[he...] Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I have been on ativan for over 10 yrs. taking half to a whole 1mg. almost everyday,sometimes skipping a day or two. Was put on ativan for occasional panic attacks. Want to be off this drug!!! Need the support of people that have been through it or are going thru it! Help!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Bi...] Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 heyjude5050, Welcoming you to Benzo Buddies. The forum has many members tapering Ativan. Glad to have you here. If you have any questions, let us know. Billy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Be...] Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Hi, heyjude5050, and welcome to BenzoBuddies. I tapered off 3mg Ativan (lorazepam) about 4 years ago so I feel sure you can do it, too. Since you have been kind of taking it "as needed", it seems to me one of your big challenges will be to plan what you are going to do instead of take a benzo when the occasion arises when you would normally take one. For a lot of people, this means developing anxiety management strategies. I think we can help you with that sort of thing. Do you have your doctor's support in coming off the Ativan? How have much have you been taking the last few weeks? Do you have the .5mg tablets? Sorry for the quesitons, just trying to get a better picture of your situation so I can be more helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Hi Beeper, no doctor support. I went off cold turkey for 2 weeks now. Have had some symptoms. Not real bad ,but bad enough.Trying to tuff it through. After reading alot of the posts, I took a half of a5mg.valuim. Don't really know what to do next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[ma...] Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Hi Heyjude5050 You need to taper from this drug very slowly 10% cuts every 2 weeks. we will support you here What dose were you on 2 weeks ago??? Margarita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Be...] Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Hi Beeper, no doctor support. I went off cold turkey for 2 weeks now. Have had some symptoms. Not real bad ,but bad enough.Trying to tuff it through. After reading alot of the posts, I took a half of a5mg.valuim. Don't really know what to do next? Based on what I've read of others experiences similar to yours (not regular use or high dose), I think you are better off toughing it out. I think you are probably past a danger of a seizure though it would be better if a doctor or pharmacist could assess that for you. I've gotten a lot of good information and advise - for free! - from the local pharmacist. I guess you took the valium due to fear of seizures but you aren't going to be getting on valium regularly, are you? What symptoms are giving you the most trouble or concern? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[ma...] Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Hi Heyjude5050 Just stopped by to give you the link for the Prof Ashton Manual This helped me enormously in the early days http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/ Love Margarita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[ma...] Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Heyjude How you doing??? i hope your taper is going well. http://www.picturesanimations.com/f/flowers/039.gif ((hugs)) Margarita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi Margita, Thank you for the beautiful flowers!!!!!!!! Today was a good day w/no drugs. Will see how tonite goes. I am taking valuim as needed, if I have any bad withdrawls will take 1/2. Thanks for checking on me....Jude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Fl...] Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hey Jude! Gosh I like your name. Reminds me of high school and good years! I just read through your thread ad wanted to say hello and add my two cents. You have been taking up to one mg Ativan almost daily for 10 years. Now the Ativan is gone and you take up to 2.5 mg Valium as needed, which is averaging about every other day. I hope I'm close to correct. Jude, do you understand that Ativan and Valium are both benzos? They have a dose equivalence of one mg Ativan equals @ ten mg Valium. Valiums half life is significantly longer. Have you had a chance to look at the Ashton manual from the link Margarita sent? It can be a life line and will give you an understanding of how this whole process works. We are all different. Everyone has slightly different brain chemistry and is going to react to withdrawal in a different way. However, the most time tested, documented way to get off any benzo and maintain some functionality is to taper slowly, as Margarita said, not exceeding 10% every couple of weeks. Since you are already taking Valium, with no apparent bad reaction, it would be ideal to taper from Valium. You technically are not in a cold turkey, since you're taking Valium. I'm assuming the Valium tablets are 5 mg? How is half a tablet affecting you? Are you sedated during the day. On days you dont take it, are you experiencing anxiety and other withdrawal symptoms? If I were you, I would get on the lowest dose of Valium that I found stabilizing, take it daily and begin a reasonable taper from there. It's nice to meet you, Jude! Flip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi Flip, Thanks for your 2 cents, help is always wanted here!!! I am down to 1.25 valuim when needed. And feeling the effects of that. Last nite had heart palpatations, headache sooo took 1.25. Lightheaded this am from that. I really don't want to take valuim, but do not want the ativan in my body anymore. I have read most of the Ashton manuel. It is packed full of info. I go back and read from time to time. I realize the ativan will be in my system for months and will have to deal with symptoms as the come along. The valuim is on standby. Any other suggestions on coping will be much appreciated. New methods etc. Was thinking of getting accupunture? What kind of symptons did you have? Know we are all different......How did you cope? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Fl...] Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hey Jude. I like saying that! 1.25 mg Valium is an odd amount. Are you sure? Valium tablets come in 10, 5, and 2 mg. Which do you have? It's going to act the same way on your GABA receptors as Ativan. Both cause down regulation. There are many ways to cope, but coping is secondary to a steady taper. We can help you if you'd like, but first we need to know how much Valium and at what intervals. I'm still at 2.3 mg Valium and I've been working on a taper for 14 months. Not everyone has this much trouble and some have more trouble than I have. You might be one who gets off easily. I hope so! I've heard mixed reviews on acupuncture. Some love it and for some, it seems to rev symptoms. I used to have regular acupuncture, but the relaxing affects were only good for a couple of hours and I very soon couldn't afford it. Time is about the only thing works. Also it's important not to drink alcohol and be very careful about supplements and caffeine. Sugar is a big issue for some, as well and best avoided. How long has it been since you took Ativan? The heart palpitations are common. I call it "fish heart" Right now I'm dealing with some moderate GI issues, minor headaches, cog fog, breathlessness, a touch of verrtigo, weird little jerks, anxiety, fear of being around people and muscle soreness and spasms. Remember that benzos are a muscle relaxer, too. And the heart just a really smart, big muscle. It's no wonder most of us experience some odd heart feeling. I had a cardiac workup just to be sure and when everything checked out, I just chalk those weird symptoms up to WD. I don't want to bore you or make you feel pressured into tapering a certain way. Please let me know if I can help you, Jude, Flip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Hey Flip, I have 5mg of valium, an 1.25 I am feeling out of it when I take it. Lightheaded out of sorts... I don't want to take it!!! I read that ativan is a hypnotic, I think that is why it worked sooo well for me, it blocked out pstd that I had for so many years. abuse, awfull abuse. pain pills I could not handle, valuim, I do not like. Do not like xanax, it makes me feel weird. I think I may need to tough it out and not take anything.....ativan makes my whole world numb, which I don't want anymore, It is like a small world in a box. I am missing out on my life. Want to feel again, scary ,but I want to feel again!!!!! Will let you know how it goes.... may be good, may be not so good, time will tell the story...... but I am on my journey, as scary as it is, it is my journey. God is always with me, has always felt him. Luv , Jude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Flip, Fyi, It't been 2 1/2weeks off of ativan... lv, Jude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[ma...] Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Heyjude When was the last time you took valium?? Have you thought about a slow taper from the valium?? Sorry about all the questions but we want to help you through this. Keep posting Margarita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Bi...] Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 If you would like to add a signature: Signature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Magrita, My last valuim was thurs. nite 1.25mgs. Have only takin acouple of times this last week. lv, Jude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Fl...] Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Jude, will you look at this link and tell us which Valium you're taking? As near as I can tell, it doesn't come in 1.25 doses. Are you in the US? http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-6306-Diazepam+Oral.aspx?drugid=6306&drugname=Diazepam+Oral&pagenumber=2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[ma...] Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Magrita, My last valuim was thurs. nite 1.25mgs. Have only takin acouple of times this last week. lv, Jude Hi Heyjude You must be cutting a 5mg into 4 pieces to get 1.25mgs how are you feeling are you having any withdrawals. love Margarita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Flip, Yes I am in the US..... It is a 5mg and I am breaking it up into 4 parts. Withdraw is so far brain feeling weird, buzzing, off balance, mood swings. But being off of ativan for almost 3 weeks, I am waiting for the anxiety to raise its head, which has not happened, thank God. lv, Jude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[ma...] Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Heyjude Hope your having a good day http://www.picturesanimations.com/f/flowers/31.gif (((hugs))) Margarita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[he...] Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Magrita, BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! Thank you... Lv, Jude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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