This is my first time to post. I have been on lorazepam for 6 to 8 months, for insomnia. In the past 2 weeks I have slowly got off the medicine. This is my question, I have been off it for 4 days, since then I have stopped sleeping. Can anyone out there tell first how long does it take to get the lorazepam out of your system? Second what are the side effects of stopping the med? Is a person not sleeping one of the side effects? Thanks for any information anyone can give. RK
Posts: 2 | From: NY | Registered: Feb 2005
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The following site has good information on ativan and valium withdrawl: http://www.benzo.org.uk/
I was on ativan for about 5 years, about 6 to 8 mg per day. I don't know how much ativan you were taking, but based on my own experience and in talking with others, I'd say that withdrawl can take a month to a couple of years. The ativan is out of your system within a few weeks I think but it takes your body a while to stop expecting it, plus any time that it is required for you to develop coping mechanisms for whatever you were taking the ativan to avoid in the first place.
-------------------- John Posts: 1 | From: Cambridge MA | Registered: Feb 2005
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I became dependant on Ativan for anxiety and wanted off of it, the panic attacks that occurred when the dose wore off were horrible! My physician told me the only way to effectively get "off" Ativan was by being placed on an effective antidepressant/anti-anxiety agent. I tried all the catagories of drugs, new and old and finally got adjusted to a good "old" tricyclic called Doxepin. Only after that was I able to "withdraw" gradually from Ativan and purge my system of this often abused drug! It was a horrible experience but I was able to do it.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Apr 2005
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In response to Rk, I have also been on Ativan for 8 months for Insomnia. I was taking .5 mg each night and now it is .75 as the .5 does not put me to sleep anymore. I'd like to get off of this drug completely and sleep unaided. But I have tried with no sucess. I end up having 2 hours sleep. It is an awful feeling! I have a young child at home as well, so it's pretty hard not getting a good night's sleep. Someone recommended Elavil (anti-depressant) to re-instate regular sleep patterns but my Dr. stated that has more side effects. Any thoughts on this? How do you get off this stuff?? Thanks.
Posts: 1 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Kim, It took about 3 weeks to get off the meds. I lowered the dosage 1/2 every week. There is a lot of withdrawal side effects. The good news is you will feel much better then you feel now. For the 3 weeks you will feel like garbage. The bad news is I'm still not sleeping. I wasn't sleeping while taking the Lorazepam. While on the meds I felt sluggish, no energy, very down. I'm off the Lorazepam 3 months today. Like I said still not sleeping , only about 2 to 3 hours a night. Was sleeping only 3 to 4 hour with the Lorazepam. Would rather have less sleep then ever go back on medication for insomnia. I suggest you go to a web side about insomnia where the have fourms and you can talk to other people with the same problems as us. www.sleepnet.com. Let me know how your doing. Good luck.
Posts: 2 | From: NY | Registered: Feb 2005
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I was on Lorazapam almost 9 months. Last 3 months I suffer from chronic insomnia and depression. I also use paxil for depression and activan, but activan is not good enough for my insomnia. I would also like to get rid of lorazapam .. it makes me sick
-------------------- Health related forums - SteadyHealth.com Posts: 2 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Ativan is quite hard to get rid of because its half life is very short and withdrawal symptoms are more likely than with a benzo having a longer half life. To stop altogether I switched to a longer half life drug, diazepam. then slowly reduced this one and came out of it nearly effortlessy. It depends of the different chemical structure and the time it stays in your system. Diazepam weans you off more gently.
Posts: 2 | From: U.K. | Registered: Jul 2005
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I would like to know if lorazepam can cause weight gain????? :rolleyes:
Posts: 2 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2005
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:rolleyes: please give me some information about weight gain if u r taking lorazepam .....
Posts: 2 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm wondering about weight gain, too. I've weighed about the same, around 100 pounds, my entire adult life. I'm not a big eater. I did two things close to the same time - I started taking lorazepam and I quit smoking. I gained 20 pounds and had to buy all new clothes (tops and pants!) I am actually fat, which I find shocking after being petite and thin all these years. I don't know if the weight gain is from the stopping smoking or the taking of lorazepam. When I gained the weight, I was taking 1mg every other day; now I take 1mg once daily. What do you think? I quit smoking in Feb. of this year, and have only managed to drop 4 pounds. Exercise isn't doing anything.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Dec 2005
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Hi there everyone. I am being treated for severe depression for over a year. In Nov 05, i suddenly stopped sleeping. Had 3 months of 1-2 hours a night. Eventually i was in hospital as i was suicidal due to be just at the bottom mentally and phyically, loosing huge amount of weight. Was put on large doses of Lorazapam to basically shut me down for 5 days to stabalize me. After a week the medical team tried several sleeping medications (Chloral Hydrate, Temazipam, Zopiclone and more) none worked at all. I'd be sitting up all night wide awake, which was wrong as those things should have knocked me out for 12 hours.
I even tried over the counter "Night Nurse" capsules one night and they worked. Drs are amazed but prescribed me the sedative part of night nurse "Promethazine". These can also be bought over the counter!!!
So what i am trying to say is, try alternatives and you might be amazed. I also spend alot of time preparing for bed each night. Hot bath 90 mins before bed that then lets the body temperature fall b4 bed time, warm milky drink, banana b4 bed, relaxation methods, quiet music playing while i go to sleep. On good nights, it works. On anxious nights, it needs alot more "sleep hygiene" preparation and sometimes not much sleep, but on the whole things are alot better.
Posts: 1 | From: UK | Registered: Mar 2006
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Your post was very helpful. I have been having trouble sleeping for months. I'm not as in bad shape as you were, but nevertheless I am negatively impacted by lack of sleep. I've trie 6-8 different prescribed meds. Tonight I will try trazodone, but if that doesn't work, then I'm going "over-the-counter" like you. Thanks also for the sleep hygiene tips.
Posts: 4 | Registered: Mar 2006
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I just registered and don't know my way around; apparently I was in the lorazepam forum, so now I'll ask a lorazepam question. What kind of dosage do folks take? I take it PRN and sometimes up to 3 mg and still feel anxious. Does this happen to anyone else?
Posts: 4 | Registered: Mar 2006
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I have been on ativan for about five months altogether. I started because I was having severe brething problems before vocal cord surgery. It helped me breath better. Once I had the surgery (3 months after I started taking ativan)I no longer needed the ativan, so I quit with no problems at all. I had been taking from 4 to 6 mg a day at the time. About a month after surgery I started having breathing problems again. My vocal cords were swelling and air was cut off. (it seemed) My doctor said for me to start ativan again. I started taking about 1 mg a day. Sometimes I only take 1/2 mg a day and I go for 1 to two days without it but than I can't breath again. I don't know if this is because I am addicted or if its still the breathing problem. I reallyi want off the stuff as it makes me feel terrible but when I feel like I have a belt around my throat I eventually give back into ativan. How can I get off of it? I go as long as I can stand it without ativan but my breathing seems so labored after awhile and I get to the point I can't stand it. Is this just part of the withdrawals or is it actually that I don't get enough air? I have spasmodic dysphonia. The surgery has given me back my voice but only helped my breathing a little. I get really panicked when I can't breath. I have 1/2 mg tables and usually take one a day but occasionally go to 2 tablets in a day but never more than that. I also am only 3 1/2 months afte the surgery so don't know if I am pushing myself for fear of addiction or if I am really hooked on it. I need some help as to what to do.
Posts: 1 | From: Modesto, CA | Registered: Mar 2006
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