I have Bipolar Disorder/Psychosis NOS and PTSD 4, and must tolerate ceaseless loud Meniere's Disease along with serious hearing loss ongoing. I've been sedated/maintained on 6 mg. Ativan per day for over a decade - Will this be cut off/reduced ?
My doctors agree with me about NEVER increasing Ativan, (I am a former Psych nurse and know how abused this benzdiazapine is, but it is crucial to support my heart status (r/t noise + etc.). So anyway, on and on...Will they be likely to deny me - and others in severe, needful medical status? Why should truly needy med patients pay a price for abusers? Also, I HAVE to note that I believe that NO gov't employee with any status is ever denied what they want (including better care/insurance). They are special, right?
As my hearing gets worse - and I have experienced a profound loss of hearing over the last year, the unending loud noises of Meniere's will be all I hear. 24/7, forever. - You can well imagine what pure hell life will be if Ativan is cut off.
Your words gave me great comfort.
Hydroxyzine and other non habit forming anxiety meds are still being Rx'd. There are tools available, just perhaps not the ones that have side effects that counter their value as a long time treatment. I'm sure there are numerous psych docs still out there that will Rx any amount of benzos you want, though.
Just some thoughts. I feel for ya, very much so. I weaned off a 2-year, daily Klonopin regimen a few years ago. There are guides online, like The Ashton Manual, for how to do a withdrawal and also there are online support groups specifically aimed at benzo withdrawal -- in case you want to check them out. :-)
Puffbucket, talk to your prescribing doctor about these very stressful worries and find out what s/he is thinking. If there are going to have to be changes, the sooner your doctor starts working on a new strategy with you the better. What you don't want is to fall off a cliff.