I have always battled cognitive impairment that I think originated with learning disabilities caused from a horse accident when i was fifteen sub-dural hematoma that was delayed brain surgery, and little to no extra help in school afterrwards I have fought my whole life to remain functional.
I finally gave in to medication a few years ago when I developed chronic pain in all my joints, but mainly my hips in the girdle area. I have taken Norco 7. After about a year on Cymbalta I realized I was increasing the norco again and decided to quit taking it. It has been 3 months and weaning down to 15mg, but I still cannot stop it due to the tingling in my face and lips along with severe vertigo, and now I feel like I have severe dementia some days.
I feel very trapped by these medicines and want to get off of them. My question is, should I start making a plan with my doctor to stop the Lorazepam now, or after the Cymbalta? It takes extra effort but I really believe in a natural healthy lifestyle now, rather than drugs. I was very unaware of the end result. Thankyou for taking the time to hear my story.
Well, sounds like you have a particularly complicated situation at hand. Chronic pain can be a challenge to manage in the long-term. Unfortunately, most doctors tend to have much more experience starting medications than discontinuing them. As a general rule, you want to taper slowly if you are experiencing side-effects or withdrawal.
I take it for a tic thing. It is like a tourettes person and I was so relieved when I started taking this along with blood presure medication. My doctor wants to discuss it. Also I am chemically sensitive to everyday products so it also helps with coping. Really stressed now they say I have osteoporisis and that medication sounds horrible. I am so careful not to use anything except these medications. Well, for every medication one needs to consider the likely benefits and risks, and also what are the available alternatives.
There are often viable and safer alternatives for managing insomnia and anxiety, but that may be less true for your condition. I think it sounds like a good idea to discuss with your doctor.
Dialogue, considering alternatives, and trying a potentially better approach are what is most important. I took. Thank you Kate xxx. Congrats on your efforts to get off this medication. Using a liquid form of lorazepam can make it easier to manage the small dose reductions. I would recommend bringing Dr. Lorazepam 0. I would recommend discussing your interest in stopping with your prescribing doctor. Ask for help figuring out a reasonable taper schedule. I would recommend seeing your health provider about these symptoms.
Thank you so much for your reply itching seems to have calmed thankgod was awful. Does it get easier or harder the lower you get. Generally the slower the taper, the more manageable it feels to the body. If your doctor suggests a larger step down, you can perhaps discuss your preference to taper more slowly if at all possible. You might also find it helpful to find an online community of people working on benzo tapers, that would be a good source of moral support.
My elderly grandmother, 93, was placed on hospice 2 months ago. She is bedridden but would attempt to get out of bed, remove her diaper and not know where she was in the middle of the night. The hospice nurse suggested starting her on. Twice I gave her 1mg, as the. She was awake throughout the night last night be disoriented with the same behavior mentioned above after having been given.
I am not sure what to do and an wondering if I need to step her down even after only 2 weeks of use. Thank you for your guidance. Sorry to hear of these challenges. Could it have been pain or shortness of breath or something else? You could talk to the hospice team about trying to taper down the lorazepam. That said, it may or may not be realistic to hope that she can be managed without any confusion or difficulty whatsoever. Really it depends on what is her hospice diagnosis and her other conditions affecting her health, but declining and dying often do affect the brain, even in people much younger than Good luck and hang in there.
Hi I was on 3mg Ativan for over a year taking at bedtime I was also on Ritalin and reglan I began having extreme anxiety and shaking and confusion as I cut Down on reglan an had stopped the Ritalin. Doctor said it was caused by Ativan so switched me to klonopin. I got vertigo bad after starting klonopin so after 2 months was switched to Valium. I have been on Valium for almost 2 months only 2. Seems only thing that helps is Ativan again.
I tried a. Now doctor wants to know if I want to go back to Ativan. Should I stick with Valium or go back to Ativan? It been 4 months since I got off Ativan and withdrawals were bad from both Ativan and klonopin.
Should I just take more Valium. Would it take time again to get tolerance to Ativan or will it work at small dose as if starting over again?
Your situation sounds exceptionally complicated, both because of the many medications you have taken and are taking, and also because you have advanced cancer and metastases to the liver. I would recommend you consult with a palliative care specialist. Palliative care is a discipline focused on helping people manage difficult symptoms and helping people cope with serious illness. Learn more about palliative care here: Get Palliative Care. Among other things, they should be able to discuss the big picture of your health and the likely benefits versus burdens of trying to taper off benzodiazepines at this time.
My 82 year old mother has been taking 4 mg of Ativan every night for at least a year or two. The doctor was prescribing 3 mg every night however she called and asked if she could take an extra 1 mg.
He said ok to do so every now and then. Apparently she was doing 4 mg every night. He then decided that 4 was too much and dropped her to 3mg. She immediately started having serious withdrawal symptoms and panic attacks. The doctor put her back to 4 mg Ativan and added Clonazepam 5mg. She was feeling very zombie like of course she was! She is feeling withdrawal again. I have no idea where to turn, this Dr has over medicated her for years and now the withdrawal symptoms seem to be too much for her to take.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I think she needs an inpatient detox type of treatment. Sounds like she has been on pretty substantial doses of benzodiazepines, for a person of her age.
I cannot make specific recommendations but in general, the more slowly the dose is reduced, the better. Tapering off benzodiazepines can take months, that would be a long time to remain as an inpatient.
But perhaps you can find a health provider who is willing to work carefully with your mom and your family on slowly tapering her benzos? You may also find it helpful to connect with other people concerned about aging parents. There is an active online caregiver forum at AgingCare.
This is a way to get moral support and encouragement as you explore your options. I cannot advise as it has been a very long time since I took care of women who were still getting their periods. Would recommend addressing this query to your treating clinician.
My mom is 91yrs old and takes. When the first FDA tapering came about her doctor was going to stop her cold turkey by not prescribing her anymore. So had to find another doctor who would work with her on tapering. I had to find something online and began tapering her down. I got her down to the dose I mentioned at the beginning. No compassion whatsoever. I have to call every month to get a new script for my mom, and this month they are giving me a hard time. Been arguing with office nurse, but she told me deal with it.
How can medical professions be so cruel? Thought they took an oath to protect and save..?? They are probably overworked and under a lot of stress, but still. For the future, you could see if the prescribing clinician would be willing to prescribe liquid lorazepam.
This can be easier to taper down slowly. Good luck, your mother is very fortunate to have you looking out for her. My mom took Depranil plus 5mg a diazpam tab for 28yrs continuously now she is taking ativan 2mg from past 3 months instead of Depranil plus, her sleep is good but Dr.
What should I do should I give her half a tablet instead of full in such tapering down or can I abruptly stop it? These are usually sedating. They are also anticholinergic and can interfere with memory and thinking somewhat. Regardless, it is never a good idea to abruptly stop a benzodiazepine. People almost always get distressing withdrawal symptoms e. My mom has been prescribed. During this time, my dad and I have witnessed major differences in her personality, most noticeably rage and irritability have emerged in a person who has never exhibited such behavior.
This is a tough situation, especially when you feel that soliciting help from doctors will upset your parent. Honestly I would not expect Ativan to cause these major changes in personality. Benzos can certainly disinhibit someone, which can lead to certain sides of their personality becoming more visible, but a significant change in underlying personality would not be expected.
So, I would recommend your mother get further medical evaluation for her personality changes, as these can be the signs of the brain changing or of another underlying medical condition.
If she gets upset when you mention evaluation: this is really common, and also really challenging to deal with. It can be helpful to get advice from a professional who specifically has experience in constructively communicating with people who may be cognitively impaired your current therapist may not have this experience.
Otherwise, you will need to decide whether to communicate your concerns to her doctor. This is allowable from a privacy law perspective, but does often upset the older parent if they find out about it.
My doctor put me on. Now I want to come off it. I tried to taper slowly by cutting one dose daily in half, but I experienced heightened anxiety and loud ringing in my ears.
My doctor really does not seem interested in helping me come off this med. I am 74 years old, have heart disease and high blood pressure. What can I do? Is it best that I remain on this medication for the rest of my life if it is controlling my anxiety?
Cutting a dose in half is still a big step down for the body. I would recommend printing out Dr. Let them know you are interested in reducing your lorazepam but you need their help figuring out a very slow taper. You should also discuss other ways to manage anxiety or other symptoms that are currently being treated by lorazepam. For instance, some people benefit from special therapy programs to help manage their anxiety.
A few days later I went to see a nurse practictioner because of my anxiety levels increasing and suicidal thinking. She referred me to see a Psychiatrist. Made an appointment, went and he called primary told her to get me off of Ativan. So no more Ativan. BUT since last thrusday I have been going thru withdrawal.
I called primary today and she said that withdrawal should have happened around the 18th. The literature I have read say that withdrawal could happen anytime.
No wonder there is much Medicare fraud. I was placed on disability about 10 years ago due my memory loss. I have a neuropsychiatrist in a week. Yikes, I am sorry to hear that a provider would stop a benzodiazepine cold turkey, that is not considered optimal practice as most people experience distressing withdrawal symptoms.
People on higher doses of benzos can also experience life-threatening physical withdrawal symptoms. It sounds like you need to have health providers working closely and compassionately with you at this time, I hope you will be able to connect with someone suitable soon.
Neuropsychiatry is a somewhat newer subspecialty, it is also sometimes called behavioral neurology, and basically draws from both psychiatry and neurology. Hmm , most of these stories are tales of woe. I have only had a positive experience of being on this drug for over 30 years.
An article in the paper about this drug brought out positive reviews from doctors ,about patients who have benefited from this drug. Most of the studies are observational and not longitudinal. In later life , the harmful effects of withdrawal seem to me to defeat the object. Yes, many people find benzodiazepines helpful for their symptoms at least in the short-term, and many people have been taking them for years without experiencing obvious issues. And, an individual person is not able to determine whether long-term use of a medication increases their risk for certain problems, such as falls.
It is certainly reasonable for an individual to conclude that the burdens of attempting withdrawal outweigh the likely benefits. We mostly want people to have the information they need to make an informed choice. Doctors are not practicing Drs today. This is partly due to the system making it hard for them to do so. You would either have to continue negotiating with your current clinician to get more help, or you will have to find someone else.
Hi my husband became ill in India and was put on Lorezepam. Does he still have to do this tapering or will cold turkey be ok.
Yes, at this point it would be best to do a taper. I am taking 2 mg ativan for sleep and anti depression medication from 3 years I want stop it can u help me thanks. I recommend finding a health provider to assist you in tapering. So I am turning 46 and take clonazepam for seizures, I have been on it approximately 15 years. With that I was not taking clonazepam daily until this time.
Now I still cant get my static seizures controlled, often sending me to the ER. I recently had brain surgery to try and stop the seizures. It is worse now in some ways. So I asked my neurologist to prescribe Ativan for the days the static seizures come on.
In the last week I have been to the ER 2 times. She told me she can give me only 5 a month as she would lose her license if she gives me more. I dont see how if I have to have both to stop the seizures how it can be illegal to prescribe them both to me. As I read your article, I understand that their are issues with long term benzo use, but death from static seizures seems a good enough reason to need them. Before two doses of Ativan, after I had had 1 mg of clonazepam at my regular morning dose, my pulse would not drop below and was as high as I do not recall how high my blood pressure was except they were very worried, especially as I am only a month out of brain surgery.
Is it bad to have both medications being used if the possibility of dying from a static seizure not stopping. Sorry to hear of your situation.
The optimal or reasonable use of benzodiazepines for seizure control is beyond the scope of my own practice and this article. So, I would encourage you to ask her more questions. Alternatively, you could try to find another health provider, ideally one with experience prescribing seizure treatment I think this would be a neurologist specialized in epilepsy. The material on this site, including any exchanges in the comments section of the blog, is for informational and educational purposes only.
Any comments Dr. Kernisan and a caregiver, or care recipient. None of Dr. Please see the full Disclaimer for more information. Based on a work at BetterHealthWhileAging. Your privacy is very important to us. Your information will never be sold to anyone, whether you browse the site, sign up for email updates, or register for an event. Pleae read our complete Privacy Policy for more information and for Dr. Kernisan's financial disclosures. Getting Started Why Geriatrics Are you a caregiver? The must-read information brochure on Ativan and older adults If your older relative is taking Ativan generic name lorazepam , I highly recommend you read Dr.
Other sedatives to consider stopping The brochure above covers Ativan along with other benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Restoril generic names diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and temazepam, respectively. For instance, research has found these drugs: Worsen balance and thinking; Increase the risk of falls, and of fractures; Can make dementia symptoms worse; Are linked to a higher risk of dying within a few years. Is it ever okay for an older adult to take benzodiazepines?
Tips for caregivers If your older loved one is taking a benzodiazepine: Do make sure you and the older person are properly informed about the side-effects, risks, and alternative options for treating insomnia or anxiety. Do talk to the doctors about attempting a taper off the drug.
Even a reduction in dose can help reduce side-effects and risks. Reducing these medications should be done gradually, and under medical supervision. If your older loved one complains of insomnia or anxiety: Do question things if the doctor proposes a benzodiazepine or other tranquilizer as a solution.
Ask for help with lifestyle changes and cognitive therapy instead. Remember that these drugs are much easier to start than they are to stop! Questions about benzodiazepines in older adults?
The dosage range for this use is 2 mg to 4 mg once per day, taken at bedtime. To treat certain seizures , a healthcare professional will typically give you Ativan as an IV injection. In some cases, they may give you an IM injection. The usual dosage is 4 mg given slowly about 2 minutes. If the seizures continue after 10 to 15 minutes, you may be given another 4-mg dose. To treat anxiety , your doctor will prescribe Ativan tablets.
The dosage range for this use is 1 mg to 10 mg, which is usually split into two or three doses per day. The typical dose is 2 mg to 6 mg, divided into two or three doses per day. For example, if your daily dosage is 4 mg, you would take 2 mg once in the morning and once in the evening.
To make you sleep before surgery, a healthcare professional will typically give you an IM injection of Ativan. For this use, Ativan is dosed based on body weight. One kilogram equals about 2. Ativan may also be given by IV injection to make you sleep before surgery. The recommended dose for this use is either 2 mg or 0.
Ativan is not meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. Your doctor will typically check from time to time whether you still need to take Ativan. Ativan is not approved for children to take. The drug has not proven to be safe and effective to treat conditions in this group.
The maximum dose of Ativan in 24 hours is 10 milligrams mg. This dose is typically taken for conditions that are treated with Ativan tablets, such as anxiety. The mg maximum dose is usually divided into two or three doses.
For example, you may take 2 mg in the morning, 2 mg in the afternoon, and 6 mg before bed. For example, to treat anxiety , you may take Ativan tablets at a dosage of 2 mg twice per day, for a total daily dosage of 4 mg.
You can also speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Ativan is not approved to treat panic or anxiety attacks. But the drug may be prescribed off-label for this use. To learn more about using Ativan for panic or anxiety attacks and what the dosage would be, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. This is because Ativan affects your body differently as you age. You may also need a dosage adjustment if you have kidney or liver problems. Your doctor will typically decrease your dose based on the severity of your liver or kidney condition.
A healthcare professional will give you Ativan injections. Be sure to take Ativan exactly as your doctor prescribes. You should not take more or less Ativan than prescribed without first speaking with them. If you miss a dose of Ativan, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at your regular scheduled time. You should not take more than one dose to try and make up for the missed dose.
This can increase your risk for side effects from Ativan. To help make sure that you do not miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. Lorazepam may harm an unborn baby. Avoid taking this medicine during the first trimester of pregnancy. If you use lorazepam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born.
Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk. If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice drowsiness or fussiness in the nursing baby. Lorazepam is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Lorazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have weak or shallow breathing, if you are hard to wake up, or if you stop breathing. The sedative effects of lorazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines.
Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Use Lorazepam Ativan exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use lorazepam in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction.
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