I've withdrawn many times from different pills ....... it sucks. I find it's always better to begin tapering off if you see you're going to run out. It won't help completely but, it does ease the process a bit.
Because of the way Ativan works I would say worrying about not having it is the trigger. You may well be trying to get off it before you are ready. There are safer benzos if you just want something to get you through the bad spells but none of them work as fast as Ativan. In fact nothing you switch to will work as fast as Ativan on an as needed basis. I hate Ativan and tell every one thinking of starting it not too. But once you have been on it for over a month then it becomes a different story. If you stop too soon you will rebound back to where you were before or worse. If you have not done the program or something similar, you may want to stay medicated till you do. The program does work. It is all about conditioning your thought process and at the same time doing relaxation exercises so you can think clear enough to do the first. Because ativan Interferes with the first it will take longer. I am not the only one virtually panic free. There are others. You will find that talking to anyone will reduce the effects as will writing your thoughts down. if you have the time read some previous posts and you will get an idea of the progression of other people. You will also learn what works. Lots of work but it is worth it. Here is a simple exercise to try when you get tense. Smile real hard and say oh go away. When ever you pass a mirror look in it. Frowning encourages anxiety. Don't laugh, it's true.
I have been on .5-1mg a day for about 10 months. I think I fall into the generalized anxiety category so even when I am feeling "fine" I am still worrying and at a heightened state.
I would like to get off the ativan and maybe find a non-benzo solution. When I went on the ativan I just wanted a way to function and it has given me that, and even though I have felt 0 side effects, not even drowsiness, I just don't want to feel so dependent on something.
I gave in and took a half of a pill last night since I felt like it was either that or the emergency room. I think I am going to go speak with a doctor tomorrow to see if they can help me come up with a better plan. It's hard for me to tell if it's not taking the medication or worrying about not taking the medication that is making me feel so anxious!
I think just speaking with a doctor will make me feel better.
Thanks so much, I am sure I will have other questions as I go through this.
Try talking to your pharmacist to see what they suggest. Every body if different and side effects will vary. Davit is right, find something for when and if the panic hits. It is good to be ready for it and it will assist you until you can talk to the new doctor. Hospitals have a doctor line that gives information on which doctors are excepting new patients in your area.
The answer to all your Questions is probably yes. Let me get this straight you only take .5 about twice a week. Well if you have been doing that for a while you can quit and If I was you I would save what you have left and stretch it out as far as you can. The horror storys can be true depending on how sensitive you are. I was an ativan addict. I was on Max for four years. I did get off but it was hard but that was a different situation than yours. Ativan has a 1 hour half life and is out of your system in 4. Which is why it is so hard to quit it. Unlike heroin where you have chemical changes all you get from Ativan withdrawal is panic attacks. They wont be any worse than they have been only more often likely. In previous posts I have described how ativan works and psychologically what happens when you quit. So now have you decided to quit or are you just trying to get by till you can get more? Withdrawal is usually stretched out over a long period not because of any physical dependence but a mental one. It has been a crutch for long enough that you will want to run to it. You will start to think I need it and then you will. A very small part of this is due to a change in the pathways to your brain, most will be you telling yourself you need it. My best advice is to drop all caffeine till you are sure you will be Ok. If you have been drinking mint tea or other relaxing teas, increase them. Find something mindless to do when the panic hits. I hope you know how to do box breathing and other relaxation things. If you are still worried then I would say you had best find a way to get more and taper off properly. It is more common to switch to xanax and taper off of it. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Ask anything. I am usually around here some time each day.
I was prescribed .5 mg of Ativan approx. 10 months ago to take on an as needed basis. I never took more than two a day spread out, and would sometimes go a few days without taking one.
I have been without insurance for sometime so I have simply been having my prescription renewed. This past month my doctor decided to no longer renew my prescription without a visit. I am sure this is for the best as I have been putting off finding a new doctor I feel comfortable with and going.
So, I guess my main question is if I should expect some withdrawal symptoms? I only have a couple .5 mg pills left so I don't have much in the way of tapering myself off of them. Is is safe to cut such small pills in half? The last one I took was on thursday and I had planned to not take any until at least monday since that is when my husband goes to work and I am most likely to experience anxiety.
I have been feeling more anxious than usual but I think a big part of that is worrying about not having my "safety net" and also worrying about experiencing withdrawals, been trying to find legitimate information and there are a lot of horror stories out there so I decided to come here and ask rather than freak myself out!
I plan to start the search for a new doctor this week, so I guess I just wanted to know if I should have reason for concern or to visit some sort of walk in clinic asap and if I should expect anything beyond the heightened anxiety I am experiencing?
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