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Benzos Withdrawal from Ativan after 2 weeks?

H

herder44

Greenlighter
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Messages
9
Firstly I have been taking ativan on and off for years, no more then 4-6 times a month. Over the years I have increased my dose from .5 to about 1-1.5 as needed. I would take them if I ever had a panic attack or if I have a stim.

2 weeks ago I went on vacation and had a lot more then I'm used to. Maybe taking 2.5mg a day for 10 days straight. 1mg at night for sleep and smaller amounts during the day to take the edge off. Now I'm back home and could not sleep so I have been taking 1.5 at night for the last 4 days. I am not feeling right and think I am having withdrawal from the ativan. I don't feel my self, I feel out of it. For the first time I tried not taking anything last night and had a massive panic attack, ended up taking 1mg to get through the night.

Can I really be going through withdrawal after only 2 weeks?


Went to see the doc today, he feels its half withdrawal and half in my head. Says I'm probably thinking too much about being addicted. Says I just need to get back to a normal routine with sleep, work and exercise and it will all be fine.

Not sure what to do or how to proceed. He gave me Zopiclone to sleep for the next few days so I can go to work. Plus he gave me 0.5 clonazepam, says take this instead of the ativan during the day for the next few days so I feel normal at work (I need to feel normal at work). Also recommended only taking ativan if I only had a serious panic attack.

Any opinions on the best way to get back to normal? Am I just overthinking it?
 
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Get your ass to the ER. Acute benzo withdrawal is nothing to play with. I just got out of the hospital after my own withdrawal from a very similar scenerio.
 
I personally wouldn't trust any doctor who believes in half withdrawal. Like what does that even mean? Seizure is the most immediate risk but all kinds of nasty outcomes are possible. I would seek out a specialist opinion.
 
cj said:
Get your ass to the ER. Acute benzo withdrawal is nothing to play with. I just got out of the hospital after my own withdrawal from a very similar scenerio.
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You're retarded. "get your ass go to the ER" he's fine. He's not in any danger of a seizure or any other benzo withdrawal symptoms. Maybe some discomfort or a bit of anxiety but Ativan isn't that strong of a benzo nor were his dosages that high. OP just just the zolpiclone for sleep for a few days then after a week you will be fine
 
^No he's not. Edit your post, OD is about harm reduction, not calling people names for being over cautious.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21815323
Since the first report of benzodiazepine withdrawal seizure in 1961, many case reports have followed. Withdrawal seizures have occurred with short, medium, and long halflife benzodiazepine, if discontinued abruptly. Withdrawal seizures usually occur in patients who have been taking these medications for long periods of time and at high doses. Seizures have also been reported with less than 15 days of use and at therapeutic dosage. Almost all the withdrawal seizures reported were grand mal seizures. The severity of seizures range from a single episode to coma and death. Benzodiazepine dose tapering can be done faster in a hospital setting in high-dose abusers, but must be done more slowly in the outpatient setting in therapeutic dosage users.
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While it's highly unlikely that the OP will have a seizure, we don't know his backround and he could be prone to seizures without knowing and his rebound symptoms/mild withdrawal could trigger a seizure..


OP, you're most likely experiencing rebound symptoms, you should be fine after a few days.
Imo you should do a really quick taper, like day one 1mg, day two 0.5mg, day three 0.25mg and then stop
You could take Zopiclone, but imo you should avoid GABAergics alltogether or use it three days max.
Imo you should quit benzos and try other things as ime now it'll only get worse.

Hope you'll feel better soon
 
IMO the clonazepam works way better for anxiety so take it as directed. It works fine for sleep too so the zopiclone may not be needed. I don't know what "half withdrawal" is either haha-either you have the symptoms or you don't. To me it sounds like the increase dose just gave you a hefty dose of rebound anxiety which is pretty common for lorazepam anyway (alprazolam too is another that gives me nasty rebound anxiety). Rebound anxiety is not withdrawal and as you haven't cut off your usage I seriously doubt its withdrawal symptoms. I think your worry is compounding the rebound anxiety though because it's unfamiliar territory. Clonazepam didn't have the rebound effect for me because it was so long acting my next dose always prevented it-coming off it altogether was really rough though. The suggestion about rushing to the ER for the infrequent dosing is a bit extreme. If you can go days between use and the concurrent dosing was only two weeks then you aren't in danger of seizures or even typical withdrawal IMO but it's not impossible either. If you stopped using all benzos then yeah I think your anxiety, insomnia, depression would get worse but two weeks isn't enough for a physical dependence leading to major physical withdrawal. Give yourself a break mentally, read up with on rebound effects from a comedown of benzo use, expand coping techniques for your panic attacks/anxiety so you don't rely strictly on the meds, and maybe consider why you felt the need to increase use so abruptly while on vacation-which should be a time to be less stressed/anxious. I think your doctor did the right thing while explaining it the wrong way. Feel better soon!
 
Benzo withdrawal is horrible it usually takes 3 to 5 days to feel full withdrawal and can be felt for up to 30 days in my experience
 
Thanks for all the help so far. I think what the doctor meant about it being half withdrawal is that I am feeling some withdrawal or rebound but I am making it a lot worse by worrying about it. He thinks me worrying so much and thinking about it is making me worse then I should be.

What about the clonazepam. Can I try this instead of ativan? Should I split one so only take .25 first?
 
Take the clonazepam as it was directed. 0.5mg is a typical starting dose and for me it's a very mild drug-simply reduced anxiety and improved sleep. I didn't get sleepy or loopy or high off of it, even at much higher doses. Less than 0.5mg though didn't ease my anxiety and for panic attacks sometimes 1mg minimum was needed. Take your meds as directed.
 
If you do switch to clonazepam, bear in mind it is twice the strength of ativan, so take half of what you were dosing with ativan..
 
Unless ur wd is vomit nausea or diarrhea, it's all in ur head. Anxiety aand shit like that is normal, not withdrawals symptoms. We are suppose to be anxious.... Only physical wd matter
 
^ Anxiety and panic attacks can be caused by physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure ect..

Also some people find the mental symptoms harder to endure than the phsical ones.,
 
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Sobrietysucks said:
Unless ur wd is vomit nausea or diarrhea, it's all in ur head. Anxiety aand shit like that is normal, not withdrawals symptoms. We are suppose to be anxious.... Only physical wd matter
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diarrhea is definitely there. Plus don't feel normal. I get that this is mild and could be a lot worse. I think whats making it worse is I need to feel normal for work and I am not. It's a new job and I have to be on point and I am not. I think that is really adding to the problem
 
After two weeks, I think you just need to see a doctor. I wouldn't personally check into a hospital as they really don't do much for anybody here, just assess you. A doctor might give you blood pressure meds and it might be a good idea. Just take things easy.

I really woulnd't take xanax for anxiety or panic disorder personally. I would go for something along the lines of clonazepam aka klonopin. It last longer and doesn't hit as hard and isn't quite as addictive and for me it has stayed working for me.

I needed it to be able to manage my life but I have a history of panic attacks dating back to basically as a toddler and was passing out and vomiting over my whole life and things got really rough around 18, so by the time I was 19 I was on benzos rx, and 20 a high dose. It is a double edged sword.

It can be very helpful and very dangerous if you miss a couple doses after being on it for a long time and I know it doesn't apply to the OP that much but seeing how I typed out the things that can happen and anyone going on benzos should consider the consequences and it is a trade off. I guess the part that sucks is knowing you can die without it and that being very real.

So I couldn't read your OP when I first wrote this but I have been on benzos for a very long time and at a higher dose, but yeah benzos are physically addictive. That means there are factors to consider.

Yeah benzo wd is rough. You can have seizures.

So if you want off you should consult a doctor for sure, if you have any symptoms of serious benzo wd you might need to head to the hopsital.

You will most likely have PAWDS if you had a long term habit. So that is like getting the same symptoms as the intitial wd about a few weeks to a few months afterwards and they are just as bad when it comes to benzos and I could compare them with barbituates and alcohol in terms of how dangerous coming off without medical supervision is.

I just don't want you to have a seizure. Avoid flashing lights, stressing out, and realize you could be a seizure risk for a while.

I went through benzo wd cuz of circumstances I couldn't control. Just switching me to ativan for the night I was getting one 3 times an hour cuz it was that bad.

The doctor was said "holy shit, I didn't think you would get this benzo sick" and instantly ordered something stronger which is rather similar to xanax but I don't want to say what. Anyways, I couldn't even get up, felt like so dehydrated, my bladder and stomach literally curved inwards. I lost alot of weight really fast in just a few days, like 22 lbs or 10 kilos.

I get this feeling in my head that is rather hard to describe but I know if I going to have a seizure. It is not a good thing to go through and can damage your brain if you are not treated immediatly and yeah I just want you and everyone to understand benzo wd can kill you easier than alcohol wd.

I forgot to check your dose but if you been taking it a long time even a lower dose over a long period of time is just as habit forming and your brain is counting on it and used to it so it is going to be rough to acclimate to this life change you are going through.

It is not a bad thing if you can do it, getting off benzos that is. It is best taken slowly. It is one hell of a ball and chain and I know its tough. I am not trying to scare you, just tell you what can happen. I doubt I know more about you than you, so you might really want to just do this safe as you can. Good luck and hope you get through it ok.
 
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I go to work hung over and withdrawals every day , it's a struggle, I! Fartimg and semen is dried on trousers day before...

I always go to interview high to appear happy and normal in front of the idiot that judges you based on how you present yourself and what lies you tell them , then after I'm hired I reveal my true nature ! I don't even brush my teeth for days because I'm too fucked up, not my problem only other people's.
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LOL, while I find humor in this and I've been guilty of similar practices, I wouldn't advise it.
 
opiatekrzy said:
Benzo withdrawal is horrible it usually takes 3 to 5 days to feel full withdrawal and can be felt for up to 30 days in my experience
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agree..benzo WDs are nasty..

'I dont feel myself, i feel out of it"

yep, sounds like benzo wds to me but imo you arent in danger zone..you are simply experiencing withdrawals and unless your blood pressure acts up or you start to feel extremely 'sick' i would just try to take it easy and keep a close eye, stay home..
 
I'm in the middle of my first benzo withdrawal right now. It's unbelievablely bad. Makes heroin withdrawal seem like a bad cold.
 
Sobrietysucks said:
Unless ur wd is vomit nausea or diarrhea, it's all in ur head. Anxiety aand shit like that is normal, not withdrawals symptoms. We are suppose to be anxious.... Only physical wd matter
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i hope you are just being ignorant and young..if not, then you are trolling a drug forum saying dangerous things..umm why?

benzo wds the mental withdrawals are the worst aspect! the extreme brain fog and confusion is crippling, the extreme anxiety and panic attacks that can follow are brutal..
 
Sobrietysucks said:
Unless ur wd is vomit nausea or diarrhea, it's all in ur head. Anxiety aand shit like that is normal, not withdrawals symptoms. We are suppose to be anxious.... Only physical wd matter
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Bullshit
vomit nausea or diarrhea are opioid withdrawal signs and don't happen that often with benzo withdrawal

Anxiety etc isn't normal and is a withdrawal sign (and it's not just psychological, like 7nos-SS373dOH said, increased blood pressure ect. can lead to anxiety and vice versa)
If you start shaking it's time to go to the hospital


OP, how're you doing today?
 
OP clonazepam can be very effective for preventing seizures. I think you should take a very low dose--try to break your pill down to .125 or .25 mgs. you might not even notice the effects, but it will help and at least eliminate any anxiety about going into WD or having a seizure. just di this for a few days and then stop. take the zopiclone at night id you need it, but keep in mind that dependence can happen even more quickly with z-drugs than benzos, so only if you really really nees it to sleep.

goodluck!
 
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