Trying to get off ativan been on benzos 20 years

[hazyworld]

Anyone have any ideas how i could self detox off ativan...im so bad im taking .5 mg every hour or 2 up to 3 1/2 mg a day.

[SophieShine]

NO self detox for benzos. You should go to an addiction specialist to establish a tapering plan and go from there. Benzos are hard to get off and the risk of seizure is way too high to do it by yourself.
Here's the link to a site which is considered to be the reference in benzos; http://www.benzo.org.uk/
and here is an example of tapering plan from lorazepam:
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s8
Keep posting.
Best of luck to you. sophie.

[worried878]

I am a lil confused....r u taking 5 mgs every few hours or 3.5 mgs for the whole day?  5 mgs sevral times a day would be extraoridinarily high in dose...3.5 mgs is doable
benzo tapering is a slow process and takes lots of discipline,..but ur dr needs to help u..if he will not then find one who will..there r meds they can prescribe u to help it go smoother...the only way to do this safely is to taper

There is an article in the health pages with examples of benzop tapers..often they will slowly switch u to a weaker benzo like valium or librium.....u really need to get a dr to help u if u have been at a high dose for years.....not real sure of ur dose each day but anything can be done if we put our minds to it..shaving off 1/4 mg every week or 2 is  a way i have seen peeps do it....u may need sumpin safe for sleep etc when ur dose gets low at the end...most often it is best to have someone u trust dole ur pills out to u each day so u do not go over ur taper dose

Can u talk to ur dr who prescribed them to u?v

[my_mayberry]

this should be done very slowly. that many years at that high of a dose will need a very slow taper and it should be under the supervision of a doctor. they may replace the ativan with a longer acting benzo to make it easier and more comfortable.

[gnarly_1]

HI well your on a high dose so you need to come up with a taper and stick to it
coming off benzo's can be dangerous if done to quickly so slow goes the process
try waiting a bit longer between doses for starters that will help brig your blood level
of this drug down then try skipping a dose and if that dont work for you start breaking the pills down by 1/4 at a time and take a 1/4 less pill about every 3 days till your down to 1 a day then jump off....just be ready for a fight tapering takes alot of perseverance
you can do this just take you time and do it with baby steps sooner or later you will be free of your addiction ...good luck and God bless....Gnarly  

[cleanmom]

I think this is something that needs to be done under the care of your doctor, call and make yourself an appointment and your doctor can help with a taper plan. God Bless.