New to benzo withdrawal

I need to find a shared experience with people who know have been through withdrawal.

Ativan.

5 months daily use

1.75mg Ativan

Taper started at 2mg

I’ve taken many psych drugs since I was 21 (mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants) and had typical side effects but never anything like I’m experiencing with Ativan withdrawal.

I guess some people have been on benzos for years of daily use so I’m not sure where my 5 months of use matches up with severity expectations. Looking forward to learning more!

Welcome to BenzoBuddies!  We are glad you decided to join us.  You'll find a lot of support and information on this forum, which is the only one of its kind online.

For those starting a taper, we generally recommend starting out at a rate of 5 to 10% every 10-14 days, then adjusting the taper to suit your own needs.  Note: very short term users may be able to taper faster.

Withdrawal symptoms, which vary widely but commonly include anxiety and insomnia, often occur during a taper, but these are temporary and will get better in time.  In general, first tapers are easier, but cold turkeys or multiple withdrawals may be more severe and longer lasting.  Here are a few links to get you started:

The Ashton Manual, a concise reference for tapering and symptom issues.  Chapter III contains excellent descriptions of common symptoms such as muscle issues, anxiety, and hyper-awareness

Withdrawal Support (during your taper)

Once again, welcome!

Mike,

Welcome.  You will find support here.  I am sorry you need support, benzos are sometimes like that.

SaraSue