Posted by Amy Blue on April 1, 2001, at 21:50:44
In reply to Re: How do I withdraw from Ativan? » J, posted by Daveman on April 1, 2001, at 14:15:30
J - I agree w/ Dave. I am currently detoxing from Xanax as well, by using Klonopin. Desperate to get off the benzos, and I think Dave's advice is correct based on what I've read and how my pdoc is treating me. I am taking Klonopin to get me through, then will slowly taper down, hopefully to no Klonopin. Like you, J, I hope to be on another med that addresses my anxiety.
Good luck. I am at 3 months w/ no Xanax and still climbing the walls sometimes, but for the most part I am okay.
Amy
> Hi J:
>
> Ativan is a short-acting benzo, as is Xanax. Ativan has a half-life of 8-24 hrs. The way I got off Xanax (admittedly at a smaller dose and a much shorter period of use) was to switch to Klonopin, which has a much longer half-life (19-60 hours). I was able to take only one dose per 24 hours and cover all Xanax withdrawal symptoms. Klonopin is more potent than Ativan, so you can probably take less than your Ativan dose and still cover all withdrawal symptoms. Then, you taper the Klonopin slowly, say by .25 every other week (due to your length of use, you'll need to go slower than I did). Good luck!
>
> Dave
poster:Amy Blue
thread:58282
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58378.html