Plum

I have been taking lorazepam for approximately 17 years prescribed for anxiety. The most I have taken on a regular basis was 2mg, but currently I am taking 1.5mg. Once in a while I would take .5 to 1mg more depending on my level of anxiety but that was rare. I am tired of taking these pills a really would like to stop but I am terrified at what I will go through and how I will function without them. I would tremble in uncomfortable situations before I started taking them. I was able to return to school when I first starting taking them, something I would have never been able to do. I was able to taper to 1mg for about 5 months but went back up to 1.5mg. What can I do to stop these. It seems every time I tell myself I will taper, something comes up that is stressful and I tell myself another day. Does anyone have experience coming off these after many years and any suggestions would be appreciated.

Anna

Hi and Welcome,

The best thing to do is probably to talk to the dr who is prescribing them for you and get his advice on how to taper off them.

There is always something that comes along that is hard to cope with and it's not easy to stay strong and get through those times, but you can do it.

Plum

Thanks for your reply Anna. I have an appointment with my Dr. on the 16th and I am planning to talk to him about it, but I would also like to "hear" from people who have successfully tapered off these nasty pills after many years and how they did it. My doctor told me years ago that I could be on these the rest of my life so I'm not looking for much support from him. If I knew then what I know now about these pill I would have NEVER taken any.

Plum

Thanks slim. My problem is that I have already read sooo many horror stories that it has left me terrified. I take 1mg in the am and usually .5mg in late afternoon. Sometimes I can go through the day without the afternoon dose but I feel extremely uncomfortable. You mentioned intra dose withdrawal. I am thinking that is what I am going through on a daily basis and I can't handle it anymore. That is why I want off these...I don't feel "normal" through out the day unless I take some. How do I stop this and is this what I will feel when I taper? Also you mentioned I am on a low dose. From your experience do you feel it will be an easier taper? Sorry to bombard you, I'm just scared

Plum

Ok...I guess slim's post disappeared????

Anna

It's against our rules to give medical advice so a post was removed.

Dee74

Hi Plum - welcome

My advice is see a Dr - don't mess with benzoes yourself...and, with the greatest respect to all and the accumulated experience here, don't rely on internet forums for medical advice

D

serious

benzo's are hard to get off of. you must agree on a very systematic plan with your doc (and ideally a psychiatrist that has experience with these types of substances). sad to say, but some general doctors do not have enough knowledge about benzo withdrawal and proper ways to taper. that's why i recommend finding a specialist. (kind of like you wouldn't trust your general practitioner to perform a surgery, i would hope).
the yo-yo approach, where you take a smaller dose when you feel ok and larger dose if you don't feel ok, is something that never worked for me. only consistent and very gradual reduction.

as far as horror stories, there will be a ton. but for every horror story there is also a happy story. write your own. and definitely see a doctor, do not attempt on your own.