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Question about dosing schedule


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Hello

 

Right now i am taking 2 divided doses of 2.50mg of ativan everyday,  1.25 at 8 and 1.25 at 4.  However I am experiencing some interdose withdrawal.  If I change the schedule of the doses to three times a day does it take time for my body to adjust to the division?  Will I experience some withdrawal?

 

Thanks

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You might experience a short-term minor withdrawal if you simply start doing three doses instead of two.  It should only last a day or two.  It happens because you will take 0.833 mg at 8 instead of your regular 1.25.  So until you take your next dose, you'll be at a deficit compared to 'normal'.  And since it takes a little while for the drug to equilibrate in your body, you might feel that dosage lag for a day or two.

 

There are ways to compensate for the lag.  For example, you could take your normal 1.25 mg dose at 8 am, then do an 0.833 mg dose at 2 pm and 0.833 mg at 8 pm.  The next day (and all following days) you'd take 0.8333 mg at 8 am, 2 pm and 8 pm.  You should avoid the dosage lag if you do it that way.

 

You'll reduce the variability of drug in your bloodstream by around 12% by doing three doses a day instead of 2.  Dosing every 8 hours (e.g. 8 am, 4 pm, and midnight) would reduce the variability a little more.  Not sure if that will make a difference in your symptoms or not.  Your highest blood level will be lower than it was and your lowest blood level will be higher than it was.  So it might help.

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I was on Ativan 3-4 mg for 15 years.  I had a bad witdrawal 10 years ago.  After 5 falls in 6 years, including a broken pelvis, I have to get off.

If you can getnyour doctor to work with you with a valium switch over, this is longer acting and you will not get that craving after 4 hours or so.  Some experts feel short acting benzos like Ativan encourage more abuse because you feel cravis sooner and want to dose more.

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I switched to four doses a day personally and began feeling better pretty quickly. Interdose wd sucks. You might prefer more smaller doses. Give it a try.
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You might experience a short-term minor withdrawal if you simply start doing three doses instead of two.  It should only last a day or two.  It happens because you will take 0.833 mg at 8 instead of your regular 1.25.  So until you take your next dose, you'll be at a deficit compared to 'normal'.  And since it takes a little while for the drug to equilibrate in your body, you might feel that dosage lag for a day or two.

 

There are ways to compensate for the lag.  For example, you could take your normal 1.25 mg dose at 8 am, then do an 0.833 mg dose at 2 pm and 0.833 mg at 8 pm.  The next day (and all following days) you'd take 0.8333 mg at 8 am, 2 pm and 8 pm.  You should avoid the dosage lag if you do it that way.

 

You'll reduce the variability of drug in your bloodstream by around 12% by doing three doses a day instead of 2.  Dosing every 8 hours (e.g. 8 am, 4 pm, and midnight) would reduce the variability a little more.  Not sure if that will make a difference in your symptoms or not.  Your highest blood level will be lower than it was and your lowest blood level will be higher than it was.  So it might help.

 

Thank you for being so extremely helpful.  I will try this.

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You might experience a short-term minor withdrawal if you simply start doing three doses instead of two.  It should only last a day or two.  It happens because you will take 0.833 mg at 8 instead of your regular 1.25.  So until you take your next dose, you'll be at a deficit compared to 'normal'.  And since it takes a little while for the drug to equilibrate in your body, you might feel that dosage lag for a day or two.

 

There are ways to compensate for the lag.  For example, you could take your normal 1.25 mg dose at 8 am, then do an 0.833 mg dose at 2 pm and 0.833 mg at 8 pm.  The next day (and all following days) you'd take 0.8333 mg at 8 am, 2 pm and 8 pm.  You should avoid the dosage lag if you do it that way.

 

You'll reduce the variability of drug in your bloodstream by around 12% by doing three doses a day instead of 2.  Dosing every 8 hours (e.g. 8 am, 4 pm, and midnight) would reduce the variability a little more.  Not sure if that will make a difference in your symptoms or not.  Your highest blood level will be lower than it was and your lowest blood level will be higher than it was.  So it might help.

 

Thank you for being so extremely helpful.  I will try this.

 

Thank you!

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I switched to four doses a day personally and began feeling better pretty quickly. Interdose wd sucks. You might prefer more smaller doses. Give it a try.

 

Thanks I will talk to my psychiatrist about this.

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I'm finishing up the second day of my new schedule and I'm in very bad withdrawal. My head is having very bad sensations.  I'm so scared.  Is this normal when changing schedule?
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