Lorazepam and Withdrawal: What Users Say

• Ali...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2023

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I’ve been taking Ativan on and off for almost 5 years for GAD. This year, I was going through Lexapro withdrawal, which emerged 90 days after I weaned myself off. Getting back on it was worse for the first few days. I now understand why people are terrified to stop taking SSRIs. I am strict with myself in not taking Ativan often because of how addictive it is, even when my doctor prescribed me 30 pills. I went to the pharmacy to see if they could help me, and the pharmacist was amazing and explained to me that taking .5 or 1 mg of Ativan isn’t addictive (just that it’ll lose its effect over time). She told me to take it every day for the next week, and it was a lifesaver. I had already been taking .5-1 mg of Ativan every day for a few weeks, give or take a good day or two. But when I stopped taking it after the last week ended (totaling a month), I was fine. It helped me be normal again while my body sorted itself out. I now take it once a week or two."

• Dru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2020

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan does the job. But you do NOT want to go through the withdrawal. It's very bad. I have generalized anxiety and panic disorder to the point where I can't leave the house unless I really have to. And Ativan makes it a lot easier to leave the house. The withdrawal makes your anxiety come back with vengeance. It's bad. For the short term, it's great, but long term you become addicted and physically dependent on it. And you build a tolerance so it doesn't help you as much as initially taking it. I love Ativan and recommend it to anyone suffering from anxiety. Just make sure you wean off it, or you will feel like life becomes a nightmare."

• Wor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2019

Lorazepam for Insomnia "Ativan is the absolute best sleep medication. I sleep better the whole night and wake up refreshed. However, I try not to use it more often than twice a week. When taken more than 4 or more nights in a row and then stopped, I have severe withdrawal symptoms."

• Mac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 10, 2025

Lorazepam "After retiring from the military, I received help I had been dealing with for years. If you are too honest with any mental health problems on active duty, you can lose promotion opportunities or be discharged, so I waited. This drug is a lifesaver for my debilitating anxiety and insomnia. I have taken it for 3 years, and yes, you build up a tolerance, but it’s better than nothing. There were times I didn’t take it for weeks to see if the withdrawal was that bad. Honestly, it was about the same anxiety as I had to begin with. A couple of days you don’t sleep, but it wasn’t as bad for me. I take 3 mg a day, and it keeps me functioning normally. Without it, I’d be a mess. If I have to take it for life, so be it. It is addictive, but the alternative life isn’t worth living, so I’m glad for this therapy. It doesn’t make you loopy or comatose. The first few weeks will be drowsy, but if you are high anxiety, you will feel normal."

• Ben...
• July 6, 2016

For Insomnia "DO NOT take benzos for insomnia - they work great, until you reach tolerance, and then you go into full withdrawal unless you up the dose considerably. By then you probably will have already found the dirty underside of this terrible drug, which is agoraphobia, brutal insomnia, loss of motivation and stunning depression. Next, you'll find out that you cannot withdraw from this drug in a reasonable manner, and the required tapering-off methods could take years. During withdrawal you will have the worst insomnia imaginable, for months on end, and nothing will relieve it, except more benzos than any doctor will prescribe. Don't even start on this evil drug. If you think this is an overreaction, Google 'benzodiazepine withdrawal'."

• Jas...
• April 25, 2013

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Ativan will definitely help calm you down, but stick to the script! If you quit cold turkey you will have withdrawals for a week. You build a slight tolerance for it and want more. If you give in and take more you will run out before refill time and then come the withdrawals! But it does do its job on anxiety!"

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2015

For Insomnia "Took this with Zoloft to get me out of a black hole of anxiety and insomnia after a terrible few weeks trying Remeron. Withdrawals from Remeron were terrible, and I didn't sleep for about 6 days (I'm not exaggerating). Was about to give up, but my dad convinced me to try another med since I had an obvious chemical imbalance that wasn't correcting itself. Despite not wanting to rely on a benzo for sleep, I really didn't have any alternatives, and I needed help fast. Zoloft combined with this for a few months got me out of the hole I was in. Tolerance did set in eventually (about a year), but I'm working on finding something safer, but this med essentially saved my life."

• You...
• July 8, 2016

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I take 2 mg of Ativan a day: 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg at night before bed. I have been diagnosed with severe panic attacks and depression. Lorazepam (generic brand for Ativan) does help me. Understand that the effects of any medication are going to vary from person to person. I don't get sleepy in the morning when I take it, but it does help me get a good night's sleep at night when I'm tired. Also, I do want to say: Recently, my pharmacy didn't give me the exact amount of pills of Ativan, so I have been off of it 'cold turkey' because I ran out and the withdrawal symptoms can be hellish. Note: Anybody can be dependent on any medication/drug. Talk to your psychiatrist. Remember, everyone responds to medication differently."

• CCM...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 5, 2017

For Anxiety "I have had severe anxiety for a couple of years. My attacks get so bad, I feel I need to run as far away as I can. Taking lorazepam 3 mg a day has been a tremendous help. I have read comments about going off the medicine and the difficult withdrawals, but if something works in your personal lifestyle where nothing else has, why shouldn't you be able to stay on this medication as long as you need it? It's like high blood pressure. If you have it and can't get it under control, medications are key. No one starts telling you that you should stop the medication. For some, lorazepam is a lifesaver. Maybe not for everyone, but for me, in my situation, it is."

• Ner...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Do not hype yourself up about addiction, but do know certain people will be at risk more than others, high-stress jobs (where people's lives are on the line), addictive personality, or using these to 'solve' problems should find other ways to cope. The .05 pills are gentle, they take the edge off. Things like alcohol and opiates seem like they are WAY more addictive. I had to deal with my mom, who had a high-stress job and was HORRIBLY addicted to Xanax, almost died taking them. I refused to take benzos my whole life for that reason until I just recently needed them due to a miscarriage. Will only use them as needed (during PMS). I had absolutely NO withdrawals or odd sensations the next day after taking. Have seen what benzos do to some people. I am hoping that not to be me, nor do I get the withdrawals people say they get the next day. Everyone reacts to drugs differently. I cannot tolerate MJ, most other people can."

• But...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2022

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This medication is 10/10, if I could vote any higher, I would! I take 1 mg for anxiety, anger, PMDD, racing thoughts, insomnia, and social anxiety, and it works WONDERS!! It makes me feel very, very calm and relaxed and happy and giggly and outgoing, and it also makes me more creative! Sometimes, when I take it, I find everything funny, which is kind of weird. My arms and legs feel calm as I have restless legs, I have a softer voice, I’m more friendly and rational. The only things I HATE about this are the withdrawal symptoms and the fact that it also makes me feel sluggish and stumbling and cold at times, but that’s rare."

• Slo...
• September 1, 2017

Lorazepam for Anxiety "For immediate relief, this drug is great. I take 0.5 mg when I absolutely need it (2-3 times every couple of months), but the only reason I wouldn't give it a 9 or 10 is because I did have a bad experience with this drug. I took it for 7 days straight, 3 times 0.5 mg per day, as prescribed by my doctor for generalized anxiety disorder. I abruptly stopped taking it because I didn't want to have to take it every day, and I ended up going through withdrawal. I then got vertigo for a couple of months, which was absolutely terrible. BUT I think if you use this drug responsibly and do NOT take it for multiple days in a row, it can definitely come in handy. I also have high blood pressure caused by anxiety, and usually get effective relief after about 30 minutes. Hang in there!"

• Mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2015

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I took lorazepam for 19 days at .5 mg as needed. I was taking them in the afternoon around 4:30. The doctor only gave me 20 pills for anxiety and sent me home. While taking them, I was feeling even worse, I couldn't sleep, I would wake up shaking and scared, and couldn't eat until I took the pill. I decided to stop taking them because I was getting more anxiety and wired thoughts and was shaking all day. So, I quit cold turkey - I didn't know I was to taper off. On the second day of not taking it, I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, walking around feeling like I'm going crazy, a lot of anxiety attacks and panic attacks. I don't feel joy or happiness. The only thing I could think of is I'm having withdrawals. I stopped taking it on December 9, 2015, it is now December 29, 2015."

• woo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 24, 2021

For Insomnia "Been on this over 30 years. I have never had a problem with it. I take it for insomnia - 2 mg at bedtime. I read all the lurid withdrawal symptoms, and I have twice been pressured into trying to come off, but then I got no sleep and couldn't function. I am in my mid-60s now, and there is no way I'd consider suffering up to 10 years of withdrawal symptoms. If it's a choice between sleeping or becoming addicted - I'll take my chances!"

• Mos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 23, 2019

For Anxiety "I had horrible anxiety for years and tried numerous drug treatments. I wanted something I could take as needed, which would give fast results. Many of the other anxiety drugs I tried had negative side effects, but Lorazepam had none (with me anyway). It would immediately make me feel calm and helped me to sleep at night. I was taking 2 mg/day. I stayed on it for over a year and feel like it was a lifesaver. When my doctor retired, I decided to wean myself off of Lorazepam, mostly over concerns of these types of drugs being linked to dementia in later life. I went through horrible withdrawals (very bad anxiety, insomnia, agitation, quick to anger, etc.) that took over a month to stabilize. I quit cold turkey, which you're not supposed to do. Now, months later, I still have bouts with anxiety, but I'm trying to manage it without drugs. I wish there was something safe and effective that I could use long term."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I take Ativan for panic attacks as well as general anxiety. I must say, it works very, very well. When compared to Xanax, I think Xanax is more effective in stopping the panic attack, but Ativan is better at just avoiding an attack altogether. It kicks in just as fast as Xanax but seems to linger in the system longer. So for me, when I took Xanax and was panicking, I had to take, then I'd be great, then have to take again, etc. Ativan, for me, has been smoother. I take it and I am good. I do have to take a higher dosage than I would of Xanax, but barely. I think this medication is great for panic and general anxiety, though never try to take a benzo as a regimen. The withdrawals are debilitating!"

• Onl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 18, 2023

For Anxiety "Works great until it doesn't, and you are pitifully addicted. Do NOT, under ANY circumstances, let a medical professional tell you that Ativan (lorazepam) is not addictive or doesn't cause dependency if used 'as prescribed.' This drug is being prescribed completely inappropriately. ALL the prescribing literature says to use it for '2 to 4 weeks.' PERIOD. Regular use after this point could lead to dependency/addiction. The withdrawal is nearly unbearable. Stopping abruptly causes withdrawal that can be deadly. It took me 8 months, using the life-saving 'Ashton Manual,' to slowly wean myself off Ativan after 15 months of daily, physician-prescribed use (0.5 mg TID/3x per day). The interdose tolerance started very quickly, and the need for it skyrocketed."

• Lau...
• August 20, 2015

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I'm 19, and this anxiety and OCD had been poured on me out of nowhere. It scared me so bad I felt like I couldn't live my life. I went to the ER, and they prescribed me Ativan 1 mg 3 times a day. It was extremely effective. The first week I was only taking half or sometimes 2. I've been on it for 3 weeks and am waiting to get on an SSRI for more long-term. Ativan is helping me through my days. I am just nervous about withdrawals because I don't take it as prescribed, only as needed."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2023

Lorazepam for Anxiety "I am 67 years old. I was prescribed Ativan in the early 1980s. I got addicted and after 5 months was taking 12 a day instead of the prescribed 6. I threw them down the toilet, then ended up at my GP with acute withdrawal symptoms. He did a six-week withdrawal plan. I lost the memory of that 6 months. I also lost a lot of my memory up to that point. As a person who has suffered memory loss and lack of emotion for the last 40 years and my life wrecked, I implore people not to take this drug."

• Ben...
• February 13, 2018

Lorazepam for Anxiety "Be careful with this sneaky drug. At first, it works great, but very quickly, I mean within days, it is highly addictive. Before you know it, you’ll be using it daily, and withdrawal syndrome associated with benzos is horrible. Use with caution."

• lis...
• December 9, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been dealing with anxiety now for about 2 months. I'm worried that it will never go away. When I take the medication, I feel so much better, however, I am worried about being dependent on the drug and withdrawal."

• Gat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2017

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This drug is the devil. The first few doses work like magic. After 1 week, a hellish withdrawal starts kicking in about 2 hours after taking each dose. Impossible to wean off of without a doctor who's familiar with this highly addictive drug."

• bra...
• December 18, 2015

Lorazepam for Anxiety "This drug is highly addictive, and due to it being short-acting, it is nearly impossible to wean off of this drug in a conventional manner. It is very effective in relieving anxiety, but should not be taken for any extended period of time or you will be hooked into an agonizing withdrawal. To get off of this short-acting drug without the painful withdrawal, switch to a long-acting benzo like diazepam that is available in multiple and larger doses and can be cut into smaller amounts to wean off gradually."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2021

Lorazepam for Insomnia "Ativan can be a two-edged sword. I have a prescription for 0.5 mg to be used as needed for anxiety and/or sleep. It works really well for both. I just have to be careful not to use it too often (it's tempting) because there are uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. I want to have it on hand because when I have a days-long anxiety episode, it's the only thing that helps calm me down. However, my doctor told me that regular, long-term use of Ativan can increase the risk for Alzheimer's. Articles I've read on this confirm his warning. That's a good enough incentive for me to use it sparingly. 7/10 stars for Ativan due to its helpfulness, but with accompanying risks."

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2015

For Anxiety "I suffer from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and OCD. I take 1 mg twice daily and am on 40 mg of Prozac. My disorders are quite severe, and on a bad day I'm housebound. The lorazepam does work well, but I do get bad withdrawal in the morning, which involves being very anxious for about an hour or so till my meds kick in, which I'm going to try some different courses of action to try and counter this. I'm 36 years old and a solo dad, so getting well for my son is a big priority for me! My heart goes out to all the anxiety sufferers out there, and I suppose we can all hope that we can get the right balance of meds that helps us without too many side effects and be as well as possible! So overall review of this drug is 7/10. Good luck!"