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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by craig allen on January 30, 2004, at 20:16:34
last month i started using opiates for the first time in a few years. i went to detox for three days, then was on suboxone (buprenorphine) for 2 weeks. i've been off the suboxone for 14 days now, but now i'm apparently dependent on ativan. i've been taking it every day for about 2 weeks, 2-3 mgs per day. at this point, when my ativan dose wears off, i get really panicky and sad. i mean immobilized with panic and sadness. then i take 1mg of ativan and i'm functional again. this is not my normal self - i've never suffered from panic attacks. no question my brain is still righting itself from all the opiate useage, but i'm pretty sure that the ativan is making me worse. problem is, i don't have any idea how to get off of it right now. it's the only thing that brings me relief. anyone have any experience or suggestions? thanks.
Posted by silmarilone on January 30, 2004, at 21:39:47
In reply to HOW DO I DETOX OFF ATIVAN?, posted by craig allen on January 30, 2004, at 20:16:34
You haven't been on it very long. It should not be too hard, if you very gradually wean yourself off of it. Do you have support during this time? Some kind of support system while doing that would be helpful I think
Posted by Chairman_MAO on January 30, 2004, at 22:05:44
In reply to HOW DO I DETOX OFF ATIVAN?, posted by craig allen on January 30, 2004, at 20:16:34
At two weeks you aren't even at the point where you have a physical dependency on it; a clinical, physical dependency takes at least one month (is it a coincidence that antidepressants take FOUR WEEKS to work? I think not ...) In fact, the suggested course of diazepam in the case of severe anxiety is usually 2-4 weeks.
I suggest you see a competent psychiatrist with a background in dual diagnosis treatment IMMEDIATELY. Tell them everything you've stated here, except use a lot more detail. You're obviously suffering from something which the Ativan is medicating; from what you've told me, I have no guess as to what that might be. 14 days of Suboxone is more than enough to survive opiate withdrawl, which is generally 4-7 days. If you provide more information about how you're feeling, perhaps myself and others can make more suggestions.
Posted by Deanne47yo on July 7, 2005, at 13:12:34
In reply to HOW DO I DETOX OFF ATIVAN?, posted by craig allen on January 30, 2004, at 20:16:34
Hi; I too am addicted to ativan (lorazepam,same thing)but I took 8 to 10 mgs a day for a few years now and my new psych wanted me off of them. It was causing me get paniky(?) and when I took my dose of ativan I would feel alot better, so now I am completely off of them and on Serequel instead and that works for me. What you do to get off of it is to reduce the drug 1/2 mg at a time, go 1 week and then the next week reduce 1/2 mgs,do this until you are off the med completely, or talk to your shrink and maybe go on something like Serequel which is non-habit forming and well for me anyway it is working pretty good...be careful not to go too fast in reducing as it can cause real havoc with your body and mind... Hope I have been helpful
take care
Deanne47yo
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2005, at 2:22:34
In reply to Re: HOW DO I DETOX OFF ATIVAN?, posted by Deanne47yo on July 7, 2005, at 13:12:34
> What you do to get off of it is to reduce the drug 1/2 mg at a time, go 1 week and then the next week reduce 1/2 mgs,do this until you are off the med completely...
Sorry if it's confusing here, but I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Withdrawal. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050611/msgs/524857.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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