Feeling more anxious after dose increase

[NWPower]

I've been taking it since November, 1mg twice a day. He did say he would prescribe something to take alongside reducing the Lorazepam.. maybe Mirtazapine 🤷🏼*♀️

[panic_down_under]

I've been taking it since November, 1mg twice a day. He did say he would prescribe something to take alongside reducing the Lorazepam.. maybe Mirtazapine

7.5-15mg mirtazapine is should make it easier for you. What advice were you given for tapering off lorazepam?

[NWPower]

Just to take half twice a day. I've tried that and it's just too much. Today I'm trying 1mg this morning and half this afternoon. Any advice would be appreciated.

[panic_down_under]

Today I'm trying 1mg this morning and half this afternoon

It's worth a shot.

If it is still too hard try cutting back by a quarter of a dose if you can cut the tablets accurately enough. A pill-cutter from the chemist will make this easier, more accurate and less bloody than using a knife. So start by reducing the morning dose to 0.75mg for 4-5 days then the afternoon dose to 0.75mg again for 4-5 days followed by 0.5mg in the AM, 'rinsing and repeating' to zero. Some mirtazapine would help. A switched on GP would have prescribed it before ordering you to wean off the BZD!

[NWPower]

Thanks. I have a pill cutter but these pills are soooo tiny. I'll ask Dr if I can have some .5mg that will cut easier. You definitely seem to think Mirtazapine will help so I'll go with that also. Now to put this all out of my mind till Thursday. Very tearful day of thinking this will never end :(

[panic_down_under]

I'll ask Dr if I can have some .5mg that will cut easier

Good idea.

You definitely seem to think Mirtazapine will help so I'll go with that also.

There are no guarantees, but a sedative to dampen the lorazepam withdrawal symptoms should make the process more bearable.

Very tearful day of thinking this will never end

It can often seem like that, but it almost always comes good in the end. These disorders are often a long time in the making and there are no shortcuts to recovery, unfortunately.

[NWPower]

Thank you for your kind replies.

[NWPower]

So it's now week 5 of 200mg Sertraline and nothing much has changed. Some days I can think a bit more positive but the anxiety is still chronic. Does anyone know if the Sertraline needs longer to kill that? Desperate

[panic_down_under]

It can take longer than 5 weeks for a dose increase to take effect. I'd give it at least another 2 weeks.

Do you have anything other than lorazepam to ease the anxiety?

[NWPower]

I was given Quetiapine at the very beginning so still taking 2x100mg each day. No idea if they're doing any good other than help me sleep which I'm grateful for if nothing else.
Actually awaiting a telephone consultation with a Dr today.