Suggest Ways To Wean Off Ativan

Posted on Wed, 14 Dec 2016

Question: Hi, I'm tapering from Ativan. I'm at .25 3x a day right now. I'm thinking of switching over to liquid so I can taper evenly throughout the day. The pills get harder to cut the smaller they get. Do you think that is a good idea?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Need more info

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Kindly answer the following to comment further

What dose of Ativan were you prescribed or were using
For how long have you been using Ativan
What liquid preparation do you wish to switch to

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Dr. M.S. Khalil

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (8 minutes later)

I took .5 2x daily for three weeks. I have tapered twice in the last week and a half. So now I take .25 three times a day. I want to taper on liquid because the pill cuts are difficult and may not be as accurate. I've reduced by 25% already. Just want to smoothly reduced each doss by 12.5% every 4-7 days. It's hard to cut the pills that way and be accurate.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

I would like to assure you that the dose which you were using and the duration is very much within safety limits and highly unlikely to cause withdrawal effects.

You can stop the Ativan altogether even now and switch to the oral preparation.
However, for your satisfaction reduce the frequency to twice a day and then once a day for two days and then stop it.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (46 minutes later)

Thank you,

I was having interdose withdrawals before I spread it out throughout the day. I was taking it every 12 hours and by the 7th hour I would start to get burning skin and muscle weakness. As soon as I would take my other scheduled dose, the burning skin and muscle weakness would go away. Now I take it every 8 hours, same dose, just split up and I get interdose withdrawals for maybe an hour before my next does. So, unfortunately for me, I have already experienced withdrawal symptoms. So I am trying to taper to reduce the severity of the withdrawals overall to give my body a chance to adjust. What do you think?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

I would like to assure you again that at this dose and duration of treatment with ativan withdrawal symptoms are very unlikely.

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a person who is dependent on benzodiazepines stops taking the medication. Its severity can vary.

Some people might have a difficult time tapering the dose off. My answer would remain the same i.e reduce the frequency to twice a day and then once a day for two days and then stop it.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

Dr. M.S. Khalil

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