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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Drew stat on March 25, 2009, at 22:38:05
I posted a similar question on withdrawal board but i know this one is much more active. I have been on 1mg 2x of ativan for withdrawal from anafranil(25 days) which I know hope is about over. My question is if I want to go off the ativan now how long a tapering process will i need for a small dose for only a few weeks. Withdrawal from anafranil has been horrendous and I don't think i have it in me to begin all over again! Also, would switching to valium be useful as I feel as the ativan starts to wear off I am feeling much worse. Thank you so much anyone i really need help, first time poster!! May have to drop out of Grad school because of this.
Posted by Zana on March 26, 2009, at 11:56:48
In reply to will 3.5 weeks on ativan require taper, posted by Drew stat on March 25, 2009, at 22:38:05
Drew, everybody says that the slowest possible taper off any benzo is the best way to go. I had a friend who tapered off klonopin at a 1/4 of a .05mg tab every three weeks.
Why are you tapering off? And why now if it may interfer with school?
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2009, at 12:22:18
In reply to Re: will 3.5 weeks on ativan require taper, posted by Zana on March 26, 2009, at 11:56:48
Drew welcome to babble. After you wean off the ativan are you planning on starting another antidepressant? Are you depressed now? I'm sorry for your pain. Valium does have a longer life. Will you be benzo free forever in your plans? Did anafranil help you since you're weaning off? Love Phillipa
Posted by Drew stat on March 26, 2009, at 12:55:43
In reply to Re: will 3.5 weeks on ativan require taper, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2009, at 12:22:18
I think I may have confused people. I actually stopped taking the anafranil as I hope my OCD is controlled without it and started the ativan 3.5 weeks ago to help with the anafranil withdrawal. I hope to not be on any meds in the future as I want to deal with my OCD and anxiety with CBT. However at this point I'm concerned because I am still feeling pretty bad from withdrawal and I don't know if its still anafranil withdrawal(how long could that last??) because I was feeling better and stopped ativan for a day and felt much worse. I don't know if the ativan was controlling the anafranil withdrawal or then i started to withdrawal from the ativan itself. That being said it still feels the same as the anafranil withdrawal i just can't believe after 3.5 weeks its not gone.
Posted by bleauberry on March 26, 2009, at 17:24:22
In reply to will 3.5 weeks on ativan require taper, posted by Drew stat on March 25, 2009, at 22:38:05
If it were me, yeah, I would need a slow taper. Probably no longer than the time I was on the med though, which in this case is 3 weeks.
The trick for me is baby steps. Tiny but consistent changes in dosage. Just enough uncomfortableness to know I am coming off a med, but not enough to be traumatic or frightening. That usually means getting good at cutting slivers off tablets or opening up capsules to make custome doses.
I am more sensitive than most people, having exaggerated experiences in both getting on and off meds. That said, if I were in your shoes, I would still be looking at about another 2 to 6 weeks before the antidepressant withdrawal was completely behind me. Heck, even just 25mg Zoloft for 6 weeks took me about 8 weeks after my final dose before I could say it was truly gone.
Posted by drew stat on March 26, 2009, at 21:35:28
In reply to Re: will 3.5 weeks on ativan require taper, posted by bleauberry on March 26, 2009, at 17:24:22
Well after talking to my doctor and a pharmacist it seems that they think now I was having benzo withdrawal. I had stop it totally on Tuesday and felt miserable. Took 2 half doses of my normal amount yesterday, and today tried not taking it again. I finally gave in and took the 1mg to try and sleep tonight. so far though it is not really working( i feel like i have this horrible pain in my brain and my anxiety is out of control). They suggest I do a 1mg at night as i was doing then .5mg in the morning for a week, and then I guess it will be .5 mg at night and so on...is this too fast a taper? Why do I feel soo bad still after taking a dose again?
Posted by drew stat on March 26, 2009, at 21:38:29
In reply to Re: will 3.5 weeks on ativan require taper, posted by drew stat on March 26, 2009, at 21:35:28
ALSO- i have been reading that switching to valium would be easier to get off than ativan. my mom didn't think i should mess with this and start a new medication and the pharmacist we talked to at CVS seemed to think ativan would be easier than valium to get off. That seems opposite of all I have been reading. What do you guys think? I am seeing a medication special on Tuesday and hope I can get some better answers!!
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