Withdrawl

[nateTHEgreat]

     Does anybody know if withdrawl from Ativan gets better as you come down off of it? I have periods where I feel like I am losing my mind.... Then that goes away and I feel extremely numb... Then that goes away and then If feel really disoriented...   Please help, I don't want to die or go crazy I just want to have my life back.... I can't believe I ever trusted a Psychiatrist now I have to pay for his mistake.... I was never addicted to Ativan just took them as prescribed and now I am paying for it.....        God what a life...        Take Care....

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

First, this is a very old post and it may get buried if no one sees it. So we can continue to talk with you, go to the top of this page, hit the green "Post A Question" button and start your own thread. that way it is all yours and won't get confused. If you need help just yell and someone will direct you. Hope to see you out there.

[forgetthisbiz]

I will be entering the facility in about 6 days and I am scared to death.  I have been taking ativan for 5 years and for the last 3 years 2mgs 3 to 4 times a day.  Sometimes more....have taken on occasion 3 pills at a time at 2 mgs just to sleep.  Can anyone out there please tell me what I will go through?  The addictionist said they will be giving me phenobarbitol for the seizures.  What else can i expect....I have never been to rehab for anything.  The addictionist said to expect 7 days before release.  Has anyone else had to go though this on this high of a dose for so long....HELP!!!!

[FreeAtLast630]

I took Ativan for nerves for almost 2 years...and yes, I did the cold turkey thing and it was TERRIBLE...but it only last for about 3 days, except for the insomnia...it was a few months before I could sleep well NATURALLY again. However, as to tapering off...if its been only a day or two, then you need to have your prescribing dr give you about 20 of the lowest dose ativans, and taper you off. If its been longer than that, then hang in there, and take a teaspoonful or two of benadryl at night to help you get some rest, and keep up your fluid intake. It WILL get better, and kudos to you for hangin in there!!!!!!!!

[NautyOne]

The people that I have been reading that are taking it are taking doses up to 2500mgs a day.......God help me if I ever get to that dose.....can you believe that?  Although, the dose i take is 300mg.  I take it at night too......and I haven't had a problem, but its only been a few weeks....lol.


SORRY FOR HIJACKING YOU POST NATE.  The only real advice to give you is to taper the benzo's though.......

Nauty.........

[worried878]

typo..nuerontin

[worried878]

I have been taking uernontin off and on for ten years and never had a problem not taking it...helps me but i do know u have to be cautious with everything...i have taken it for up to a year at a time and stopped without a problem...but everyone is different and i only take it once a day at night when i take it

[whenwillitstop]

I will keep fingers crossed for you too!

[whenwillitstop]

Wouldn't a full night sleep be lovely?  A all natural night sleep?  I haven't had one in over a year.  

[TJack]

Oh just to be able to sleep again.  I have had 3 nights from Heck!  I know lunesta taste bad but i'd be willing to taste worse if it would work.  They just don't keep me asleep anymore.  I am back on the ambien now.  I have got to get some rest.  I am a zombie.
3 or 4 hours a night just doesn't get it.  I feel for all of you having this problem.  My husband use to and i didn't and couldn't understand.  I would lay down and  go to sleep in 5 min.  He would lay there for hours.  Our roles have reversed.   Dear Lord one thing after another.  Good wishes to all of you. Tjack

[NautyOne]

I know......I am torn over it, because it works well for me.  I can't see it being a problem, but I have done research on it and it doesn't sound good.  I keep my dose as low as possible and don't take it every day......fingers crossed X

[whenwillitstop]

lol.....sounds funny but its the WORST taste.  Maybe neurontin isnt the way to go.  If its worse than opiates I wouldnt even want to go there.

[NautyOne]

butterfly poop.....lol.  I've never tried any prescription sleep aids.....tylenol PM has always worked well for me, and melatonin.  I do take ativan for PMDD.  I only take it around that time, so I don't have a problem with it, but it does the opposite for me.  When I take it I'm bouncing off the walls......it's weird.  But, It does help me from killing someone around that time of the month.......lol.  Sometimes I don't take it at all, so i guess you all can figure out when its my time.......hahahhaa

It's crazy.  I was just prescribed neurontin and now I read the withdrawals are worse than opiates.....good lord !!!

Butterfly pooped in your mouth.......too funny......:-)))

[whenwillitstop]

it does make you wonder.  As soon as I get this Norco monkey off my back I will start working on the Ativan.  I work nights and it sucks because my body just doesnt want to sleep during the day no matter how tired I am.  After 40 years of sleeping like a normal person I just cant flip it.  

[worried878]

often have contemplated this myself naughty....prescribing high doses of ativan/benzos for sleep is just not really a good idea..i know they make u sleepy but a sleep med may have been safer...there are benzos like dalmane and restoril designed for sleep./ addictive but more suitable for sleep/othermeds that are not so addictive for sleep as well....makes u wonder

[whenwillitstop]

OMG yes nautyone!  Benzo for insomnia and now no sleep if no pill.  So now what?  Can't take any of the OTC **** and Sonata, Lunesta, Ambien....none of them work.  Not to mention the taste that Lunesta leaves.  Tastes like that butterfly from commercial pooped in my mouth for days.  

[NautyOne]

Don't you find it odd that these things that doctors prescribe end up making our situations worse?  Benzo's for anxiety?  when you stop your problem is ten times worse? then opiates for pain.....in time they trick your mind into more pain?  weird....I think i just had a revelation.....lol.

[worried878]

I have never withdrawn from a benzo but have been in contact with someone who just went thru withdrawal from 2-3 mg she used every night for sleep for quite some time....she used a lighter benzo to withdraw and cut down over a couple of weeks...sleep and anxiousness was a problem...she has not stopped the weaker benzo yet but is taking a break i think...seems like after 2 weeks she is doing much better...i do know u have to take it slow and taper

[NautyOne]

did you try to taper off them?  Can you talk to the doctor that prescribed them.  You really should not stop taking them abruptly.....any doctor knows that.  Taper, taper, taper........

Nauty..........

[whenwillitstop]

How much Ativan do you take?  I am coming off Norco, day 6 now.  I take Ativan to sleep at night 2-4mg depending on how bad the insomnia is but very rarely during the day.  How long have you been taking it?  I know that I did not take it for about 4 nights and my heart felt like it was gonna pound out of my chest.