Tapering off Ativan Support Thread

[[an...]]

Rosegal,

 

You should feel better by spreading out the doses. It might take a few days or so before you feel more stable.

 

I hope you are feeling better today.

 

Anne

[[ro...]]

Yes, thank you Anne.

 

Again I asked my doctor and he said to just take when needed...I said I needed a steady dosage and he didn't agree...he's my pdoc, an addiction specialist.....well known here where I live..

I get discouraged...

 

Thank you. Rose

[[Sy...]]

Yes, thank you Anne.

 

Again I asked my doctor and he said to just take when needed...I said I needed a steady dosage and he didn't agree...he's my pdoc, an addiction specialist.....well known here where I live..

I get discouraged...

 

Thank you. Rose

 

Hi Rose,

I went to my trusted resources and got the name of the addiction specialist in my town, very well known as well. He was pretty clueless, and treated me like a heroin addict, to boot. I understand getting discouraged too. But he did one thing that was great for me. He looked me straight in the eye and said, You're going to fail. You'll never make it. My magic words. They make me respond, Watch this. So, don't get discouraged, get better! (I plan to send this yahoo a card when I jump)

Let me know how you are doing, and keep getting support from BB. It is the best!

Sydney

[[ce...]]

It's been a really long time since I posted anything on this website.  I used to post here on the Ativan Support Thread a lot.  It has been several years now since I went through withdrawal and my long hellish taper, but I'm healed and going strong now.

 

Ativan is so hard to taper because you have to split the doses so many times a day in order to taper safely.  I dosed 4 times a day just to try to avoid the withdrawal between doses.  Had I to do this over again I would have tapered a different longer acting benzo, but at the time I didn't know better.  It can be done, but it takes a lot of diligence and effort.  When I started all of this I was on a very high dose of Klonopin before my doctor switched me to Ativan. He switched me to Ativan because that's what the ER gave me every time I was in the hospital. Yes these damn drugs put me in the hospital more times than I'd like to count.

 

But, you can overcome this. Find a good taper plan or make your own taper plan (which is what I did because my doctors were useless in helping me taper off of this. Note, doctors do not care if you're dependent on benzo's for life.)

 

Sending you all love and wishing you the best for a happy recovery.

 

Cedar

[[ro...]]

Dear Sydney. And cedar tree....

 

I'm scared again,, I'm 62 and now back on ativan. Img.. It does not help,with sleep like it did,,

 

I can get from valium bc I was not functioning and severely depressed...the dr believed that the valium was more depressing. And I couldn't jump from 3.25 mg valium, so I'm taking zoloft to helps depression, I pray, and ativan for a while until zoloft kicks in , then taper...

But I'm so depressed , cry much....only on zoloft a week now...have to wait, I know....

I don't know how old you ladies are, but I'm 62. And worry that I have damage or that this is harder to do...

 

I appreciate your replies... I'm not sire how or when I will resume taper....hoping to get this severe depression under some control..

 

Did you both have a good support ar home..I do not..I'm married, but we are separated in our house..

It's so hard..

Lonely..it's hard for me to get out..tired, some fear, you know........

Hugs.  Rose

[[ce...]]

Hi Rose.  I am not a doctor, but I can share my experience.

 

I suffered tremendous anxiety and depression while tapering from Ativan.  Unfortunately it is par for the course for most people. Your body is having to detox off of a chemical that has become part of every cell in your body.  It isn't in any way easy.  But it is only my opinion that adding more drugs can make the process more difficult and drawn out simply because you will not know what is causing your symptoms.  The hard cold truth is that every single psychiatric medication has a huge list of side effects that go along with them. 

 

First off, you are trying to give your mind and body a fighting chance at healing, so think in terms of detoxing and making your body clean from this poison.  My best advice in tapering from any benzo...

 

1. Do not add more medications

2. Eat very clean healthy whole foods

3. Drink a lot of water

4. Make yourself get some bit of exercise if you can (even if it's going for a walk to the mailbox)

5. Get outside once in a while, sun is healthy. Get that vitamin D.

6. Practice meditation and deep breathing for anxiety

7. You must absolutely believe that your body is going to heal.  Bodies do heal and this is no exception.

8. You are never too old to beat this. Your life and what is left of it is valuable.  Tell yourself this and believe it.

9. Practice positive speech.  Say I "can" do this, I am strong enough, I will beat this, etc.  (yes this does matter, a lot, the body achieves what the mind believes)

10. When the pain from w/d is severe, distract distract distract. Watch movies, read books, take up knitting, painting, anything. This is a long process, stay busy, focus outside of your pain.

11. Never stop tapering. Make a good taper plan and follow it religiously. I made cuts when I didn't feel like it because it was too important to get on with my life and be free from this. 

12. Find a support system. Friends, family, anyone who will empathize. Never be afraid to ask for help. If you don't have support at home, this is a good place to get support.

 

I took benzo's and other psych drugs for 20 plus years. At one time I was taking up to 10 medications at the same time.  I do not take any medications now and am happier and healthier than when my doctors kept me drugged. They all said I'd never be able to live without the medications and they were wrong.  Believe in your bodies ability to heal. Believe that you can make a taper plan and follow it.  You are not too old.  I am in my 40's, but I have known people personally including my mother who is older than you get free from benzo's.  My mother by the way is a completely different person now. She is no longer confused, depressed, anxious, she can think clearly and be rational. Her mind is healthy and her body is healthy now because her mind is well.  That is exactly why it is so important to taper and get this over with.  You cannot have a healthy successful life taking benzo's for so many years.  It rips away who you are, your potential and puts you in a zombie state.  Focus on all the reasons why it's so important to become free from this and use that as your motivation.

 

Much love, you can do this.  It's not too late.

 

Cedar

 

 

[[Ki...]]

Cedar - THANK YOU so much for returning to give us all a little hope. When I first landed here feeling desperate and overwhelmed, you were very kind answering my PM's and here you are again spreading hope.

 

Rose - are you on Valium and Ativan now, or just the Ativan?

 

Sydney - welcome to the thread!

[[ro...]]

Thank you cedar, all excellent suggestions..

I try all those things, I have tremendous stress, adversities with husband and mother...just an ongoing draining situatio a, so I find myself on choppy, unsettled waters....I try to float, really hard most days to stay calm, assured..

I am still here at bb, because I want to taper and find that return to wellness...

Thank you for caring and offering much wisdom and reassurance...

Hugs.  Rose

 

 

 

Kiddo,

I'm at 1 mg ativan..... about 4 weeks now...my family dr and I decided the valium was contributing to severe depressed state.    .my pdoc was out  of town 3 weeks, no one on his place.. I cried all day. Into evening. So , we tried this, and then my  pdoc. Just added the Zoloft 6 days ago...low dose now...to go up to 25 mg next week if I'm tolerating it ok...I seem to be.

 

I want to taper, but my depression was/ is severe..

Thank you for asking....

I have to find some relief. I know tapering a Benzo can cause depression as a wd sx, but mine was near being hospitalized.. Trying to do what's best, not sure yet, but still hopeful..

 

 

Love. Rose

 

[[Ki...]]

Rose - are you splitting your dose up through the day? IMO, it's imperative to dose 3-4 times a day in order to be successful. I'd hate to see you having to start dealing with interdose. We can help you with the splitting of your doses if need be 

[[ro...]]

Ok thank you kiddo..

I am taking. .25  on am.    .25 at 1 pm.  And .5. At bedtime..

Does that seem ok?

 

Or I can take .5 am. And .5 pm...

 

I'm not sure..

 

[[Ki...]]

That's fine Rose  Some people only need to dose 3x a day....I dose 5x a day, but will admit it's a little excessive. You're doing great. 

[[Mi...]]

Rose - I'm so sorry to hear you are having such a rough time - both with the benzos and family. The Valium is depressing for a lot of us, so I had to quit switching over to Valium and am now on part V and part Ativan, trying to taper the Ativan first. It's hard. I hope Zoloft works for you - I know a lot of people who take it. I can't tolerate the side effects of any antidepressant.

 

I understand about being tired, fearful, and unable to get out of the house. That's the condition I'm in now. I'm trying to learn to cope, and today when I woke up with crushing depression I made myself get up and clean house. When this withdrawal is all over (I have at least two more years to go) I will have the cleanest house in the world. At first, I figured "why bother" about cleaning house because I don't have guests come over any more and my husband is content with the way the house is - but I do it to keep myself busy. To kill some hours, to use up some of that anxious energy. But sometimes I'm just too tired to move. That's when the depression gets the worst. I wish I had some magic answers for you. When I am coming out of a depressing nap or just so sad I can't stand it, I breathe deeply and tell myself over and over "Life is good." If I think it enough times, maybe it will soak into my brain. It has to. It's the only way I can go on. This is life. I think it was John Lennon who said something like "Life is what's going on while we're waiting for something to happen."

 

I know it's hard to read advice from benzo buddies and find that what works for them just doesn't seem to work for you, or you feel unable to do it. If you can find anything that works for you - just a little, do it over again and keep searching for something else that will help.

 

I agree that taking no meds is best, if you can ever possibly do that, because antidepressants and sleep meds can be addictive and problematic too. Probably you didn't want to hear that. You have to do what you have to do, so I'm not criticizing you for taking antidepressants. I swore by Prozac for years before it quit working for me.

 

I'm wishing you a better day today, and the next and the next. Keep posting on Benzo Buddies. We hear you and we understand.

 

- MirandaJane

 

 

[[ro...]]

Hi Miranda Jane,

Thank you for talking to me..

I hope the Zoloft works too , probably too soon to tell right now...

The side effects aren't too bad right now...a little woozy, I sure wish it would make me tired, then I'd nap....

 

My sleep always suffers.. Even before the zoloft..

On ativan and valium.. That's why I tried to taper last year..I wished to be med free and initially was caught up in teeing and expecting to be healed as I went down, thinking if I'm half way , then my cns has healed half way. And I'm stronger...but I learned so much...that the lower I got, I didn't feel healed or better.. I know it's differnt for everyone...

Then there's my ongoing stressors..o can never catch my breath...

I keep waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Sad, but that's what has continued this past year.,every time I felt I passed a bad experience, something happened again...so I'm anxious.  Always working on it..I started to walk more outdoors..

I watch my diet.. I try to get out to a cafe or see my sis or go to market when I can..I have gone to the mall, but it's hard, but I have shopped...

This is life..yes, it's hard to feel this way everyday...fear, anxiety, sadness, worry...tired...

 

But I keep going on, that's what I have to do..

My depression was so bad , I thought of hospitalization.. I'm hoping for some. Relief. I still cry, but maybe I'm hoping this zoloft helps me cope better..not a miracle pill, but to help me hold on...just to get depression under some control..no amt of self talk was helping.. No books, meditations, nothing,

I prayed for some help.. I hope it helps...

 

Thank you , yes, I will keep posting and know ppl here understand..

 

Thank you for the welcoming..

Hugs.  Rose

[[ce...]]

Cedar - THANK YOU so much for returning to give us all a little hope. When I first landed here feeling desperate and overwhelmed, you were very kind answering my PM's and here you are again spreading hope.

 

Rose - are you on Valium and Ativan now, or just the Ativan?

 

Sydney - welcome to the thread!

Wow, Kiddo!  You're almost finished with your taper.  Fantastic!  Oh my, you could even end this now if you wanted too. Congrats!  I know it's been a long hard road.  .09 mgs.....wow! This is your year for benzo freedom!!!  I get really excited when I hear that people are benzo free.  This is proof that anyone can get off of this if you're diligent and stick to a plan.

 

I am just so happy for you. 

[[ce...]]

Rose, I personally do not think that dosing three times a day is enough when tapering Ativan.  4-5 times a day is much better. The only thing is that you have to watch the clock like a hawk.  If you miss a dose it can be unpleasant.  Set an alarm on your phone or just know what time each day to take your doses.  But, as you can see, Kiddo1977 is almost finished with her taper and I have been off benzo's for several years now, so it can be done. 

[[ro...]]

Cedar, how did you handle stressors of living..like sick older patents, or marital discord, etc...

I know we have to push through, but some traumas can set a person back, just to survive ...until the time passes...did you have to go thru. Bad times...I'm just wondering, bc that's my Achilles heel..

My weakest variable ....

It's my undoing many days..

 

If you can share...

 

It's tough no matter , I know...

I know ativan can be guick to,wear off.....

So far I'm ok....

I was considering 4x day....

Hugs

[[We...]]

Hi everyone,

 

I just need to NOT feel alone right now. so depressed, panicky, dizzy, etc

 

 

I wish I could have some cyber hugs

[[bo...]]

((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))

Just for you WeCanDoThis16 xxxxxx

 

(((((Hugs))))))

And some extras for during the day xxx

[[bo...]]

Hi Miranda Jane,

Thank you for talking to me..

I hope the Zoloft works too , probably too soon to tell right now...

The side effects aren't too bad right now...a little woozy, I sure wish it would make me tired, then I'd nap....

 

My sleep always suffers.. Even before the zoloft..

On ativan and valium.. That's why I tried to taper last year..I wished to be med free and initially was caught up in teeing and expecting to be healed as I went down, thinking if I'm half way , then my cns has healed half way. And I'm stronger...but I learned so much...that the lower I got, I didn't feel healed or better.. I know it's differnt for everyone...

Then there's my ongoing stressors..o can never catch my breath...

I keep waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Sad, but that's what has continued this past year.,every time I felt I passed a bad experience, something happened again...so I'm anxious.  Always working on it..I started to walk more outdoors..

I watch my diet.. I try to get out to a cafe or see my sis or go to market when I can..I have gone to the mall, but it's hard, but I have shopped...

This is life..yes, it's hard to feel this way everyday...fear, anxiety, sadness, worry...tired...

 

But I keep going on, that's what I have to do..

My depression was so bad , I thought of hospitalization.. I'm hoping for some. Relief. I still cry, but maybe I'm hoping this zoloft helps me cope better..not a miracle pill, but to help me hold on...just to get depression under some control..no amt of self talk was helping.. No books, meditations, nothing,

I prayed for some help.. I hope it helps...

 

Thank you , yes, I will keep posting and know ppl here understand..

 

Thank you for the welcoming..

Hugs.  Rose

 

Hi Rose

 

Like you I am tapering directly off ativan... It is hard and life gets in the way most days!!

Anxiety just keeps pushing its way through, and I am usually in a constant battle with myself. It IS tiring, and I find scary that it seems such a tightrope. Some days all that keeps me going is this curiosity about these little 'glimpses' of normality that I find I get now..

I am dosing three times a day.. I used to only dose in the evenings until I realised

I was going into interdose withdrawal almost everyday ...the side effects were crippling... The minute I changed to three doses things became a lot better.. My friend is on four doses a day. Dosing regularly I feel helps keep the stability of the drug in your system which is super important...

I don't want to sound lame but one thing I did when  trying to cope with all the other stressors  in my life was find 30 mins a day just for me...personally I practise meditation/ mindfulness but equally when my mind was so scattered I found just sitting and being still was valuable...

We are doing well, and there are those that have 'gone before' and tapered off ativan so it can be done...

Take care xxx

[[Gr...]]

Should I jump? That is the question I've been asking myself the last little while. I'm down to 0.039mg. I have not had any symptoms since early February. At my current taper rate I'd be done in about 45 days or so. I used to hold on the weekends but am not even doing that anymore. Should I just keep going down to zero? I won't taper past 0.009 that's for sure. Anybody jump from around where I'm at now? Hope everyone is doing well and a special hello to all the new people. You'll get through this don't worry. Love you all!!

 

GIT

[[ce...]]

Hi everyone,

 

I just need to NOT feel alone right now. so depressed, panicky, dizzy, etc

 

 

I wish I could have some cyber hugs

Cyberhugs WeCanDoThis!

[[ce...]]

Cedar, how did you handle stressors of living..like sick older patents, or marital discord, etc...

I know we have to push through, but some traumas can set a person back, just to survive ...until the time passes...did you have to go thru. Bad times...I'm just wondering, bc that's my Achilles heel..

My weakest variable ....

It's my undoing many days..

 

If you can share...

 

It's tough no matter , I know...

I know ativan can be guick to,wear off.....

So far I'm ok....

I was considering 4x day....

Hugs

Oh goodnight, let's see.  When I was going through w/d my husband lost his job, we lost our home, had to live with family, were broke, sick, family issues, couldn't care for my child or family because I was unable to even care for myself because I was bedridden for over 2 years. Yeah, I get it, life is a bitch, then you're sick and it's worse.  I guess I reached a place in life that I had no choice but to taper.  It was that or I was going to die. I had reached a tolerance where the drugs were not working at all anymore and they were causing suffering unimaginable.  Maybe I had to get to that place where I had no choice.  Humans cannot take these drugs forever, one way or another they will turn on you that's why I believe it's so important to taper safely and to never put it off. 

 

Those years I was tapering were the worst and most terrifying years of my life.  If the drugs didn't kill me I wasn't sure I wouldn't end my own life because the pain was so excruciating and I was so alone.  I learned how to meditate on my own and find ways to survive because I had no choice. I wanted to live, I wanted to feel what it was like to be normal and healthy again and that drove me.  I wasn't going to let it beat me and I didn't.  At the time it felt like I would be disabled forever, that I would never be able to live a normal life.  But I was wrong.  I have healed, I am working, caring for myself and my family and doing "normal" people activities. 

 

Every once in a while I have to come back to this website to remind myself of how far I've come and what I've overcome.  I have not only survived, but now thrive.  Everyone can do this, but unless you have a really solid taper plan in place it's pointless because there will always be things in life that get in the way. 

 

I wish I could share this message with everyone here.

[[ce...]]

Should I jump? That is the question I've been asking myself the last little while. I'm down to 0.039mg. I have not had any symptoms since early February. At my current taper rate I'd be done in about 45 days or so. I used to hold on the weekends but am not even doing that anymore. Should I just keep going down to zero? I won't taper past 0.009 that's for sure. Anybody jump from around where I'm at now? Hope everyone is doing well and a special hello to all the new people. You'll get through this don't worry. Love you all!!

 

GIT

Yes Yes Yes!  Kick it to the curb.  You're done.  Let the healing begin.  I jumped at that dose!  Congrats GreenIrish!

[[...]]

Should I jump? That is the question I've been asking myself the last little while. I'm down to 0.039mg. I have not had any symptoms since early February. At my current taper rate I'd be done in about 45 days or so. I used to hold on the weekends but am not even doing that anymore. Should I just keep going down to zero? I won't taper past 0.009 that's for sure. Anybody jump from around where I'm at now? Hope everyone is doing well and a special hello to all the new people. You'll get through this don't worry. Love you all!!

 

GIT

 

Normally I would say taper to zero, but there have been two people I know of that had exceedingly good daily tapers and they were symptomless near the end like you and decided to jump.  Both felt fine and had no symptoms post-jump.  Damned if I understand how that can happen as it would seem to require healing ahead of the taper, but there is no denying they were fine.  So I guess my advice is to give it a try and if symptoms crop up you can always go back and taper.  I've been following your progress.  You did a great job.

[[an...]]

During my first taper, I had no symptoms towards the end. I was tapering lorezepam.  I do not remember the amount I was taking when I jumped, but I think it was about 0.01 or  0.02 mg/day. I was going to continue tapering for a while longer, but then would forget to take some of my doses. After a few months of this, I realized that I could just stop.  I was fine--did not experience any symptoms whatsoever.