Tapering off Medications

[Kimmas]

Hello, I could really use your help. I got sick back in May and went through a terrible time with it and somehow developed anixiety because of it. Not sure if it was from me or the medications (antibiotics) they put me on the get rid of the infection. However, I tried several SSRI's to help and could not take the side effects that came with them. I am now on 5mg of Buspirone twice a day (for 2 1/2 months) and a little less than .5 mg of lorazapam ( I have been shaving off a little at a time) once a day. I was taking up to 2 mg a day of lorazapam and have slowly reduced it to this amount in the past 4 1/2 months. During the day I get bad headaches and really full feelings in my neck and sinuses and my heart rate increases many time during the day.I also get some feelings of confusion. My doctor thinks that it is time to stop taking the meds and see how I do without them.
My questions are I can't tell if the feelings are from lowering the dose of lorazapam or still anxiety? Which do I stop first? How do I do it? Will I have withdrawls from the Buspirone? Or should I stay on or try something else? I feel anxious and scared most of the time. IF it is still anxiety these meds are not helping. Is there something better that I can take to give me relief 24 hours a day and a full nights sleep which I have not had since May.
Thanks for any help or advice you can give me.
Kimmas

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

There is no reason to believe you are addicted at this point, so it should not be a worry. The real question is why are you still having symptoms of anxiety.  What you haven't told me is whether you are seeing a therapist at the same time, and if you are not, you should in order to get to the source of the anxiety...medication alone probably will not work for you.  Given that, I would work with your doctor to get to the dose of buspar that helps the most, then gradually get off the lorazapan...

[Kimmas]

I am also confused, that is why I need help. My doctor just said to stop taking them, as I am not on a large amount but everything that I read says to taper the lorazapam. The buspar is not suppose to be addictive and I should just stop them but I am reading otherwise. It seems Dr. Gould has experience in this area that my doctor does not have and was hoping for some guidance. I have never taken meds before in my life and am scared of what I am feeling. I have no idea of what addiction is like.
I just need some guidance.

Kimmas

[Mark TX]

I guess I'm a little confused.  You say your doctor wants you to come off the drugs... hasn't your doctor devised a scheduled taper off these meds?  Is he/she expecting you to just do this yourself?  Can't your doc answer these questions?

I understand that some doctors are very relunctant to take people off medications.  And some don't seem to really understand how to do it, even if they are willing to help.  If your doctor can't answer these questions perhaps you should search for one who can.

Good luck!

mark