ativan

[ggj1966]

i have been on ativan for 3 weeks 2mg a day. i wont to stop the medication. i just need to know how to do it,

[ggj1966]

Thanks for the reply so I a 1mg table and break in half tale a half in morning and half at night

[ggreg]

Just being on Ativan for three weeks will be quick and easy.  It's when you've been on it for, say, six months that it's hard to get off.  The basic way to get off any drug is to cut the dose by a certain amount, usually by 1/4 of your total for the day.  Stay right at that dose until you start to feel normal, which is about three or four days.  Then cut by another 1/4, stay on that until you feel normal.  Continue until you have your first day free of the drug, and remember it will take a few days at zero dose to feel normal again.  

The withdrawal symptoms when you cut dose is you will get anxious, you won't feel good, you'll get sad, but a good solution is to have some yummy food in the house, some good videos, do a little gardening or do stretching exercises, anything that ordinarily will make you feel better.  Also, drink some extra water, take an alka seltzer maybe, and if you don't have someone with you just pick up phone and call someone or email with a friend.  You can take a Tylenol PM in case you have trouble falling asleep.

If at any time in this process you feel like you just can't handle it and you're freaking out (which shouldn't happen, but sometimes does), remember, you can go in and take that 1/4 that you cut, and it'll get you thru a rough patch.  Take it about a half-hour before you plan to snack or eat, it'll work better.  Then the next day, keep going with cutting your dose every few days, as I directed.

If you are taking the Ativan for anxiety issues, keep in mind that when you're all the way off the stuff, which will take a couple or three weeks, those issues will return.  To help deal with your anxiety, you'll need to perhaps talk to a psychologist at the local mental health clinic once a week for a while, do regular exercise to where you break a sweat, practice some quiet time where you deep breathe and maybe soak in a warm tub with candles lit, and most important take up a new hobby like learning to play the guitar or taking an art class or sign up for a course in something you want to study at the local community college.

[ggj1966]

I did as my doctor and she said I could just stop the ativan. But my gut is telling no. I know you can't just stop medication cold turkey

[mammo]

Contact your doctor for instructions on how to do this.  He is your best resource and knows your overall health history.