Lorazepam withdrawals

[Sassafrasquatch]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum but have a question maybe someone can answer.  I've been struggling with alcohol dependence and finally got sober (using Antabuse) at the beginning of this year.  This is the third time I've achieved sobriety for a month or more in the past few years.  However, this time I was having high anxiety because of the alcohol withdrawals.  I noticed I still had a prescription to Lorazepam (1mg) in my drawer at home and started taking those to offset the anxiety, starting the first week with 1-3 pills a day.  Over the last week and a half though I began increasing my dosages of Lorazepam significantly, to the point where 5-7mg a day was normal.  I have no refills left on it without having the pharmacy call my doctor, which I'm sure he would approve, but my issue is I want to be free of Lorazepam AND alcohol.  I don't want the temptation of more pills lying around, so I'm faced with doing this cold turkey, which on all the message boards seems to be a bad idea.  

My real question is, I have some Gabapentin that I was prescribed during my second attempt at sobriety from a doctor who successfully took me off alcohol and Lorazepam.  I'm wondering if taking one or two of those a day will lessen the side effects of withdrawal or if it will simply worsen the problem.  

Ideally I just want to get through this and have my mind free of all substances, so any suggestions would be helpful.  I've been working out to try and create natural highs, which does the trick for a while at least, but my mind just keeps wandering back to taking the edge off with pills.  Case in point, should I take the Gabapentin, have my doctor reauthorize my prescription to Lorazepam, or just try this cold turkey?  How long do withdrawals usually last?  Thanks in advance for all your help

[frustrpatient1964]

http://www.benzo.org.uk/ashpulse.htm
  lots of good info, never go cold turkey,siezures can occur, lots to read on that site

[SophieShine]

hey there
Never go CT on benzos. you have to slowly taper down. the help of your doc is very important. The gabapentin is helping with seizures which can happen when you go CT on benzos. But I'd talk to my dr about it anyway. What you can do too is posting on the doctor forum to Dr JJ Junig.
And...sorry but....benzos and alcohol.......NOT a good idea.
Hang in there and keep us posted

[frustrpatient1964]

i'm stuggling myself with xanax pretty much the same drug, that seems like a very quick increase, i'm stuggling with .25 twice a day to 4 times and it ***** for me.i would definitely see the Dr. about a plan, but i would try to take as little as possible to keep your head.   i'm finding out how poisonous and addicting that any benzo can be over time, from what i'm hearing and reading it's the worst physically and emotionally to come off of with long term use,
         BIG KUDO'S for staying away from the booze, i've lost a few friends because of alcohol and my father. one day at a time,would definitely find a AA to meet people you can call anytime your tempted

[steveo30]

just remember benzos take an extreme amount of time to get off with minimal withdrawal effects so be careful with them i would hate to see you get off the alcohol and have another problem just be careful and again good luck

[steveo30]

the neurotin helps a little with the opiate withdrawals,thats a non-narcotic nerve pain killer (GOBAPENTIN), I REALLY DONT KNOW HOW THAT HELPS WITH BENZO WITHDRAWAL somebody else i'm sure will help you with that one.i would  get my doctor to re-authorize a new script of ativan (lorazapam) only because your taking 5 to 7 pills a day now and that wont be fun coming off cold turkey, and you said you only had 1 script left.congrats on getting off the alcohol.good luck

[Ronnie152]

welcome to this form, although I dont know about the meds you are takeing, if your dr has helped u in the past then maybe you should give him/her a call to be sure. I am happy to hear u want to live a clean life, it is a nice feeling you will enjoy it very much. On most pills the wd is about 4 to 5 days. after everyday gets better and better. I am sure there will be others on in a little bit, sorry if i wasnt much help. this form is great and has gotten me and many please through the hardest of times. Stay strong you can do it. Just dont stop one thing and start a new one. no matter what u choose there will be some hell to go through. Hang tough, and enjoy new clean life!