Ativan Withdrawal

[Benzosick]

I have been prescribed Ativan by my family doctor for about four years now for anxiety with the past year being on 6 mg per day with renewals every 3 months.  After finishing a project and being out of work I decided to go down to 4 mg per day due to less stress which my doctor supported.  When I went back for my renewal 3 months later my Dr said he doesn't prescribe Ativan anymore.  He said I could stop taking it and should be fine even though I disagreed and thought a slow taper would be best.  I pressed him about why the sudden stoppage after 4 years which he eventually admitted he got in trouble for writing too many Ativan prescriptions so he doesn't prescribe Ativan anymore.  About 4 days later I was extremely sick both mentally and physically to the point I was completely crippled.  I felt like I had gone insane.  I researched on the internet about how to properly get off Ativan and specifically the Ashton manual.  I tried to see my Dr but could not get in for another 4 days so I went to a nearby medicenter to explain my situation and that the Ashton manual recommended crossing over to Diazepam and slowly tapering off.  I advised the Dr that I was scared I was going to start havin seizures with how shaky, twitchy and incoherent my thinking had become that I couldn't get in to see my Dr for another 4 days and requested a second medical opinion on my plan to slowly taper off.  She treated me like a drug addict from the streets looking to get high and was visibly angry and said she couldn't offer any advice or check my vitals and that I would have to resolve the situation with my family Dr.  I asked what do I do if I start having seizures and she said to call the crises hotline for support if that happens.

I have done a lot of research on the issue and every source says it's very dangerous to stop cold turkey if you have been on a high dose or been on for a long period of time which I have been on a high dose for four years.  Just before my Dr decided he doesn't prescribe Ativan anymore I got lucky and got a job offer which I need to keep my house in a bad economy.

The question I have is what does one do in a situation like this where your family Dr suddenly drops you from 4 mg per day of Ativan to zero that you have been on for four years and apparently other doctors won't help you because you already have a family Dr?  Do you think I will be ok and able to start and keep a new job in a week to keep my house?

[Paxiled]

First, the second doctor is a moron.  Second, your current doctor is committing malpractice.  It sounds like he got busted for pushing an addictive drug on people, probably many of whom didn't need it.  But he still has the duty ethically and legally to properly help you to stop taking it or help you find another doctor who hasn't abused his or her drug prescribing privileges.  You are right and wrong about quitting -- the Ashton method you describe probably isn't the one most would use.  There is no guarantee Valium would work for you at all, so switching to it is no guarantee of anything.  Different people metabolize drugs differently, which is why we get such different results and side effects from them.  And quitting the regular use of any benzo is going to be very hard, especially if you've been taking it for a long time.  That's why they are now usually only prescribed as needed.  You have to do a slow taper off all of them, and the speed of that taper depends on how a particular individual responds.  Some people have no problem quitting, others have a horrible time.  It depends on the person.  As for seizures, you're right, you can get them, and this is one reason why your doctor has committed serious malpractice with you, but I don't think you're going to get them now -- I believe if you're going to get them it's going to happen quickly after stopping.  Most people don't get them.  But withdrawal happens to most people who stop, and it can go on a long long time if you don't do this very carefully.  Being without a benzo once you stop after being on them a long time can also be a challenge, as your brain will have a hard time trying to function naturally again.  I would contact your current doctor and if it comes to it threaten malpractice.  I would contact your pharmacist, tell him what's happened, and ask for help -- maybe they'll contact your doctor as well.  I   would also try to find a psychiatrist, as they at least theoretically know best how to administer and stop these meds, as it's what they specialize in, though that's no guarantee they won't be clueless.  Get in there and fight for yourself -- try to get back on the dose that felt fine and taper off slowly if you want to or find a psychiatrist who might think if this is what works for you, why stop?  But you are in the loop now of needing higher and higher doses so at some point it will poop out.  But that time isn't now.  Again, get in there and fight.