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What Causes Muscle Jerking And Body Tremors While On Ativan?
Question: I have been taking 1-2mg of Ativan every 2-3 days in the evening for the past 4 years. Recently I have been experiencing muscle jerking and slight shakiness on the days I do not take it. I would like to know how to taper off completely. How do I do this safely?
Brief Answer:
No strict guidelines.Gradual tapering.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
There are no specific guidelines for Ativan tapering,however,If you would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have told you to be on a gradual taper for this drug.
Typically,
Reduce the dose to half for 2-3 weeks.Then reduce the dose to half further for the same time duration and like wise further.For example,2 mg-1mg-0.5mg-0.25 mg-stop.Every step tapering ,should be for a minimum of two weeks to prevent withdrawl symptoms.
This way,you will be able to stop the drug over 2-3 months.
If you have any follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
No strict guidelines.Gradual tapering.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
There are no specific guidelines for Ativan tapering,however,If you would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have told you to be on a gradual taper for this drug.
Typically,
Reduce the dose to half for 2-3 weeks.Then reduce the dose to half further for the same time duration and like wise further.For example,2 mg-1mg-0.5mg-0.25 mg-stop.Every step tapering ,should be for a minimum of two weeks to prevent withdrawl symptoms.
This way,you will be able to stop the drug over 2-3 months.
If you have any follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply. Another question I have is since I am only taking the medication every 2-3 days and experiencing some withdrawal symptoms on the days I don't take it, should I be concerned about those days?
Brief Answer:
Here follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
You can initially take the drug on a regular basis with reduced dosage(like 0.5 mg per day),followed by gradual taper over weeks as advised.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you don't have any follow-up questions,please close the thread and rate it as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Here follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
You can initially take the drug on a regular basis with reduced dosage(like 0.5 mg per day),followed by gradual taper over weeks as advised.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you don't have any follow-up questions,please close the thread and rate it as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
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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