Help please. OCD/Anxiety/Insomnia - Are these withdrawal symptoms or coincidence?

[crazyguy]

I have been taking Ativan / Lorazepam for around 6 months to help with social and general anxiety.  Last couple of months averaging 1 - 2mg daily but sometimes more.    Last week I decided to cut right down as I no longer need them for the social anxiety and my exams are over so I have less stress.   I cut down to 1mg in the evenings, then .5mg and the last couple of days nothing. 

 

I'm having a severe blow up of my OCD ruminations after a triggering event.  I mean my head has been going round non stop in circles for the last 36 hours or so; if it isn't ruminations then it is just a song or words going around and around. I feel highly anxious, lots of guilt with need to confess/reassurance, I have had about 5 hours sleep total over the last two nights. 

 

I know nobody here can give medical advice so I am just looking for personal experiences:

 

Is this likely to be benzo withdrawal or just a coincidence?      I know I have tapered fast but I was only on a small dose.      Are these symptoms likely to get better soon or just get worse?       If this IS the ativan then I feel like I don't want this crap in my system and I want to ride it out.  But maybe I would be better off taking .5mg and tapering more slowly?

 

If this isn't withdrawal then I feel like my OCD and mental health has just regressed 10 years in 3 days. 

Edited May 11, 2014 by crazyguy

[crazyguy]

Forgot to add:

I feel a bit twitchy and I have a slight runny nose as well.  Some suicidal thoughts but no plans to do anything crazy right now. 

[melissaw72]

I don't take Ativan, but do take xanax and klonopin.  And my advice would be to taper more slowly.

 

When I tapered klonopin awhile back to see if I could do without it, I had to decrease 0.25 mg every 1-2 weeks until I got down to nothing.  When I tapered xanax to a lower dose I also had to go down slow, but not as slow.

 

Not sure if this would be the same as ativan, but as all being in the benzo category I'd think to taper more slowly

 

I would talk to your pdoc about it. S/he might have some advice on how to taper to avoid the symptoms you are having (if they are from lowering the Ativan).

[crazyguy]

I don't take Ativan, but do take xanax and klonopin.  And my advice would be to taper more slowly.

 

When I tapered klonopin awhile back to see if I could do without it, I had to decrease 0.25 mg every 1-2 weeks until I got down to nothing.  When I tapered xanax to a lower dose I also had to go down slow, but not as slow.

 

Not sure if this would be the same as ativan, but as all being in the benzo category I'd think to taper more slowly

 

I would talk to your pdoc about it. S/he might have some advice on how to taper to avoid the symptoms you are having (if they are from lowering the Ativan).

Ok thanks.  I think my main fear is now this anxiety is scary and I feel scared to actually take more of the ativan incase it increases the length of the withdrawal. 

 

I guess I shouldn't have stopped cold turkey but it was only a low dose so I thought no issues.  I will have to speak to my doctor next week if possible. 

[crazyguy]

Thanks, I do agree the lack of sleep isn't helping.  I gave up and decided to take half a pill anyway.  I think I need to contact my doctor for help in tapering this, cold turkey is going to be too painful.