How To Wean Off Lorazepam?

Posted on Wed, 17 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 Answered on

Fri, 3 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been trying to cut down on the amount of lorazepam I am using (I average 3mg per day), but whenever I miss a dose, I get a pounding headache. Is this just a normal thing I will have to deal with? Also I am reducing the medicine by degrees of 0.5 mg, how often should I alter the dose (I have been at 3mg for three months). Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Reduce the doses gradually over 6-10 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic

I can understand your concern. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and it is advised to reduce the doses of drug gradually after prolonged regular intake to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Doses should be reduced by about 20-25% every two weeks and should be tapered completely at about 6-8 weeks. Reduction of doses in this manner doesn't result in withdrawal symptoms.

You are using 3 mg per day and exact dose reduction is not possible in such low doses, so I'd advise you to reduce the doses by 0.25-0.5 mg every two weeks and then stop the drug completely at about 6-8 weeks. This would prevent any withdrawal.

You are getting pounding headache when you miss a dose and this is due to withdrawal only. This is normal thing we can expect in withdrawal. Proper dose reduction as I have mentioned would prevent any withdrawal.

Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again.

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar