[Gentle Lamb]

I have been taking lorazepam for about a year now, I initially started because of anxiety but over time the Dr. gave it to me for insomnia. I started out taking only a 1/2 of a 1mg tap. Well now I am up to 2 tabs atnight. I had tried to wean myself off, since some other medical people were magnifying how addicting it was, which scared away from it. But, I cannot sleep without it! My mind clears up when I cut it back to 1/2 tab, but then the sleeplessness comes back! I cannot tolerate not sleeping! That turns me into a raving witch!

Well, now that I am back up to 2 tabs now I am deeply depressed and angry, losing my temper a lot this week. Yes, I called my prescribing Dr. last night and he agrees that it is the lorazepam that is doing this to me. But, I think that he is on vacation, so I won't be seeing him for at least a week and a half. He did leave the door open to call him if I need to.

Plus since I have been taking it a long with Norco for RA pain, I have not been able to drive, just not all there anymore. Besides I do not want a DUI!

Just wondering if anyone else has gone through this lorazepam.

Can you ask your pdoc to substitute the lorazepam with an antihistamine or a low-dose sedating antipsychotic to sleep? There are even some over-the-countert antihistamines that induce sleep.

[still_crazy]

hi. sorry about this. lorazepam (or any benzodiazepine...really, most psych drugs...) should be reduced or discontinued very, very slowly.

breadfish has a good point, about alternative sleeping pills. gabapentin might help, and it works on GABA receptors, also, so it might help ease the tapering process ((just a thought)).

sometimes, doctors will convert lorazepam to Valium and taper off Valium. Valium isn't as strong (it takes higher doses to achieve comparable effects). Valium also works quickly and stays in the system a longer time (long half life), so its an ideal drug to taper off of, if your doctor will consider that method. I don't know the lorazepam to valium conversion (I think there are tables online), but I would guess-timate 20, 30mgs to start with.

i found some supplements helped with benzodiazepine tapers. high dose niacinamide, b-complex, vitamin c. others report that high doses of taurine (on an empty stomach) help, also. l-theanine (preferably Suntheanine brand) also acts on GABA receptors and can help elevate mood a bit, which is always a good thing during benzodiazepine tapers.

Good luck.

[Shazerac]

Hang in there . there are other options to help you sleep. I agree with the others about a VERY gradual reduction in benzos to avoid rebound anxiety and insomnia.

It's a difficult and frustrating journey to get your meds right and get off benzos. Be strong carry on. You can do it.

[doogie]

Hydroxyzine has been a good alternative for me to benzos. It's basically an antihistamine, but it works great for sleep (in larger doses) and for anxiety (in smaller doses) without being addicting.

[TicTacGo]

A low dose antipsychotic (e.g. Seroquel) can be very helpful in the sense that it induces tiredness.

I'd say the first priority is getting you off of lorazepam without any complications.

[Guiness187055]

Valium or Klonopin can help you taper off of the lorazapam

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

Valium or Klonopin can help you taper off of the lorazapam

That's a bit like exchanging one drug for another. Although switching to diazepam (Valium) and then tapering off the diazepam can be easier, because it has a very long half-life.

[WildcatVet]

All benzos have a huge potential for habituation/addiction and many doctors will no longer prescribe them. But as everyone has mentioned there are a lot of other options. Have you ever tried the medications designed for sleep such as Ambien, Lunesta, or Sonata?