Anxiety rebound while trying to get of ativan

[gregd64]

Hi,

Im having anxiety rebound I think from getting of Ativan, Im down to 1mg a day, half in morning half at night. I have heard that
longer acting benzo's are a little easier to get off but my doc won't give me Klonopin.. what do I do now? I've been on ativan for just over a year and at the peak dosage I was taking 3mg a day. And he gave me a schedule to get off of them that I've stuck to but I hate this feeling I get from the anxiety that my heart is not working properly, palps,chest pains etc... and I
know its not my heart because if I take an ativan it all goes away in about an hour.

Thanks for any suggestions

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I think you have to insist that your doctor give you klonopin. It is definitely easier to taper off with that.

[gregd64]

And how come after a long night sleep when I get up in the morning I don't feel like I need an ativan? but after the first dose in the morning about 4-5 hours later is when this happens?

thanks

[Lady Jane]

Getting off of the meds is extremely hard.  The way that I do it, is I cut off very, very slowly. Like a quarter of a table every month.  I don't care if the doctor's don't like it.  It's my body and I have to go through the anxiety.  This way, you don't feel it as much.  Of course you should only get off when you feel like you are ready to get of them.  I am taking Xanax and I am not looking forward to getting off of them.  I have to increase them now cause I am getting more anxiety.  I don't know if it's rebound or not. But like you, when I wake up at 6 am, I don't feel the need to have a pill until I get closer to work or if I know it's pill time. Then the anxiety starts up.  Some could say it's all in my head, I don't know.  But rest assured that it does go away. Once your completly off your pills, then the rebound anxiety will go away. If you still have anxiety then, at least you will know it's not from your pills. I know because I have done this twice before and I got off the Xanax and I was OK.  I just did it slowly.

[gregd64]

Thanks,

for you advise

Greg

[gregd64]

I have tried that but he says no, I just need to deal with it... but he also says he will give me more Ativan???  If I find the symptoms don't go away...

[gregd64]

Thanks for you help ....