[defyinggravity65]

Hey all,

For the past three weeks I've had pretty terrible insomnia and lorazepam (Ativan) has been a lifesaver for me. It has by no means restored my sleep to what it once was (a lovely 7.5-8 hour duration every night), but it has allowed me to get 5-6 hours of sleep most nights, with the occasional, terrible 3 or 4 hour night.

I've been taking .75 mg every night for three weeks now. I take .5 mg right as I'm about to go to sleep, and then when I wake up in the middle of the night I need to take another .25 mg to fall back asleep. I tried to go without it last night and I was awake until 4:30 am with no signs of sleeping, so I eventually gave in and took it as I usually do and got broken sleep until about 9:30.

I need this in order to function right now, especially since tomorrow I am also starting Escitalopram (Lexapro) which my pdoc thinks will reduce my sleep anxiety overall, but can have the side effect of insomnia in the beginning. I am worried I will have to take MORE lorazepam to deal with this insomnia side effect over the next couple weeks and that I will become completely dependent on it.

I obviously have a lot of anxiety. I'm worried I'll never be able to taper it down, that I'll start to require more and more, or that eventually when I stop using the insomnia will come right back.

I just need some advice about all these fears about Lorazepam, and Escitalopram too.

Thanks

[Deejay14]

You are right some dependence will develop but I don't think it wil! develop this quickly. I have just come off a benzodiazepine taper for lorazepam which was really not a bad experience. Getting off the Ambien has been much more challenging (see my Trying to get off Ambien thread). I now only use lorazepam two times a week, so I really have to think about do I really need this or not.

I found that exercise 5 days a week was really helpful as well as starting my day @7 am and keeping bed times consistent every night.

My spouse takes excitation and has found it highly successful keeping his anxiety in check. Please feel free to pm me.