]]

hi thanks so much for replying. is that slow of a reduction rate necessary for .5mg/night dose? any feedback would be super helpful.

[[me...]]

Oftentimes as you get lower, you actually need to slow up the taper. Small doses can be quite powerful, so yes, don't even think about speeding up unless you feel great after every cut.

 

You might be experiencing inter-dose withdrawal. Make notes about when you have the most side effects and compare with when you are dosing. Most here who taper Ativan directly end up splitting the dose. The longer you are on it, the more dependence your body has, and the stronger you will feel both inter-dose withdrawal and dose reduction withdrawal.

[[Dj...]]

I had been gradually weaning off .5mg for a couple weeks, while also recovering from strep, when my doc told me to wait to get off the Ativan until I was fully healed from my infection. She said my blood pressure was high and I was having withdrawal symptoms. That night I went back to nightly .5mg Ativan and the next day I was nauseous. Been steadily nauseous ever since returning to regular dose. It kinda feels like a daily hangover but I don't drink. Does that make any sense re Ativan? I'm trying to rule out other things. Any feedback you have would be great, thank you!

[[Dj...]]

Oftentimes as you get lower, you actually need to slow up the taper. Small doses can be quite powerful, so yes, don't even think about speeding up unless you feel great after every cut.

 

You might be experiencing inter-dose withdrawal. Make notes about when you have the most side effects and compare with when you are dosing. Most here who taper Ativan directly end up splitting the dose. The longer you are on it, the more dependence your body has, and the stronger you will feel both inter-dose withdrawal and dose reduction withdrawal.

 

By splitting the dose, do you mean splitting the .5mg into two doses, tombs taken at different times during the day?

[[me...]]

Yes, I don't personally have any experience with Ativan or it's side effects. But most of the buddies who taper with it split the dose, even up to 4 times a day. You can keep the bulk of the dose for bedtime if the sedation is important for sleep.

 

It could be that your dependence has gotten stronger (from regular dosing), and that is why you are feeling it more. Hopefully a split dose would help cut down on some of your discomfort as you get off the drug. But hopefully you will feel a lot better as you get the dosage down.

[[mm...]]

I would switch to valium to make math and taper easier. but it is up to you. Love and strength.

[[cl...]]

I do experience hangover-like symptoms, even though I've quit drinking while on Ativan (an absolute must, or else your suffering will multiply dramatically).

From what I gathered, you cut your dose in half for your first taper? If so, that's WAY too much to cut at once. It's recommend that we cut by 10% every two weeks. Go too fast and you'll suffer hard, like I did foolishly the first time I tried to "jump."

 

Look up the word "Exitotoxicity." You'll find a warning about rapid benzodiazepine withdrawal leading to serious brain damage...scared me straight onto the slow taper program!

 

All the best,

JT

[[Ma...]]

Hey if you can, switch to valium as a taper. If you're unlucky like me and your doctor is a joke and makes u taper directly, then Cut down .25 or 5-10% every 2 weeks. The slower, the better.

[[Tr...]]

i was taking up to 3 mg ativan a day for 4 months. I tapered down to .5 twice a day. then I switched to valium. i'm down to 5mg vaium at bed time. I want to make my next cut to 3.75 mg but am having a hard time cutting the tablet in quarters. any advise?

[[Na...]]

i was taking up to 3 mg ativan a day for 4 months. I tapered down to .5 twice a day. then I switched to valium. i'm down to 5mg vaium at bed time. I want to make my next cut to 3.75 mg but am having a hard time cutting the tablet in quarters. any advise?

 

That's a large cut. Are using the 2mg pills?