Feeling strange due to decrease in Ativan?

Today I feel very jittery, a bit panicky, and not as I usually do. Yesterday my doctor told me to stop taking my ativan twice a day (once in the am, once in pm) because I should only be using it when I'm having a panic attack. I've been taking it twice a day for 2 months and today I skipped the morning dose. Right now I'm feeling really strange & I'm trying to contribute it to the skipped meds. Can this be wrong?? I have no appetite at all & have barely eaten so that may contribute to my weird feelings?? He did increase my paxil dosage from 10mg to 24mg per day but I haven't started that yet. I need to take that twice a day he says. That seems like too much of a jump to me! I'd much rather take less meds than more. I'm feeling very, very strange!

I just did the worst thing & looked up ativan withdrawal symtoms! If you look on wikipedia it would scare the crap out of you! I'm certainly concerned :( If I'vebeen taking it for just under 2 months, daily at .5mg, twice a day, than can I have these serious withdrawal symtoms?? I'm so scared that I'm gonna end up worse off than I already am. Has anyone had an okay experience going off ativan?

You may have some uncomfortable symptoms as you reduce your ativan usage, but don't assume that you will have every symptom listed on the internet. If you look up aspirin, one of the side effects is probably "death" -- because one in a billion people who takes an aspirin might drop dead. Each person is different, and many of the side effects you read about are rare. So try not to anticipate side effects or worry about "what ifs". You have only been taking the ativan for 2 months, so your side effects will probably be less than if you had been on it for a long time, or taking high doses. You should be grateful to your doctor for giving you the advice he did now, before you "get hooked" and it becomes a bigger problem. The good news is whatever side effects you do feel as a result of your body getting used to the change should be temporary, and should pass. So hang in there.... Best wishes, Medved*


*I am not a medical professional and nothing I say here is medical advice.