48 Hours Ativan-free

[[mk...]]

Hello, all.

 

I am a 41-year old in the greater NYC area. I have anxiety and panic disorders, dutifully take my Zoloft and see my therapist, and am working with my therapist and my doctor to kick my Ativan addiction.

 

I've been taking Ativan for almost 10 years. It started off as something I only took when I traveled by airplane. It eventually became something I took every night to sleep. And in the past year it became something I took twice a day. Not because I had to. But because I wanted to.

 

I was up to 2MG twice a day. I started to taper at the beginning of June. By last week I was down to .5MG once a day, side effect-free. It's now been just over 48 hours without a dose.

 

The withdrawal is unpleasant but not severe. Headache, dizziness, light sensitivity, dry mouth, restless leg, alternately no appetite and then voracious appetite, the sweats, some brain zaps...the usual.

 

I'm terrified that it will get much worse, but I'm even more terrified to throw in the towel on this process. While my partner is extremely supportive, and my therapist & doctor are very encouraging, it can definitely feel pretty lonely on this journey.

 

So I'm going out of my comfort zone and posting here. It's super early in my recovery and I think this community can help me. I'm inspired by the courage and honesty from those who have done this before me. Thank you for leading the way.

 

MK

[Guest [Le...]]

Hello, mknj76 - welcome to BenzoBuddies, and congratulations on being benzo-free!

 

Well, I'm certainly happy to see a fellow New Yorker here.

 

I also took Ativan for years, took a hard jump at 0.5 mg, and am now well on the road to getting my life back. Based on my experience, if you're only having those symptoms now, you may escape without it getting much worse. You've definitely come to the right place to finish your recovery.

 

I'm so glad you decided to join the forum - you'll find plenty of information and support here. Our members have gone through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal, so you'll be able to connect with others who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.

 

Based on the information provided in your introduction, the following link may be a good starting place for you to post your questions.

 

  Post-withdrawal Recovery Support

 

When you have a chance, I recommend that you take a look at The Ashton Manual, which is an authoritative resource on what to expect during withdrawal and recovery. It provides a great deal of information that can be very reassuring during any stage of this process, including a list of common symptoms with helpful explanations.

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature. This will allow members to see where you are in the process, so that they can better support you.

 

Looking forward to seeing you on the forum!

Leslie