Pls help me taper of Ativan - every extra day matters

[[Buddie]]

Hello I have a question about benzos and I feel like I have nowhere else to turn.

I am terrified and I walk all day with tears in my eyes because I feel so alone.

Many here will probably laugh at my situation, but I have had massive tinnitus since 3 weeks and can't sleep. Doctor prescribed me 2.5mg Ativan and I have been taking this for 9 days now.
It works as it should and I have some sleep again.

The problem is that by now I have read so many horror stories about benzos and withdrawal that I am completely freaking out.

So I have been taking 2.5mg 9 days in a row and I would like to get rid of it. But I don't know if I can stop this right away or I need to tapering this as well. I am terrified of another spike in my T and am looking for help from others....

Do I need to stop cold turkey? Do I switch to diazepam? Do I start tapering from 1.25 or 2.5?

My doctor says I can just stop, but I have trouble believing him because he is very casual about the ben

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...],
     Sorry to hear about your struggles.  You are sort of caught between a rock and a hard place.  The Ativan apparently is helping you with the tinnitus, but you risk being on it long-term if you continue.
      The good news is that you haven't been on Ativan very long.  Usually a taper of 5 - 10% of the current daily dosage is recommended, but in your case, I'd lean towards making it a rapid taper.
       Cold turkey may be too abrupt at this point.  And I feel that crossing over to Valium would be a prolonging risk.  Honestly, I'm not sure what percentage reduction I'd recommend.  Maybe 20 - 50%??  Others may want to chime in with their recommendations..  Good luck to you.

[[Buddie]]

If it were me I'd just stop. Your tinnitus will likely come back but that's a relatively small price to pay for the myriad of withdrawal symptoms and years you could be stuck with these additional symptoms if you continue to stay on the drug.

[[Buddie]]

Do you have a history of taking and discontinuing benzodiazepines (or other psychoactive drugs)?  Or, is this the first time you have taken a benzodiazepine?

[[Buddie]]

Earlier this year i took Xanax 1mg for 10 days because of GAD, stopped that CT because back then I never heared about the severe withdrawal.
Had no problems with that.

Last night I went to see a doctor and he said I won't feel anything after a short use of 9 days... again always the same with doctors downplaying this withdrawal.

So last night I took 1,25 instead of 2,5mg. Tonight I wil take 0,625 and hope for the best

I'm so scared

Edit: Removed profanity

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...],
How are you doing now?