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Should I Be Worried About Withdrawal Symptoms Despite Being On Low Doses Of Ativan?
Question: Hello,
if I have been taking .5MG to 1MG of Ativan daily, should I be worried about withdrawal? Also, I am quiting alcohol as well which I drank about 6 to 7 beers a day. should I be concerned about that as well?
if I have been taking .5MG to 1MG of Ativan daily, should I be worried about withdrawal? Also, I am quiting alcohol as well which I drank about 6 to 7 beers a day. should I be concerned about that as well?
Brief Answer:
it can give anxiety; quit one thing at a time
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
0.5-1mg of xanax is a low dose which usually might not pose problem of withdrawal. But as you take beer also, and you are trying to quit that simultaneously- it may give some anxiety.
The withdrawal can also be related to the status of your liver. As you have been drinking that may have been affected
If possible get your blood counts and liver function tests.
It will be better that you quit one thing at a time. Try for beer first and then after you stabilise- start reducing xanax and stop it.
For detoxification of alcohol we use long acting benzo preparations like- chlordiazepoxide. You can discuss this with your de addiction team.
This has low potency of withdrawal and is a long acting drug.
I hope the reply is useful.
wish you good luck!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
it can give anxiety; quit one thing at a time
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
0.5-1mg of xanax is a low dose which usually might not pose problem of withdrawal. But as you take beer also, and you are trying to quit that simultaneously- it may give some anxiety.
The withdrawal can also be related to the status of your liver. As you have been drinking that may have been affected
If possible get your blood counts and liver function tests.
It will be better that you quit one thing at a time. Try for beer first and then after you stabilise- start reducing xanax and stop it.
For detoxification of alcohol we use long acting benzo preparations like- chlordiazepoxide. You can discuss this with your de addiction team.
This has low potency of withdrawal and is a long acting drug.
I hope the reply is useful.
wish you good luck!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
well at Ativan is different than Xanax. does this make difference?
Brief Answer:
be it ativan or xanax, still leave one at a time
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You are right, ativan is different from xanax...it happened by mistake ...i was talking about lorazepam but wrote xanax wrongly. Im sorry for the same.
Lorazepam or ativan is usually taken in a dosage of 1-2mg or 3mg, but you take lesser quantity. So, there is hardly much problem expected. But if we talk about combined withdrawal of alcohol and ativan - this appears to be an issue.
Moreover you will need ativan or any other long acting benzo during alcohol withdrawal (dont try to stop beer without any withdrawal preventing medicine as this can be dangerous), so you should continue ativan for now.
Later after may be about a week or two of stopping alcohol you may start tapering ativan. Please discuss the above with your doctor too.
Dont worry, your decision to stop both the drug and alcohol is very wise. Just have courage and have patience..
There are few anti craving drugs for stopping alcohol..they reduce the craving for the spirit and so it becomes easier for the patient to stop it. They are quite safe too..
Wish you good health and speedy recovery.
Do ask more queries for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
be it ativan or xanax, still leave one at a time
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You are right, ativan is different from xanax...it happened by mistake ...i was talking about lorazepam but wrote xanax wrongly. Im sorry for the same.
Lorazepam or ativan is usually taken in a dosage of 1-2mg or 3mg, but you take lesser quantity. So, there is hardly much problem expected. But if we talk about combined withdrawal of alcohol and ativan - this appears to be an issue.
Moreover you will need ativan or any other long acting benzo during alcohol withdrawal (dont try to stop beer without any withdrawal preventing medicine as this can be dangerous), so you should continue ativan for now.
Later after may be about a week or two of stopping alcohol you may start tapering ativan. Please discuss the above with your doctor too.
Dont worry, your decision to stop both the drug and alcohol is very wise. Just have courage and have patience..
There are few anti craving drugs for stopping alcohol..they reduce the craving for the spirit and so it becomes easier for the patient to stop it. They are quite safe too..
Wish you good health and speedy recovery.
Do ask more queries for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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