How do I aviod withdraw from my medicine?!
Question: How do I aviod withdraw from my medicine?
I've been taking Ativan for about 10 months ! At first I was taking it as needed for my panick attacks. Then I realized I needed it more often do to my axiety !
So now ruffly 10 months later I'm taking 1mg three times a day.
I want to get off of it because my doctor is concerned that I am addicted to it !
I believe that as well, but I feel sick whenever I try to minimize the dose.
I have really dreadful withdraw symptoms.
Which causes me to have worst axiety ,
which then leads to me raising the dose up again.
This has been a on going process for me since I've been on medicine since I was 12 for the same reason.
I've currently stop taking my anti-depression medicine and I feel completely off balance.
I've been told I'm bipolar but I refuse to believe it like anyone else would.
I guess what I really want to know is . . . What's the easiest way to avoid withdraw like symptoms, while lowering my Ativan?
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
The only way I know how is to slowly lower the dose. Go from three times a day, to two times a day for a week. Then lower it down to one does a day for a week. And then go to half a pill for a week and then stop taking it.
First, do it with a physician's help. They can also help with the bipolar, if you indeed have it, or tell you if you do or do not. As for the Ativan, you are probably physically and psychologically addicted. I would decrease how much you take slowly and get support to help you, the anxiety you are feeling is from the psychological addiction. You are going to feel that way for a short while and will have to bear it if you want to get off the benzodiazepine.
Your doctor should switch you to an equivalent dose of a long acting benzodiazepine (like valium, etc. He should know which ones are longer acting. Ativan is an intermediate-acting one) and then gradually reduce the dose by about 10% each week. That would minimize the withdrawal effects. You're gonna need your doctor's help with this one, it'd be pretty difficult for you to do it yourself. You really can't taper off benzodiazepines quickly.
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I have bipolar so I know all about the mood swings. The medicine should only be used to help when you really need it like during mania or having severe problems. I don't know how old you are but did u know that to help these problems go away the most effective thing is diet and excercise. Eat healthily salads vegs chicken etc. Try going to gym running doing yoga will help lots to Relax the mind. Also try going to cognitive therapy sessions counselling talking about your problems to someone will help. Avoid caffiene cokes too much sugar aspartame is likely to trigger moods. Try and get hobbies. Think like this you are perfectly fine you don't want the medicines controlling you they have side effects and will make you worse I. Later life. You are a strong person you can deal with it cut down on the medicine. Having bipolar is something I couldn't accept at first but the fact us knowing about it's symptoms helps me so much. Good luck babe if u want to talk aishatwinks@yahoo.co.uk xxxx