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medication dilema

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Posted 2/27/2015 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
I was seen by the doctor yesterday and was told to take Ativan 1 mg twice a day. I have been taking .25 - 1 mg a day for about a month, but always in .25 mg doses. I have noticed that the .25 mg doses are not working, but I dont want to take the recommended dose because, 1: I'm scared of medication and 2: I'm scared of withdrawal and tolerance. Has anybody taken Ativan and for extended amount of time and had bad withdrawals once stopped?
Posted 2/27/2015 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
SB,

I resoponded to your other thread in regards to possibly taking .50 to start...so please see that post...

Here is my response to another member's similar situation:

 


...and there are just as many SUCCESS stories(likely more!) of people who have taken their benzodiazepines responsilbly, and had a very safe recovery, due to being able to do the things that anxiety had kept them from previously...

...such as seek therapy and learn tools that enabled them to lessen their dosage eventually...

Used as prescribed, and in conjunction with therapy...Xanax and the like can be part of a safe and effective treatment plan.


S.C.

Posted 2/27/2015 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
I took ativan for about a year, it really didn't do anything for my anxiety so I stopped taking it. I didn't have any side effect from stopping and I stopped cold turkey, not recommended to do if you take them daily which I didn't I only took a few a week so I didnt' feel the need to taper. With proper dr directions and a slow taper I don't think there are too many side effects from stopping a benzo.
Posted 2/27/2015 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Ativan did nothing for me. But I took xanax 3x daily over the summer (about three months). It got me out of the panic cycle, which I'm really grateful for. I cut back by half my dose (I was taking between 1.5-.75 mg daily) for about 4 weeks and was completely off after that, no problem.
Posted 2/28/2015 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
As long as you do not take more than the doctor advises you will not become an additc, you will have to
make this decision for yourself, my wife takes from 0.5 to 4.0 daily it depends on how her day is going,
most months she has a few extra's left, just use your head and you will be ok, Peace

Larry ***
Posted 2/28/2015 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I used to take a benzo and was on it for a long time and when I was required to stop it did so slowly over a couple of months and did not have any withdrawal effects.

As others have said as long as you take it as prescribed you should not have any problems.

Hibee
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