Aa
Lorazepam dependence
Hi all,
I have just joined up and notice there are no recent posts on this subject....or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place!
Anyway, I'm pleased to find this site as you'll soon see why....
I am a British citizen but have lived in Spain now for about 7 years....without boring you all with how things went downhill....basically, wife left, 10 year old daughter stayed here in Spain with me and went through a horrid time. Long time ago now and have a fairly normal life. Daughter is now 17, very happy and is virtually Spanish with a safe and good way if life.
When the ex left back to the UK, I started drinking heavily (nothing new there but never been a big drinker before) but it got to a really bad way like shakes in the morning, down to supermarket at opening time to top up etc.
Ended up in hospital who looked after me very well and my doctor was very understanding and prescribed me 2mg Lorazepam (Ativan) 3 times a day. This helped immediately...stopped drinking and got on with life.
6 years on I take on average 5/7 2mg pills a day on an in going repeat prescription...this is Spain by the way and have a private doctor who, although a nice bloke....just takes my 10€ every couple of weeks with no questions asked.
I am completely dependant on Lorazepam now and have been for years. The pills are no longer doing anything positive, just keep me normal (ish!) A few times...the last being 3 weeks ago, I have almost ran out if tablets (we have lots of fiestas and everywhere closes unannounced!) The withdrawal symptoms are terrible....really terrible.
Starts with shakes, sweats and leads onto uncontrollable body movements and delusional thoughts. The last time this happened, my girlfriend had to drive miles to find a chemist open who was helpful and prescribed enough pills until the doctor opened again.
I'm waffling in now and thanks for reading.....is anyone else on this medication at the same level as myself? I would love to hear other people's experience and how to start to come off the drug safely.
Many thanks
I have just joined up and notice there are no recent posts on this subject....or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place!
Anyway, I'm pleased to find this site as you'll soon see why....
I am a British citizen but have lived in Spain now for about 7 years....without boring you all with how things went downhill....basically, wife left, 10 year old daughter stayed here in Spain with me and went through a horrid time. Long time ago now and have a fairly normal life. Daughter is now 17, very happy and is virtually Spanish with a safe and good way if life.
When the ex left back to the UK, I started drinking heavily (nothing new there but never been a big drinker before) but it got to a really bad way like shakes in the morning, down to supermarket at opening time to top up etc.
Ended up in hospital who looked after me very well and my doctor was very understanding and prescribed me 2mg Lorazepam (Ativan) 3 times a day. This helped immediately...stopped drinking and got on with life.
6 years on I take on average 5/7 2mg pills a day on an in going repeat prescription...this is Spain by the way and have a private doctor who, although a nice bloke....just takes my 10€ every couple of weeks with no questions asked.
I am completely dependant on Lorazepam now and have been for years. The pills are no longer doing anything positive, just keep me normal (ish!) A few times...the last being 3 weeks ago, I have almost ran out if tablets (we have lots of fiestas and everywhere closes unannounced!) The withdrawal symptoms are terrible....really terrible.
Starts with shakes, sweats and leads onto uncontrollable body movements and delusional thoughts. The last time this happened, my girlfriend had to drive miles to find a chemist open who was helpful and prescribed enough pills until the doctor opened again.
I'm waffling in now and thanks for reading.....is anyone else on this medication at the same level as myself? I would love to hear other people's experience and how to start to come off the drug safely.
Many thanks
Diazepam replacement taper plans are appropriate in some instances, and yes it can be effective. So can a slow and deliberate taper off the Ativan. That's something to discuss with your doctor, to determine whichuld be the best course of action.
If indeed you feel you may have an addiction problem (again, addiction and dependency are two different things), then that wouldn't be what I would personally advise.
Let us know what you decide and how you are doing!
If indeed you feel you may have an addiction problem (again, addiction and dependency are two different things), then that wouldn't be what I would personally advise.
Let us know what you decide and how you are doing!
Thank you & nursegirl for your quick response.....I have researched about tapering off safely and this is my goal. I have read that because lorazepam is stronger than most other benzo's, a change to Valium would be an easier route to start coming off? I know it sounds like swapping one drug for another, but it it's an easier route, I'm sure my doctor would oblige....any thoughts?
Lorazepam (Ativan) is a fast-acting benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety. It ia addicive and even people who take this med as prescribed become dependent on it. This being said, is is of utmost importance that you be placed on a tapring regimen by your doctor. If you do not do this, you will have terrible withdrawals. I know this means that you must tell your doctor that you have been taking too much of it. If he is a good doctor, he will be happy you told him, and also happy to help you to taper off it safely. We here at MedHelp are not permitted to tell you how to taper because we are not doctors, so go see your doc as soon as you can. Blessings - Blu
Hello and welcome!
Things are a little slow here today being Memorial Day here in the US. Look for more answers tomorrow.
Benzo dependency is something significant, and should be taken seriously. You cannot stop taking the Ativan abruptly, it can be dangerous (moreso the higher the dose), and as you found out, extremely uncomfortable.
You need to address this with a doctor who can help you with an appropriate and safe taper. Also, you need to do some honest soul searching to determine if you're dealing with a dependency or an addiction.
An addiction would involve a more complex mental component with cravings, abusing the medication, taking more than prescribed, taking it for reasons other than for what it was prescribed. IF you identify, or are suspicious of an addiction problem, then you will need to do more work after tapering off.
Addiction recovery involves aftercare, which can come in the form of NA/AA meetings, addiction counselling, etc. If a person with an addiction doesn't do the aftercare and always keep their guard up, relapse is a strong possibility, as the underlying issues behind the addiction have never been addressed.
Like I said, you have to be the one to determine which you are dealing with. Dependency would just be the body's physical need for the drug...where w/ds result upon the cessation of the drug. If you feel you may have an addiction problem, we have a wonderful substance abuse community that would probably be the more appropriate place to work through this...there are great people over there who have lived it.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/77?camp=msc
Best of luck to you...update us when you can, we're here for you!
Things are a little slow here today being Memorial Day here in the US. Look for more answers tomorrow.
Benzo dependency is something significant, and should be taken seriously. You cannot stop taking the Ativan abruptly, it can be dangerous (moreso the higher the dose), and as you found out, extremely uncomfortable.
You need to address this with a doctor who can help you with an appropriate and safe taper. Also, you need to do some honest soul searching to determine if you're dealing with a dependency or an addiction.
An addiction would involve a more complex mental component with cravings, abusing the medication, taking more than prescribed, taking it for reasons other than for what it was prescribed. IF you identify, or are suspicious of an addiction problem, then you will need to do more work after tapering off.
Addiction recovery involves aftercare, which can come in the form of NA/AA meetings, addiction counselling, etc. If a person with an addiction doesn't do the aftercare and always keep their guard up, relapse is a strong possibility, as the underlying issues behind the addiction have never been addressed.
Like I said, you have to be the one to determine which you are dealing with. Dependency would just be the body's physical need for the drug...where w/ds result upon the cessation of the drug. If you feel you may have an addiction problem, we have a wonderful substance abuse community that would probably be the more appropriate place to work through this...there are great people over there who have lived it.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/77?camp=msc
Best of luck to you...update us when you can, we're here for you!
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