Lorazepam

[Sis2419]

My older sister recently moved in with me after losing her husband to cancer.  I knew she was taking meds for depression & anxiety.  I now know it is 2 mg 3x a day.  I want her off, I am working with a doctor but could use some help from others who have been through it.  What can I do to help?

[OpenMind24hours]

When I moved my 85 year old mother up here to Michigan to help her through her final years I felt honored to do it. I found out she was on Ambien. My sister and I requested to Mom's doctor that she not refill her script anymore; we wanted mom to be the same old person she always was. The script stopped and our mother became miserable with insomnia, anxiety and depression. And we never ever saw the Mom we always knew. My sister and I regret it to this day. Mom died of cancer at 87. At the time she was taking TylenolPM every night for sleep. Her doctors in Florida gave her Ambien for a good reason, she had insomnia. And we had no business messing with her delicate balance of medications prescribed to make her final years comfortable.

[10356]

Boy I can not write this morning At all !! Your sister is the one that is takeing them. As Airly said she may be on them for a legitimate reason. Have you spoke to her about your concerns ?

[10356]

It is up to your sister is she wants off them Not you...

[10356]

Hi Sis Welcome to the forum.. I agree with you that 6 mg is a lot. It is not up too your sister she gets off them That is totally her call as she is the one takeing them.. Since you work with a Dr. you know that Valium needs to be tapered very slowly the slower the better It can take up to a year to taper off this amount. I want to wish you and your sister well and very sorry to read of her husbands passing. lesa

[ariley13]

Well, first off if she is taking these meds for a legitimate problem, they may actually be needed. Narcotic meds are not always bad. It's the way we use them that is the problem. Is your sister taking them for a legitimate problem, or is she taking them to feel good or get high? Does she take more than prescribed and run out early? If she does than she may have a problem. There is a difference between building up a tolerance or being dependent on meds and being addicted. Sometimes it's a pretty fine line. Have you discussed your concerns with your sister?