Tapering off Ativan Support Thread

[[Ju...]]

Hello  lorazafamily!

 

Strong-I did experience a drastic drop to my heart rate in early WD. It would drop into the low 50s high 40s. It caused me very bad panic when it would happen.  When I spoke  to my cardiac doc he was not concerned and said it was normal in WD as long as it doesn't stay there. At that point I removed my Iwatch and kept it off.  I was spending too much time watching my heart rate and it caused worry and panic.   

I just put t back on this weekend. 

 

Maria-So sorry to hear you are having such a rough go.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

Dianedeedee-I can relate to your anxiety. It was my very worst symptom. I tried the D.A.R.E response by Barry McDonagh. I got the book and the app.  It was not a miracle but it has helped even my hubby commented on how he thought it helped.

 

Winnie-I never had a swollen brain feeling. I had what I would describe as a feeling like a tight band around my head and plenty of brain zaps.

 

Tapering off Benzos is certainly not for wimps.  We are all very strong and should be very proud of how far we have all come.  We will all get to the other side and be free of this.  Hang in there this will pass I promise.

 

Hugs to all

 

JuJuBi

 

 

[[Di...]]

Hi JuJuBi,

Thank you.  I'm happy you are doing so well. 😊

 

One of these days!

Hugs and prayers ❤

[[St...]]

@[ju...]

 

Hi there! Thank you so much for that, I was convinced I was going insane 😓 if it's normal (as my cardio told me as well) then i'll be trying hard to ignore. I cannot waitttt to be off this stuff! Yes we will see the other side i may end up on a beta blocker as needed

[[Di...]]

Hi everyone,

Looking for a little support today.  I'm having the worst anxiety I've had in months I'm on 9 days of holding my small 2.5% cut and its awful.

 

I hope everyone else is doing better.

 

Hugs and prayers ❤

[[Ju...]]

Dianedeedee

 

So sorry you are having a rough time.  The anxiety is just the worst. It will ease up in time. Good job on making a cut.  I know it is hard but you are going in the right direction.  There are so many better days ahead of you.  We just have to do our best to keep on going.

 

 

Hugs my friend

 

 

[[Di...]]

Hi JuJuBi,

Thank you for the encouragement.  I'm sure trying I keep reaching for the prize it sure is hard.

Hugs ❤

[[Ha...]]

Hi Dianedeedee,  so sorry to hear that today is bad. It just doesn’t make sense does it? I wish I could hop on a plane and comfort you. Honestly, this whole business is like torture and we don’t know when the torturer is going to stop. And then, there was always this little voice saying……take that pill, you’ll feel better! So just when we are feeling terrible we have to have enormous self discipline on top of everything else.

Please know that this will end and you will be back to you.

You can do this, it’s just taking way too long.

Hugs and Prayers 💕💖💕💖

[[Di...]]

Hi Dianedeedee,  so sorry to hear that today is bad. It just doesn’t make sense does it? I wish I could hop on a plane and comfort you. Honestly, this whole business is like torture and we don’t know when the torturer is going to stop. And then, there was always this little voice saying……take that pill, you’ll feel better! So just when we are feeling terrible we have to have enormous self discipline on top of everything else.

Please know that this will end and you will be back to you.

You can do this, it’s just taking way too long.

Hugs and Prayers 💕💖💕💖

 

Thank you so much I wish you could too.  Torture that's what I call it all the time.

Hugs and prayers 🥰

[[2c...]]

Hi everyone. I’ve been away from the site for a few weeks.  I needed a bit of a break. 

 

I’m sorry to hear some of you are having a difficult time.  It is crazy how we have a good few days and then a sudden crash.  I’m going through that myself.  Terrible leg and hip pain, high anxiety, jittery, etc. You guys know! You’ve been there too. The last 3 weeks have been progressively awful.

 

I know that one day I will be back to somewhat normal.  Its hard to stay positive though.

 

The positive is that I’m continuing to taper.  I don’t seem to stabilize too much ever so I keep plodding along.  I reached a new milestone if less than 0.5 mg/day! Yay! Now at 0.48.  I’m keeping my evening dose higher and my two other doses are really low. Basically crumbs now but still able to weigh.

 

Hang in there everyone.  It’s so helpful to know we’re not alone!

 

Here’s a Dad joke for you all. Please no eye rolling

 

“My wife claims a man in camouflage is really sexy.

 

I just don’t see it!”

 

:laugh:

 

 

[[Di...]]

Hi 2cats,

I am so sorry the past 3 weeks have been so rough.  I think the anxiety and being jittery exacerbates all of our other symptoms. 

 

It's great that you continue to taper.  I don't see much stability ever either.  I keep praying that as we taper the symptoms will ease.

 

🤣 thanks for the dad joke.

 

Congratulations getting in the 4s!!!

 

😊

[[Ma...]]

Hi everyone.

I haven’t been here lately, as Dianedeedee said, I was feeling better, so I was living my life and trying to have some normalcy. Yes, the last two weeks have been mostly good. A lot less symptoms.

Unfortunately, since yesterday, I struggle with intrusive thoughts. I haven’t had this symptoms a lot since my benzo taper, but now it makes my life miserable. Ah, it is so hard!

Hope you have a nice week.

Marie

[[Ju...]]

Hello All

 

Hardy I am so sorry you are struggling. You have accomplished getting off the Benzo so congrats to that.  That is a mighty accomplishment. I know exactly what you mean about the temptation to take that pill. So much we have to endure in this process. You will get to the light at the end I promise.

 

2cats good job on continuing your taper.  It is hard to keep pushing especially when you feel so horrible. And yes you will be back to normal and  even better I bet.  Congrats on the milestone into the 4s!  Loved the Dad joke.

 

Maria so glad to hear you had two mostly good weeks.  Those were the ones I held onto when I got slammed back to the Mat. Intrusive thoughts is the one symptom, maybe the only symptom I have not gotten.  Ugh that's rough.  Let's hope this clears quickly and you get back to feeling like you did and even better for those two weeks.

 

Dianedeedee  I wish I could give you a hug too.  You have just kept going. I know it seems so far off but you will keep getting lower and will be your normal self again. 

 

Hugs to you all.  We should all be very proud.  This is the hardest thing I have ever been through.

 

JuJuBi

 

 

 

 

[[Di...]]

Hi everyone,

Marie,

I am so happy for you that the past two weeks were good for you...remember those.  I hope the intrusive thoughts go away quickly.

 

JuJuBi thank you I could use a big hug!  Thank you for always cheering us on you getting closer to the finish line.

 

Wishing everyone else on here a very good day.

 

Hugs and prayers ❤

[[St...]]

Hi all! Hope everyone is getting by the best best way they can! Keep going, i'm rooting for us all!

 

I wanted to update that omg dry tapering is now getting hard honestly. I went from

0.120g (both pills weight together) to 0.102g total and i'm stuck already. I may be going too fast. I usually drop one point one day then the next day drop one point and hold for 2 days. It was going well until I got down to 0.051g/pill and i'm also still only dosing 2x/day . My anxiety is through the roof and I also have been getting brain zaps and head pressure a lot more. I burst into tears if I go anywhere and have to wait for more than 3 minutes. Its insane. We also had a tornado in southern USA the other day that caused me to go back up to 0.053g in panic so i'm gonna hold here until I figure out my next move. Idk if I should try water, dose more, try to get a liquid version, or however you do the compound pharmacy stuff. All I know is daily life was getting hard and simple things stress me to no end. Any advice is appreciated !

[[Di...]]

Hi Strong,

I am so sorry you are having such a hard time I completely understand.  I'm not familiar with grams I use lorazepam intensol 2mg/ml that I mix with water it's very easy to mix and use.  I'm doing the direct liquid micro taper.  I went to the liquid so that I could reduce my dose easier.  Bless your heart the anxiety is awful I have it every day.  Maybe you are tapering to fast but like I said I don't know anything about the measurements in grams.  I will try to help you if you decide to switch to the liquid.

Hang in there I know its miserable...we have to keep going.

Hugs and prayers ❤

[[St...]]

Hi Strong,

I am so sorry you are having such a hard time I completely understand.  I'm not familiar with grams I use lorazepam intensol 2mg/ml that I mix with water it's very easy to mix and use.  I'm doing the direct liquid micro taper.  I went to the liquid so that I could reduce my dose easier.  Bless your heart the anxiety is awful I have it every day.  Maybe you are tapering to fast but like I said I don't know anything about the measurements in grams.  I will try to help you if you decide to switch to the liquid.

Hang in there I know its miserable...we have to keep going.

Hugs and prayers ❤

 

Hey Dianedeedee !

 

Yes hitting this brick wall has been hell on wheels, i'm truly trying to push through!

I will ask my psych about switching to liquid I really hope she lets me because the water/vodka titration stuff looks superrrrrrr confusing and i'm so nervous in messing it up! I hate math and want to make sure I don't freak my body out 😓 i'm gonna beg for the liquid lol thank you so much!

Hugs and prayers to you! We're on the right track!

[[Di...]]

Hi Strong,

I am so sorry you are having such a hard time I completely understand.  I'm not familiar with grams I use lorazepam intensol 2mg/ml that I mix with water it's very easy to mix and use.  I'm doing the direct liquid micro taper.  I went to the liquid so that I could reduce my dose easier.  Bless your heart the anxiety is awful I have it every day.  Maybe you are tapering to fast but like I said I don't know anything about the measurements in grams.  I will try to help you if you decide to switch to the liquid.

Hang in there I know its miserable...we have to keep going.

Hugs and prayers ❤

 

Hey Dianedeedee !

 

Yes hitting this brick wall has been hell on wheels, i'm truly trying to push through!

I will ask my psych about switching to liquid I really hope she lets me because the water/vodka titration stuff looks superrrrrrr confusing and i'm so nervous in messing it up! I hate math and want to make sure I don't freak my body out 😓 i'm gonna beg for the liquid lol thank you so much!

Hugs and prayers to you! We're on the right track!

 

Wishing you luck with your doc.

[[La...]]

I’ve been doing great on Lorazepam Actavis/Watson that has recently become unavailable. I was switched to Teva, and immediately started having problems, weird symptoms, feeling sleepier but with headache, clogged ears, etc. The same exact dose.

 

The old manufacturer is indefinitely on back order, which gives me no hope.

 

Please tell me I will adjust, I know there are only a couple available ones on the market, one of them I already tried awhile back, and it wasn’t good.

Any input would be much appreciated, THANK YOU

[[St...]]

I’ve been doing great on Lorazepam Actavis/Watson that has recently become unavailable. I was switched to Teva, and immediately started having problems, weird symptoms, feeling sleepier but with headache, clogged ears, etc. The same exact dose.

 

The old manufacturer is indefinitely on back order, which gives me no hope.

 

Please tell me I will adjust, I know there are only a couple available ones on the market, one of them I already tried awhile back, and it wasn’t good.

Any input would be much appreciated, THANK YOU

 

Hi Laila149,

 

I wish I had an answer for you but I do have empathy because i'm experiencing the same thing! Ever since the Teva brand my taper has been wrecked. i've been stuck for a week and the symptoms keep piling up! I now wonder if i'll ever stabilize. Starting to think I should just keep trucking through if this brand will have me feeling like this no matter what. Have you thought about switching to liquid or a compound pharmacy?

[[La...]]

I haven’t, but I am thinking what are the chances of me not reacting to another Lorazepam manufacturer?

Also, dry taper is so much more convenient for me. I am just hoping that my body will adjust to it 🤞

[[St...]]

I totally understand! Yea probably best to stick to the beast you know. Question: how do you determine does sizes when dosing 5 times a day? I'm wanting to go from 2x to 4x but have no idea whats the best way since i'm already tapering . Each pill started at 0.060g and is now at 0.053g i'm wondering if i should just split the pills in half and dose? Or precisely weigh out the split? What do you think?

[[La...]]

Hmm, I’ve been cutting 0.5mg into quarters and currently am at 0.125 5 times a day. It is difficult, but I am more or less able to split 0.125 into half, which makes it 0.0625 (no weighs, just by hand) and I decrease by this 0.0625 every 4 weeks.

Unfortunately this is the fastest I can go

[[Sk...]]

Since I swichted to a daily micro tapering withdrawal seems a lot more tolerable.

Not gooing to switch to V anymore , just slow and steady.

 

I also work with a neurodoctor who is also specialised in nutrition and it seems to pay off.

 

I also think I had Paroxetine withdrawal which seems to come to an end.

So I allreay happy to say, life is knocking on the door after 3,5 years of suffering. I feel my old self coming closer and closer.

 

 

[[gr...]]

Hi Skinnered, I am glad you are doing okay! What kind of micro taper are you doing? liquid or dry cutting? Are you getting it compounded by the pharmacy or are you making your own. I switched to the liquid taper a month ago but then I switched back to cut and hold and it was terrible.

Had and am still having bad withdrawals.  I am going to go back to a water taper where I remove  1ML of water per day. Just wondering how you are doing it since it seems to have helped you....  Thanks!!

[[Sk...]]

Hi grey cloud.

I do it with dry cutting. I have bought a scale with a very high accuracy (more digits). Every day I take 0,2% less,  I even think I could go faster now.

I hope to get rid of it by the end of this year.