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Would Gabapentin And Lyrica Help Treat Ativan Addiction?

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Posted on Sat, 7 Nov 2015
Question: would gabapentin and lyrica help for Ativan addiction.? I am doing a taper but my dad is forcing to to taper fast. help
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
pregabalin may help

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

pregabalin may indeed reduce benzodiazepine consumption by up to 50% according to some studies but tapering the benzodiazepines should be very gradual to avoid serious - and even fatal - compications like seizures, etc.

The more the time you were addicted the slower the reduction of the dosage should be. You'd better do it under close surveillance by a psychiatrist but a general rule is to reduce the dosage little by little every 1-3 weeks. If the reduction causes serious problems then you may have to revert back to the higher dose. Pregabalin may help with withstanding the lower dose though.

A psychiatrist with experience in patients with addiction to benzodiazepines is the best person to guide you through this. The psychiatrist will usually switch to a longer acting benzodiazepine like diazepam or others first and then slowly reduce the dosage.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Would Gabapentin And Lyrica Help Treat Ativan Addiction?

Brief Answer: pregabalin may help Detailed Answer: Hello, pregabalin may indeed reduce benzodiazepine consumption by up to 50% according to some studies but tapering the benzodiazepines should be very gradual to avoid serious - and even fatal - compications like seizures, etc. The more the time you were addicted the slower the reduction of the dosage should be. You'd better do it under close surveillance by a psychiatrist but a general rule is to reduce the dosage little by little every 1-3 weeks. If the reduction causes serious problems then you may have to revert back to the higher dose. Pregabalin may help with withstanding the lower dose though. A psychiatrist with experience in patients with addiction to benzodiazepines is the best person to guide you through this. The psychiatrist will usually switch to a longer acting benzodiazepine like diazepam or others first and then slowly reduce the dosage. I hope you find my comments helpful! You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information. Kind Regards!