Lorazepam taper

[[Gu...]]

I was taking 4mg lorazepam daily. Mostly at night to help sleep. I also take zolpidem. In the past 5 months I have dry cut a quarter every 7 to 10 days and have reached 2 mg. I found myself stuck here due to significant back pain. After reading a lot of topics this must be common due to muscle tightening.  Now I am starting water titration reducing 1ml daily. I will be taking 4 doses due to interdose withdrawal. Also thinking CBT ANF talk therapy might help. Should I  ask my doctor to give me valium instead of lorazepam and  10 mg zolpidem?. He wasn't very open to idea before and said if I have a problem I should go to rehab. Having been on these for 19 years doesn't seem viable. I am making progress and he will work with me if I don't upset the apple cart. How will I get off the zolpidem. Thanks Cindy

[[me...]]

Welcome to BenzoBuddies!  We are glad you decided to join us.  You'll find a lot of support and information on this forum, which is the only one of its kind online.  Many doctors have little real knowledge about the realities of benzo wd, and some will even cut patients off of meds they've been prescribing for years, so it is a good idea to manage one's own taper in situations like yours.

 

For those starting a taper, we generally recommend starting out at a rate of 5 to 10% every 10-14 days, then adjusting the taper to suit your own needs.  Note: very short term users may be able to taper faster.

 

Withdrawal symptoms, which vary widely but commonly include anxiety and insomnia, often occur during a taper, but these are temporary and will get better in time.  In general, first tapers are easier, but cold turkeys or multiple withdrawals may be more severe and longer lasting.  Here are a few links to get you started:

 

The Ashton Manual, a concise reference for tapering and symptom issues.  Chapter III contains excellent descriptions of common symptoms such as muscle issues, anxiety, and hyper-awareness

 

Withdrawal Support (during your taper)

 

Once again, welcome!