Question on cuts.

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When I make a cut is a month too long to stay on the current dose?

 

Also is cutting by .25 too big???  I cannot cut the .5 milligram ativans any smaller.

[[ch...]]

When I make a cut is a month too long to stay on the current dose?

 

Also is cutting by .25 too big???  I cannot cut the .5 milligram ativans any smaller.

 

Hi Tonnii,

 

What dose of Ativan are you currently taking?  How long have you been on it? 

 

Yes, cutting .25mg's is far too much for most people.  Holding for a month is generally okay depending on your withdrawal symptoms.  The rule of thumb with these shorter acting benzos is, cutting no more than 5% every 14 days.

 

Let me know your medication details.

 

Charlie

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Thx for the reply.  I have been on for almost 2 years, I was up to 3-4 milligrams a day up until May of 2011.  This is my second attempt at weaning and I am going much slower this time around.  The first time I was cutting by .5, this time by .25 because I cannot cut the pill any smaller.  The withdrawal symptoms are not unbearable, just scary.

 

The first time I attempted I got down to .25 a day for 2 days and felt great emotionally, then I was hit with some muscle pains/numbness in my left arm which sent me to the ER as I was terrified that this was a heart attack or stroke warning.

[[ch...]]

Thx for the reply.  I have been on for almost 2 years, I was up to 3-4 milligrams a day up until May of 2011.  This is my second attempt at weaning and I am going much slower this time around.  The first time I was cutting by .5, this time by .25 because I cannot cut the pill any smaller.  The withdrawal symptoms are not unbearable, just scary.

 

The first time I attempted I got down to .25 a day for 2 days and felt great emotionally, then I was hit with some muscle pains/numbness in my left arm which sent me to the ER as I was terrified that this was a heart attack or stroke warning.

 

Hi tonnii,

 

I am not very familiar with Ativan.  Ativan and Xanax are similar because they are both very short acting benzos.  This is why many people cross over to longer acting benzos like Klonopin or Valium.  I am paradoxical to both so am straight tapering from Xanax. 

 

I think the safest, most comfortable way for you to do this is the titration method.  I am going to start titratiing soon with the hope it will be a lot soother. 

 

Below are a few links that explain the process:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQefn6JnP64

 

http://www.hughes12.com/tapering_xanax.htm  

 

http://www.benzo.org.uk/ashunfi.htm

 

See if any of these links are helpful.  Please let me know.  I will look around and see if I can find some people in you situation and add a link to their thread.

 

Charlie