Brief Answer:
dont worry, it cannbe managed. please tell the reason for starting it

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to health care magic!

I have read your query carefully and it talks about your concern regarding the use of sleeping pill from past 2 years.

I can understand your situation. I want to tell you that taking sleeping pills for more than the prescribed time or continiously for a long time is very commonly seen in clinical practice. The main issue is to again sensitise the receptors for natural healthy sleep!

You have not mentioned the reason for your lack of natural sleep initially. It can be some depression or anxiety or any other thing. The knowledge of the root cause is essential in restoring the normal sleep mechanism as the mode of treatment would vary.

It will not be wise to just stop the medication in one go as this will bring rebound anxiety and sleeplessness. This medicine can cause physical dependence.

Please dont worry...you are right that the brain is become used to or addicted to lorazepam but this can be managed very well.

Hope that the reply is informative and useful

I wish you good health and speedy recovery!
Please feel free to put forward any more question for clarification.

Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry

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Brief Answer:
reduce lorazepam by 0.5mg at a time & learn relaxation exercise

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for writing back.

I can understand your feelings..noone would ever like to be on any kind of medications..but sometimes they are very necessary for your being.

I would like to tell you that due to the changing climate/ changing lifestyle/ life stresses etc., these days most of the people in whole world have some kind of ailment. Even the people who have all good life style habits get some illness and need one or the other medication (or supplements ) in order to keep healthy and fit.

So, just accepting that your body needs one or two particular substance and keeps good with it should be wise. Fighting with one self never helps...acceptance (but definitely trying for a better life!) Is always a good choice.

If you had been under my treatment I would like to reduce your lorazepam by 0.5mg for one or two weeks and then reducing by another 0.5mg an so in.
Once you are off lorazepam completely, I would wait for a week or two and see if you get anxiety or not.
If the anxiety comes up again then I would suggest taking a proper anti anxiety medication and not just a sleeping pill.

Apart from medication you must enter into councelling sessions to help tackle your anxiety. Sometimes unsolved issues of life when discussed with a trained therapist helps a lot! I do regular councelling of my similar patients and have very good results.

You can also try deep relaxation like some breathing exercises or guided imagery relaxation or some other exercise. You may learn it from someone or find on internet. Practicing deep relaxation is wonderful in recovery from depression and anxiety.
So, please do try them.

In a nut shell-
Try reducing lorazepam by 0.5mg each time and continue for week or two before reducing further.
Then if anxiety comes back- discuss starting an anti anxiety drug and not just sleeping pill with your doctor. There are many good safe drugs available now a days.

Please learn relaxation or enter regular councelling sessions.

Life is not fighting with oneself but counting our blessings!
Wish you good health and speedy recovery.

please ask if there are more concerns.

Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry

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