I am tapering my lorazepam posting for accountability

[Anonymous]

Hi! OP here.
Today I started taking 1 and 1.
I started 8/19 with 1 and 1.5 and the last 3 days the 0.5 was more like 0.25.
Thank you for you encouragement and support.

[Anonymous]

You got this! I did it several years ago. A few years back I was prescribed 10 pills to have on hand during an incredibly stressful time. I was able to take .5 here and there to calm and reset. Never did finish the bottle.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the inspiration. I used lotion on my legs tonight, They feel a little crawly. But down from 3 to 2 pills I will hang in there. Once off and done. I will be looking for a new doctor too.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,
I am very slowly withdrawing from klonopin after a major trauma. Ive been on it for yesrs. Give yourself permission to go very slowly. I reduce 5 percent at a time. I did a 25 percent reduction over the course of a year... im taking a break and will then resume (Im down to .035 tablets a day. One thing I found that was super helpful was a script for beta blockers- thry mask some of the physiological withdrawals. Another thing that has been helpful is magnesium- I like natural calm on Amazon. I also like ashwaganda- I like the only stress reduction pills from Amazon. Finally, limit coffee and alcohol and eat meals that balance your blood sugar.. Even with the 5 peecwnt withdrawal I experience diarrhea, heightened anxiety, insomnia, irritability, etc. Given the klonppin half life. I usually get hit hardest from day 3 though about day 10.

[Anonymous]

Should say olly pills on Amazon for ashwaganda

[Anonymous]

Cheering you on! I tapered earlier this year, after about 6 years of taking 1mg/day. You have further to go, but you can do it! I cannot recommend the liquid enough. I tapered 10% every 2 weeks using the liquid. I am now completely off the drug. Earlier, I had tried to taper 25% at a time by cutting pills, and I couldn't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cheering you on! I tapered earlier this year, after about 6 years of taking 1mg/day. You have further to go, but you can do it! I cannot recommend the liquid enough. I tapered 10% every 2 weeks using the liquid. I am now completely off the drug. Earlier, I had tried to taper 25% at a time by cutting pills, and I couldn't do it.

OP here.
Good for you! I am down to 1,1 now it's going ok.
My elderly and out of it shrink is indifferent about my tapering. I can't see callin him to get a prescription for the liquid. I will bear it in mind if I have difficulty. Maybe my PCP can help. Thanks.
Left message for shrink yesterday changing appointment. He called back and clearly was confused about when I wanted the new one to be. Scary.

[Anonymous]

good luck OP. Go even slower than you think you need to go. Better chance of it actually sticking that way. Know that many of us here are rooting for you.

[Anonymous]

So it's Day 12 on 1,1 and seems ok. Wondering if I should do 3 weeks here (down from 1,2) or step down again in a few days. Well I don't have to decide today.
Appreciate the support here!

[Anonymous]

Good luck!! I was on Xanax for over 10 years and came to a similar realization as you did — most of my side effects were from withdrawal when I would delay a dose. I would be terrified about having a last-minute change of plans unless I had my medication. I only took it at night for sleep, but my (elderly) psychiatrist continued to prescribe me higher and higher doses. I started at .25 and ended up at 2mg. If I delayed my dose by 1-2 hours I would display legit addict behaviors. That, plus the mental fog and dementia risks, scared me. I titrated down over the course of a year and a half.

A word of warning that I wish I had known before hand — even though I did a long taper schedule, when I actually finished my last dose ever, my brain was still seeking the dopamine /gaba, and I began drinking a lot more alcohol. I was never previously a big drinker, and didn’t realize how much my drinking had increased. I also started making unhealthy food choices — could not stop the sugar temptations. I no longer drink but encourage you to be mindful of the possibility. I honestly wish I had don’t some kind of inpatient detox or at least started therapy when I was titrating down.

Also, one thing that was immensely helpful during my titration off the benzos was to take a weed gummy at night. If you’re not comfortable with the weed Gummies, just take CBD and CBG. I have been off all benzos for 21 months, and while I’m still struggling with sleep and brain fog, I have zero regrets!

Best of luck to you! Although I wish I’d never been prescribed benzos, I tell myself I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, and learned to not dwell on what has happened in the past. You’ve got this OP 💕

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck!! I was on Xanax for over 10 years and came to a similar realization as you did — most of my side effects were from withdrawal when I would delay a dose. I would be terrified about having a last-minute change of plans unless I had my medication. I only took it at night for sleep, but my (elderly) psychiatrist continued to prescribe me higher and higher doses. I started at .25 and ended up at 2mg. If I delayed my dose by 1-2 hours I would display legit addict behaviors. That, plus the mental fog and dementia risks, scared me. I titrated down over the course of a year and a half.

A word of warning that I wish I had known before hand — even though I did a long taper schedule, when I actually finished my last dose ever, my brain was still seeking the dopamine /gaba, and I began drinking a lot more alcohol. I was never previously a big drinker, and didn’t realize how much my drinking had increased. I also started making unhealthy food choices — could not stop the sugar temptations. I no longer drink but encourage you to be mindful of the possibility. I honestly wish I had don’t some kind of inpatient detox or at least started therapy when I was titrating down.

Also, one thing that was immensely helpful during my titration off the benzos was to take a weed gummy at night. If you’re not comfortable with the weed Gummies, just take CBD and CBG. I have been off all benzos for 21 months, and while I’m still struggling with sleep and brain fog, I have zero regrets!

Best of luck to you! Although I wish I’d never been prescribed benzos, I tell myself I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, and learned to not dwell on what has happened in the past. You’ve got this OP 💕

Cross-addiction is real, and you should do what you can to avoid it. "Weed gummies" are drugs.

https://marijuana-anonymous.org/readings/dangers-of-cross-addiction/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck!! I was on Xanax for over 10 years and came to a similar realization as you did — most of my side effects were from withdrawal when I would delay a dose. I would be terrified about having a last-minute change of plans unless I had my medication. I only took it at night for sleep, but my (elderly) psychiatrist continued to prescribe me higher and higher doses. I started at .25 and ended up at 2mg. If I delayed my dose by 1-2 hours I would display legit addict behaviors. That, plus the mental fog and dementia risks, scared me. I titrated down over the course of a year and a half.

A word of warning that I wish I had known before hand — even though I did a long taper schedule, when I actually finished my last dose ever, my brain was still seeking the dopamine /gaba, and I began drinking a lot more alcohol. I was never previously a big drinker, and didn’t realize how much my drinking had increased. I also started making unhealthy food choices — could not stop the sugar temptations. I no longer drink but encourage you to be mindful of the possibility. I honestly wish I had don’t some kind of inpatient detox or at least started therapy when I was titrating down.

Also, one thing that was immensely helpful during my titration off the benzos was to take a weed gummy at night. If you’re not comfortable with the weed Gummies, just take CBD and CBG. I have been off all benzos for 21 months, and while I’m still struggling with sleep and brain fog, I have zero regrets!

Best of luck to you! Although I wish I’d never been prescribed benzos, I tell myself I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, and learned to not dwell on what has happened in the past. You’ve got this OP 💕

Thank you for your experience and encouragement. OP here and I have been noticing sweet cravings at night. Have to watch out!

What is it with those elderly psychiatrists, eh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it's Day 12 on 1,1 and seems ok. Wondering if I should do 3 weeks here (down from 1,2) or step down again in a few days. Well I don't have to decide today.
Appreciate the support here!

Go slowly. It's worthwhile. Lorazepam withdrawal for me was extremely painful. I did it independently, and think I rushed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it's Day 12 on 1,1 and seems ok. Wondering if I should do 3 weeks here (down from 1,2) or step down again in a few days. Well I don't have to decide today.
Appreciate the support here!

Go slowly. It's worthwhile. Lorazepam withdrawal for me was extremely painful. I did it independently, and think I rushed it.

When I have weaned myself off such meds I’ve gone 5 times slower than suggested. That’s work for me.

[Anonymous]

So glad you recognized the problem and are taking steps to recover.

You have lived without this before, so we know you can get there!! 👏🏼