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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Ativan
Posted on
Tue, 22 Sep 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 22 Sep 2015
Answered on
Fri, 9 Oct 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I am addicted to ativan. I cannot function because of 19 years of high dosage use...like lots.
Now I sometimes am out of them and those few days are hard as hell lll ll.
how do I get a doctor to understand
Now I sometimes am out of them and those few days are hard as hell lll ll.
how do I get a doctor to understand
Brief Answer:
You may humbly say that you are habituated to this drug & want to quit now.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for asking your query here.
I can understand your suffering and situation very well.
Due to prolonged and continuous use benzodiazepine your body has now physically dependent on it. Sudden discontinuation of Ativan may cause significant withdrawal discomfort in the form of insomnia, anxiety, tremors, palpitations, chest discomfort, headache, dizziness, excessive sweating and even panic attack. You already experienced these whenever you run out of your medicine. So suddenly you should not stop it. But at the same time, you have to understand that it is necessary to quit this drug as long term use may cause cognitive decline and early dementia like features.
For quitting this medicine you may require switching to another medicine of same group with longer duration of action like "Clonazepam". You should be put on equivalent doses of Clonazepam (for 1 mg of Ativan switch to 1 mg of Clonazepam). The dose may be reduced very gradually, may be over a period of 3-4 months to avoid any withdrawal discomfort. If needed, a sedative antidepressant may be used to treat insomnia, anxiety and restlessness due to Ativan/Clonazepam withdrawal.
You believe me, there is no doctor in whole world who may deny your treatment if you honestly ask for his help in quitting this drug. There is a better life beyond 'Ativan'.
Hope you understand.
I wish you a drug free life and better health in future.
You may humbly say that you are habituated to this drug & want to quit now.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for asking your query here.
I can understand your suffering and situation very well.
Due to prolonged and continuous use benzodiazepine your body has now physically dependent on it. Sudden discontinuation of Ativan may cause significant withdrawal discomfort in the form of insomnia, anxiety, tremors, palpitations, chest discomfort, headache, dizziness, excessive sweating and even panic attack. You already experienced these whenever you run out of your medicine. So suddenly you should not stop it. But at the same time, you have to understand that it is necessary to quit this drug as long term use may cause cognitive decline and early dementia like features.
For quitting this medicine you may require switching to another medicine of same group with longer duration of action like "Clonazepam". You should be put on equivalent doses of Clonazepam (for 1 mg of Ativan switch to 1 mg of Clonazepam). The dose may be reduced very gradually, may be over a period of 3-4 months to avoid any withdrawal discomfort. If needed, a sedative antidepressant may be used to treat insomnia, anxiety and restlessness due to Ativan/Clonazepam withdrawal.
You believe me, there is no doctor in whole world who may deny your treatment if you honestly ask for his help in quitting this drug. There is a better life beyond 'Ativan'.
Hope you understand.
I wish you a drug free life and better health in future.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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