weaning off Ativan

Holly J · Post by **Holly J** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:54 am

I have been on Ativan everyday for the past 2 months and am now weaning off it. I usually take .25 at night every night and now next week and the week after i have to take it every other night. I am worried. . I mean night time is what i look forward to because thats when i take my ativan and it makes me feel so much better. calms my mind and my obsessive thinking so i can sleep good! Im afraid of what my sleep will be like and if ill have bad sleep and than that'll make me have a bad day. . cause when i dont sleep well i get even more depressed and anxious. . are there any natural remedies i can take to substitute for the ativan??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:19 am

This is a little scary. I have found that the relaxation session helps to get me to sleep. I go to bed with the headphones and the tape on and before the session is over IO am out. You will be okay. We are just starting up the mountain to recovery and you are taking baby steps. See it as a challenge and maybe it will seem more exciting and less scary. $)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:48 am

Holly J
I take valerian before i go to bed. It has helped

beckyphoenix · Post by **beckyphoenix** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:15 am

I'm sorry, I can't say I'd wean that quickly, I'd probably try to wean while keeping my levels in my system from fluctuating so bad. Maybe cut the .25 in half and take it every night for a week, then IF you can cut that, etc. otherwise, maybe the every other day after the HALF of 25. In my opinion. Just go into it knowing you will have rebound aniety and insomnia, chalk it up to withdrawal and not you getting "worse", and I bet you make it through just great!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:31 am

I know melatonin is a natural sleep aid, but check with your MD first.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:50 pm

Hello,
I too would consider half of the .25 every night then drop to every other night. I have takin ativan before. I understand the sleep thing...most people with anxiety can understand. I would absolutly use the relaxation tape. I would also recommend reading a book. Working out at some point in the day helps a whole lot. I was waking up in the middle of the night from deep sleep with heart palpitations..I had to use meds and at times still do. The things I mentioned above have helped though. If you do take any herbal remedies absolutly check with your Dr first...or pharmacist. They can react with meds you are currently on. I know Kava Kava does. Valerian is great and camomille tea hot is nice. Bath and body makes these great mineral bath salts. I love the sleep one. It has lavender and it totally relaxes me. I take a hot bath every night before bed.

natalief · Post by **natalief** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:01 pm

Thank you all so much. I will cut my .25 in half. it'll be hard because I am already cutting the 1mg i have of ativan in quarters. . but i thik that sounds like a good idea! thank you so much. yeah i dont think i can take valerian root or kava with benzos. .

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:38 pm

I want to get off Paxil and Klonipin. They make me dizzy and then I get sick to my stomach.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:48 am

do you think its the combo or just one of them making you feel sick and dizzy??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:32 pm

I can't remember, but do they make a .25mg of ativan? This might be easier to break in half? I completely agree with the other posts- go S L O W L Y! There's a hot drink you can find at healthfood stores called NaturalCalm that works well for me, and I know it's ok to drink with ativan (asked and done it

). It has magnesium and calcium; I usually drink a mug about a 1/2 hr. before bed. Oh, make sure you read the instructions on how to mix it properly, otherwise it tastes like crap. I also use passion flower before bed (yes, I have used it w/ a benzo [klono], but like kava or valarian it might not be a great idea). Maybe you could try using it on the nights you alternate your taper of ativan?

Hi Shirley!
Paxil was the devils's drug for me... but that was years ago. I've been taking klono. since Jan., and at first I had REALLY bad headaches. Holly has a good q.- did you start one before the other or both at the same time. Also, do you have a little something in your stomach before you take your meds? I know I vomit if I take Excedrine on an empty stomach. You might also want to consider taking one, then waiting an hour or so to take the other??? Maybe then you won't have problems- OR you'll be able to identify which one is making you ill.