Posted by Alan on September 30, 2002, at 23:27:35
In reply to Tapering off of Ativan for sleep..........., posted by JLM on September 30, 2002, at 5:45:01
Generally bzd's like ativan shouldn't be used for sleep because the sedative effect wears off. Of course if an anxiety disorder is what's keeping you awake, bzd monotherapy is completely appropriate to help with sleep.
You could either:
1) Taper by 1/4 mg every week or few days, not going any faster than your body tells you to.
or
2) Ask your doc for some klonopin (longer acting) to start or overlap with the ativan and then decrease the ativan slowly. The increase in anxiety from the ativan leaving your system will be taken over by the klonopin leaving your system at a much slower rate. This is a very common method and valium can be used instead of klon. Of course the trick is taking the right amount of Klon (perhaps .5mg at nite) while decreasing the ativan. Or more klon may be needed to start - in two equally divided doses daily since you'll feel the withdrawal throughout your waking hours.
Any stratagies with you doc as to how to address the sleep issue once you're off? Just wondering...
Best,Alan
poster:Alan
thread:121630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/121754.html