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Suggest Ways To Wean Of Lorazepam

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Posted on Mon, 22 Aug 2016
Question: In mid Feb 2016 my generalized anxiety disorder and depression flared up again. It had been well under control with 10 mg Paxil & 15 Mg Mirtazapine. My psychiatrist upped the Paxil several times without any success with the anxiety. I have been on 60 mgCymbalta for 6 weeks, it has helped some but certainly not completely. At bedtime I take 30 mg Mirtazapine and 2 mg Clonazepam. I take .75 mg of Lorazepam 3x/day. I hate the way the Lorazepam make me feel and would like to slowly & safely reduce the amount. My psychiatrist and pharmacist told me to go down to .50 mg for a week and then .25 for a week. When I went down to the .50 mg the anxiety was just too much and I went back to .75. How slowly and by how much dosage should I start reducing? I can't be a nervous wreck all day because I have to go to work. Please advise.
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Very gradually dose reduction is needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

I can understand your concern. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and it's difficult to reduce dose of any benzodiazepine drugs. Best way is to reduce doses of a psychoactive drug by about 20-25% in every 2 weeks and storing completely at about 6-8 weeks. Dose reduction in this manner will minimise the chances of withdrawal. In case of benzodiazepine s this should be more gradual. Lorazepam is short acting so should be tapered very slowly.

You are taking 0.75 three times a day that means about 2.25 mg per day. So to reduce the doses I'd advise to reduce dose at one time like (0.5-0.75-0.75) for about two weeks then to (0.5-0.5-0.75) for two more weeks, then to (0.5-0.5-0.5) and then reducing the doses further and stopping drugs at about 8 weeks. This very gradually dose reduction will not cause withdrawal and anxiety. Talk to your psychiatrist for that.

Thanks, hope this helps you please don't hesitate to ask again for more details.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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Suggest Ways To Wean Of Lorazepam

Brief Answer: Very gradually dose reduction is needed. Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from HCM I can understand your concern. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and it's difficult to reduce dose of any benzodiazepine drugs. Best way is to reduce doses of a psychoactive drug by about 20-25% in every 2 weeks and storing completely at about 6-8 weeks. Dose reduction in this manner will minimise the chances of withdrawal. In case of benzodiazepine s this should be more gradual. Lorazepam is short acting so should be tapered very slowly. You are taking 0.75 three times a day that means about 2.25 mg per day. So to reduce the doses I'd advise to reduce dose at one time like (0.5-0.75-0.75) for about two weeks then to (0.5-0.5-0.75) for two more weeks, then to (0.5-0.5-0.5) and then reducing the doses further and stopping drugs at about 8 weeks. This very gradually dose reduction will not cause withdrawal and anxiety. Talk to your psychiatrist for that. Thanks, hope this helps you please don't hesitate to ask again for more details.