It looks like even low doses for shorter periods can cause withdrawal.
Geez....this stuff can be brutal.
I've never had an issue with it...and I'm not even sure withdrawal is what I'm experiencing....
but I almost hope it is because that would mean it's not the Lyme.
Posted by didogs (Member # 40101) on :
Hi I weaned off ativan how randibear suggested. I went from .5 to .25 every night for a week. Then .25 every other day for a week, then .25 every 3 days and then done! I did have a little dizziness but I did ok.
I had taken it during the days when my treatment was at its worst and then only at night for about a year. I was nervous about weaning off of it but I did ok. You can do it!!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
thanks didogs. i need to know also that it can be done. whew...
I used to be so strong but not anymore....sigh....
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
When you wean off .. go very slowly.
Posted by didogs (Member # 40101) on :
I know. Same here. This disease really stripped me of my confidence. I was very anxious about weaning off of it. I really thought I would never sleep again. I definitely needed it when I was taking it. But it is also liberating to not be dependent on it as well.
You can do it. Honestly, if I did, anyone can as I was pretty dependent on it.
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
It is rough weaning off.... my hubby's done it 3 or 4 times already.
His one family doctor told him when he weans off he will think he's going crazy. then added, "but you're not going crazy - its the med."
He's currently using Lorazepam and knows how hard it is to wean off. He tries to stay below the amount the doc recommended.
He does cut the pills in half and then 4ths as he weans off. Also tries to space them out longer before taking it. Currently he's taking it 3 times per day.
And yes, go sslllooooowwwwwww at weaning.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
I had to wean of oxy after knee surgery. My sx was restless legs but all over my body and it kept me from.sleeping
I weaned down likw you guys but still had trouble
I was desperate...online i found about four supps that helped
It seemed like it took forever
Now im going to have to wean off cough syrup with codeine in it.
Same sx...restless legs and insomnia. Im going to have to search on here to find the protocol i used
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
What I wonder is.....if I have already been off for 3 or 4 days.....is it worth it to start taking again?
I guess if the dizziness keeps up, I won't have a choice. I didn't expect this because I have gone weeks without taking it and never had a problem!
But....recently is the only time that I took 2 a day consistently for a couple of weeks.
When I was on Paxil years ago....which I don't think did a darn thing for me.....
weaning off was AWFUL.
headaches and dizziness from morning until dinner. The first time I weaned off, I followed doc's orders, but it was still too fast.
The 2nd time, I went twice as slow as the doc recommended, and that worked.
It can be done....but it is so not fun!
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
My fear is.....what if this is a Lyme flare?
If I feel fine other than the dizziness, and it has been days, is that a hopeful sign that it is NOT the Lyme?
Not that I want vertigo or Lorazepam withdrawal....lol....but I will feel SO much better mentally if this is NOT Lyme.
Would I be feeling sick?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I think that if this were lyme, you would be having your old lyme symptoms.
If you have gone 5 years without lyme symptoms, and if you have not been rebitten, the chances of this being lyme now are very, very small.
I heard Burrascano say that if a person is rid of symptoms for 3 years, then the lyme is gone.
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
Wow....wouldn't that be wonderful! It makes me wonder if it could just be in remission though. Obviously, Dr. B knows more than I do....! LOL!
Just an update in case anyone was curious about this kind of thing for their own situations:
I called my (non LLMD) doctor today. He is the one who prescribed the Lorazepam.
I explained to the nurse about the dizziness and the details of my recent Lorazepam use. I told her that I had no clue if this tied in...
...but wanted to mention it.
I got a call back and - sure enough - the doctor advised that he believes this is very likely withdrawal.
He said the all-day dizziness is a very common symptom.
He believes that because I have never taken 2 pills a day consistently for at least 2 weeks.....
....then went to 0 pills a day for several days....
my body is reacting.
So, I am to start the pills again. I can try 1 pill for today (which I've taken).
If I am still dizzy tomorrow, I should take 2 pills tomorrow to get my body back to where it was last used to.
Then, I stay on 2 pills a day for about a week.
Then, I taper down to 1 pill a day for about a week.
Then, I can cut the pill and take half a pill (.25mg) once a day for about a week.
Then, I can take a half a pill every other day for about a week.
Then.....I get to stop.
I was told that if I need to take a pill again in case of an anxiety attack, I can do that.
I should just taper down after that.
Hopefully, this does the trick! All-day spinning is NOT fun.
I half expected him to come back and say, "Noooo! That small a dosage for only a couple of weeks wouldn't do anything!"
I'm actually glad that he realizes that it could do something.
So for anyone on a low dose...even for only a few weeks at a time...you can experience withdrawal.
Posted by bitbit99 (Member # 43654) on :
I have taken this addictive drug on and off for years(even pre-lyme), My biggest withdrawl problems are in my chest.
Tightness trouble breathing.
By about 2 in the afternoon I needed one or a half of one.
Ill insert a whithdrawl chart that I ran across for your viewing.
Usually not a lot of fun getting off it.
I think this chart is for coming off three mg. a day habit.
Schedule 8. Withdrawal from lorazepam (Ativan) 3mg daily with diazepam (Valium) substitution. (3mg lorazepam is approximately equivalent to 30mg diazepam)
So sorry that you've had (or have) to deal with this.
It's amazing what these drugs can do.
Here's a question:
Is it the norm to continue to experience withdrawal symptoms throughout the weaning off process?
So, if I started out lightheaded and then started to wean off.....
....is it normal to continue to feel lightheaded for a while?
I guess I just want to know for sure that the Lorazepam withdrawal is- in fact - the issue at hand.
Does the weaning off process eliminate the withdrawal symptoms?
Or does the weaning off process gradually reduce the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms until they are gone?
Thank you so much!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
my dr said the symptoms can contine even weeks after stopping.
Posted by Phoiph (Member # 41238) on :
In several interviews, Stevie Nicks, of Fleetwood Mac, describes her withdrawal from benzodiazepines (particularly klonipin) "hellish" and worse than withdrawing from heroin...
I would consider yourself fortunate that you are only experiencing dizziness. My experience with klonipin was much worse...
Don't rush the weaning process...and check out the Ashton Manual for guidelines.
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
Wow.....these drugs really pack a punch, huh?
My heart goes out to those who fight to get off of much higher doses that they've been on for long periods of time.
I can only imagine how difficult that is!
Thanks randibear and Phoiph for the info and suggestions.
I'm going to wean off slowly....much more slowly than my doctor recommended.
The dizziness comes back soon before I take my daily dose.....but then goes away to a point.
It's not as intense as it had been, so I'll keep taking one pill a day until I feel better.
Then, I'll cut the pill and do a couple of weeks of that.
I never expected to experience withdrawal symptoms from a low dose taken for only a few weeks.
Can't wait til it's out of my system.
Hopefully, in the future, if I need one....I can take one.....and not have a problem.
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