Tapering off Ativan Support Thread

[[An...]]

Hi Jenn,

You could cut a 0.5 tablet into 4 pieces. ( quarters.) Each quarter (1/4) is .125 mgs

You could start dosing with that .. ( Remember to hold a week or longer after each cut) If this proves to be a large cut for you as it did me, you could cut the 1/4 tablets in half, and you will have .0625 mgs. You can dose that.

You would need a drugstore pill cutter, and eventually a gram scale to weigh the pieces for accuracy. I purchased mine at Amazon ..Gemini -20 High precision ( weighs up to 20 g in 0.001g (1 mg)  increments.

I hope this helps ..

Love, Amu

[[je...]]

I just bought a splitter.  Thank you. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

[[je...]]

Ok so due to todays major fail with cutting .5 I am now at three doses of .5 for today. One at 8am one at 2pm and due for one at 8pm. What now? I usually take 1mg in the am and .5 in the pm. Any advice? Should I keep it spread out or try .75 in the morning?  I am lost! I tries .5 this morning and by noon I was a mess! Crying.  My poor husband!

[[An...]]

Hi Jenn,

Did you make a cut this morning as your doctor suggested?

What amount did you cut?

I have learned that spreading the doses is a good thing. But I am confused, that if you started out taking 1.5 mgs a day, and you made a cut, why are you at 1.5 mgs?

Hang in there ..

Anu

[[je...]]

Today was my first attempt. And it was to large of a cut so I rebounded to the other half. I cut .5 this morning. Bad idea. That's what the doctor suggested. I bought a pill splitter today. Now I am unsure  of how to proceed. 

[[...]]

Ok so due to todays major fail with cutting .5 I am now at three doses of .5 for today. One at 8am one at 2pm and due for one at 8pm. What now? I usually take 1mg in the am and .5 in the pm. Any advice? Should I keep it spread out or try .75 in the morning?  I am lost! I tries .5 this morning and by noon I was a mess! Crying.  My poor husband!

 

Hi,

Three doses a day is likely not enough - try 5 or even 6...dose every 4 or 5 hours.  This may help you.

 

Also, I'm confused - did you cut from 2 to 1.5mg?

[[je...]]

No. My usual dose is 1.5 this morning I tried to cut my am dose of 1mg in half. I failed miserably.

[[...]]

Oh, ok.  So you tried to go from 1.5 to 1mg per day? Is that correct?

 

[[je...]]

Yes and it was awful!

[[...]]

I'll bet.  You have my empathy.    I've been there.

 

That was a big cut.  Did you put it back?

[[je...]]

Oh yeah! I had to. I bought a pill splitter today. How should I proceed? Should I start over? Maybe take normal doses tomorrow or try a smaller cut? 

[[...]]

If it were me I wouldn't cut right away.  I'd hold at 1.5 and spread my dose through the day as evenly as possible.

 

What pill size do you have?

[[je...]]

.5 tablets.

[[...]]

How many times a day do you dose?

 

And did you feel good on that dosing (before the cut I mean)?

[[je...]]

I was taking 1mg in the morning. Then .5 in the evening.  I had 1mg tablets. Then the dr. Gave me .5 tablets when we discussed tapering. I felt good before the cut other than the fear of tapering. Today after the cut my arms hurt and I had a horrible headache and just cried and cried. I felt dizzy also.

[[...]]

So you felt good dosing 1mg AM and .5mg PM?

 

I know what you mean...I've cried a river.  It hits my emotions hard.

[[ak...]]

I was taking 1mg in the morning. Then .5 in the evening.  I had 1mg tablets. Then the dr. Gave me .5 tablets when we discussed tapering. I felt good before the cut other than the fear of tapering. Today after the cut my arms hurt and I had a horrible headache and just cried and cried. I felt dizzy also.

 

 

 

I have the same thing! My arms are so weak and I am so emotional. Racing thoughts, fears of dying.

 

I haven't even really tapered much yet. I am taking .125 mg twice a day. Started today. Yesterday took .25 mg once and then was advised to spread it out. Maybe three times a day?  How long do I go on like this until I lower it again? Any advise?

Thanks very much for any help!!

Emily

[[je...]]

Well after my fail today, they ended up spread out. I guess I will reinstate tomorrow morning and try again. Wondering when I should try again? This is hard!

[[...]]

Hi akka,

If you are having trouble getting to the next dose then that can be corrected by spreading it through the day.  With ativan that usually means at least 4 doses a day...every 6 hours.  If more is needed then just add them.

[[...]]

Well after my fail today, they ended up spread out. I guess I will reinstate tomorrow morning and try again. Wondering when I should try again? This is hard!

 

I'm confused again.  I thought you already reinstated to 1.5mg.

 

I'd give it a few days on the spread doses.

[[je...]]

Thank you for the support.  I am going to try and rest.

[[je...]]

Yes. I did. I meant reinstate my regular schedule.  Or should I leave them spread out?

[[...]]

I think spreading them out can only help, but if you feel good you feel good.

 

Ativan is short acting so most people need at least 4 doses a day (of even sizes as possible).

[[je...]]

For me that would mean taking 2mg. Today I did 3 spread out but the morning was hell because of the cut. Thank you for all your help. 

[[je...]]

Going to the dr. At 1:15 to see what she will do to help.