lorazepam dependance/withdrawal

[kimmieb]

I have been on 2 mg of lorazepam for the past year or so to help with insomnia.  Prior to that, I had been on it (the .5 mg dosage for about a year as well, maybe a little longer?)  I had a complete hysterectomy 2 weeks ago today.  I am 46 years old.  I ran out of lorazepam about 4 nights ago and haven't taken it since.  For whatever reason, my doctor denied refilling it by phone.  I have been having what I THINK are withdrawal symptoms??  Excessive sweating, freezing cold chills, complete insomnia, nausea, tremors, feeling like I'm going out of my mind.  At first, because of the hysterectomy, when I started having some sweating at night, I immediately thought I was experiencing symptoms of menopause.  Wasn't until I did some research that I figured out it PROBABLY had to do with the immediate and sudden stoppage of the lorazepam.....but I really want to be 100% sure because it will determine what course of action I take with HRT, etc. (I'd rather not start that right now if I don't really need it).  My pharmacist and a nurse-practitioner friend told me that I should definitely NOT be stopping the lorazepam cold turkey, especially in light of the recent surgery.  I can't seem to get a hold of my neurologist.  All of a sudden, after about 5 years of going to him, I can't get a returned phone call (?)  I just want to know if I'm going crazy or not.  Shouldn't I go back on it, get my hormonal balance straight first, THEN taper off the medication?  Just so that I know what's causing what?  Are these real symptoms of withdrawal?  How long do they last??  Is there anything to do in the meantime to help?  I'm a mom and a wife and trying to recover from this surgery.  I'm not taking any other medication right now except for Aleve as needed for post-surgery pain (which isn't helping anyway).  I'm scared and confused and don't know who to turn to.  I feel abandoned by my neurologist at this point.  Any clarification you can give??  Thank you.

[dyblue]

  ct no way you have to taper.  Nice doctor to just cut you o.  you need to taper that can be dangerous..Get a new doc i you can .  Good luck that is withdrawl your in I would get help  right away.

[dyblue]

they don't usually get a reill by phone I have to go in to get one.

[gnomie]

I sent a message to dutchess golden to talk to you about Ativan-lorazepam.  I started it but read that it is/can be addictive within a week.  So I'm refusing to even start that one.  I'm just off morphine but of course it's not over-it's been 2 days now since the last tiny dose.  So I'm really tempted to take Ativan just to sleep but I'm not going to have to detox from Ativan yet too.  I hope DG talks to you soon.  I'm pretty convinced that what you're experiencing is withdrawl.  So sorry.

[kimmieb]

Thank you to those who've responded.  I'm SO new to something like this and I barely even know how to post or respond or whatever.  I'm not dumb -- you'd think I could figure this out, for God's sake.  Anyway,thankyou.  At least I know that I'm not totally and completely 100% crazy.  I keep reading stuff about ativan/lorazepam, and EVERYTHING, absolutely everything, says you need to taper off.  Not one item says to go it c/t.  It can actually be very dangerous, as I'm reading.  Nice doctor, huh?  He's been my neurologist for probably 5 years.  He knows about my recent surgery and everything.  He's ALWAYS called in refills before, even if it was just for 10 pills or something until I could get back in to see him.  This one time, this one time when my body is recovering from major surgery and I couldn't get it, I didn't think it would matter.  Doctors can be unpredictable, I guess.  It sure is a wake-up call for me.  I guess I need to spend my time this afternoon trying to find a new doc to taper me off.

I'm so encouraged though by this posting site.  Wow.  It doesn't make me feel so darned alone, like I'm the only one going through all of this.  My husband isn't too supportive (he doesn't understand any of this at all, unfortunately), so I do feel very alone in this household.  I'm the mom of a 6-year old and an 8-year old.....and that's what is the hardest.  Hard to have to be a Mom and be "normal" and be going through w/d.  Almost impossible, I'd say.  Anyone have experience with that one?  I'm sure there is.  

Anyway, thank you again to those who responded.  I'll look forward to hopefully hearing from that one you were taking about (DuchessGolden?),and will hope for more insights, advice, suggestions, comments, reactions, etc.

In the meantime, it sounds like I have to find a new doc.  Easier said than done sometimes.  I have such a pounding headache right now and feel like s---.  I don't care if someone was my worst enemy on the planet (don't have one, but even if I did!) -- I wouldn't wish this upon him or her for the world.

What a group of REAL, honest, caring, compassionate souls you all are.  God bless you all, each and every one of you, in whatever your situation, whatever you're going through.....

[FLaddict]

If you start feeling REALLY bad go to the ER.. benzo wd is dangerous...

[gnomie]

I don't know if you're checking the more recent entries, but there's a message to you from Duchess Golden that I hope you got.  Go back to page one or maybe 2 by now.  It says it's to you and me.  Read it.  Let me know when you're back.  
Keep us posted. I did start Ativan afterall-couldn't stop crying all day yesterday-just exhausted my body.  So hopefully you can get stuff sorted out.  
Hugs.

[kimmieb]

Thanks for your follow-up.  I hear you on the crying.  I couldn't stop at all on Sunday or Monday either.  I guess that's part of w/d, too, huh?  Great.  Anyway, I can't seem to find any response from DG to me (and you).  I'll just keep trying.  I feel like I'm going over page and page and page.  Maybe I just keep missing it.  Ugh!  I'll keep trying......

Hoping your feeling better!
XXXX
OOOO

[clabro]

I have two different doctors and neither one is aware of the withdrawal symptoms of lorazepam.  I have been on it for 5-6 years for jaw pain and it helped me to sleep after surgery.  I am currently on the smallest dosage .5 mg and it is still absolute murder to try and get off of it.  I have read some articles on the net by Dr. Heather Ashton (British) who recommends tapering off gradually and switching to diazepam.  It is still murder!  I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skim and that my head is going to burst.  I wish the medical community was more aware.  Dr. Ashton says withdrawal symtoms for lorazepam are worse than heroin.  When you read the other studies it is really scary.  Right now it is one o'clock in the morning and I think it may be a long road to get off this drug.   Good luck to you- hope you find a doctor who can help.    

[kimmieb]

This does not sound good.  Darn it.  I'm seeing my doctor on Wednesday, and we're supposed to come up with a tapering off schedule for this stupid lorazepam.  Now I wonder if that's even going to work!  How in the world can a doctor who's gone to med school NOT know the dangers (e.g., death!) of going off of lorazepam cold turkey?  That boggles my mind.  If they can prescribe it long-term, then they oughtta know the long-term side effects.  Amazing.  What's diazapam?  Is there a brand name for it?  Is it a lower dosage (or weaker medicine)?   Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get a string of good sleep ever again without taking something.  Very disheartening.  But, will let you know what I find out from doc and what my experiences are.  Thanks for the info!