Posted by cass on June 25, 1999, at 23:46:22
In reply to Re: Lorazepam, posted by alan on June 25, 1999, at 20:32:18
> A question for peop;e who have had a rough time coming off benzos: Exactly, how did you go about it? As well as you can remember, what exact schedule did you follow, by how much did you reduce dosage and at what time intervals? Personally, my strategy was to try to go so slowly that I never felt any withdrawal effects; as soon as I felt a withdrawal effect, I went back just enough to eliminate it, and then started down again in tiny steps as slowly as needed. (I think I can feel the difference between withdrawal and return of anxiety.) Fortunately, as I recover from a depressive episode, the anxiety stops; but if I feel some real situational anxiety, I ride it out or try to eliminate its cause by taking appropriate action, during withdrawal just as I would at any other time. If I suffered from 'free-floating' anxiety all the time, I would take benzos all the time. At any rate, getting off benzos has never been any trouble for me, which is why I asked my queston above.
Unfortunately, I had no choice but to stop taking the medication abruptly. My doctor, who is not a psychiatrist, would not let me take it anymore at all. I am considering switching doctors. I feel that not letting me taper off was unreasonble on his part.
poster:cass
thread:7065
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990601/msgs/7864.html