Tapering .5mg Lorazepam after 6-month use, help!

[[Dj...]]

I have been on Ativan since late July, .5-2mg/daily. Then in September I went down to .5 and stayed there till now. Would people advise doing the 5-10% reduction every two weeks tapering plan for the small amount of .5mg? Or can I safely do a faster taper? ANy experience on this would be so helpful, since it's really hard to find people who have been through this in my regular life. Thanks!

[[...]]

I think regardless of how long anyone has been on a benzo it makes sense to find what rate brings on symptoms and remain below that. I usually recommend beginning this process at 8% a month, but if you feel your dependence is lighter you might try your luck at a higher value.

[[Dj...]]

thanks so much! so that's 8% down every two weeks? Any recs on how to do that with a dry pill?

[[...]]

No, I said per month so 8% down every four weeks. A good way to taper is to use liquid. IMO, benzo tapering screams for liquid. Some choose to remain with dry pills and use a scale, but that is more difficult and gives up accuracy.

[[Se...]]

I just started my taper a little over a month ago. I am doing a liquid taper off alprazolam (Xanax). The last four years I was only taking .25 mg at night. I was doing a 1% per day taper. Was doing well till last week. When I hit the 25% cut mark, I got slammed pretty bad. Not good, too fast.

 

SG57's 8% per month sounds more reasonable. You are more likely to retain the functionality you have now.

 

Best wishes on your taper.

[[Dj...]]

Thank you SG57 and Serenitee.

The thing is I'm not functioning very well right now. Since I started taking it, I've felt very physically affected by it. I think I've actually started to withdraw while on it. As of now, I feel sort of hungover from taking it at night, wake up with nausea, fatigue, and muscle aches that get better during the day. All of that to say, I desperately wanna get off this drug! But if it's the concensus here that going super slowly is the way to go, I will try that.