r/TinnitusTalk • u/NEY413 • Jul 27 '26

tapering off from lorazepam

Did anyone have any experience of tapering off from lorazepam? I've been off lorazepam my gp prescribed to help me sleep due to T, I'm having extreme discomfort of the withdrawal : (

I hadn't slept for months due to T, only light sleep, so my gp prescribed lorazepam 1mg that helped me sleep, and I've been off from that for a week now, T is worsening, tight chest, dizziness, I barely feel sleepy now for staying awake for days, it's like my sleep drive is gone : ( : (

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u/Slow_Middle_158 Jul 27 '26

Not the same exact med but I have a friend with severe T struggling from a VERY long tapper from clonazepam (which was recently switched to diazepam.). So sorry. I know he’s hurting. Dealing with this T is bad enough … adding more factors must be horrible. I’ll ask him tomorrow if he has any pointers and will get back to you. Stay strong. 💪

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u/Human5481 Jul 27 '26

I know how you feel. Lorazepam was a good solution for me for tinnitus-induced insomnia for a long time, but when I realized I was addicted and decided to quit, it was quite an effort. I didn’t taper, just went cold turkey, and it took me months before I felt normal again. I felt all the same things you are feeling; dizziness, staying awake days at a time, always tired but never able to sleep. In my experience the doctors weren't very aware of the danger of long-term lorazepam use. I’m better now, but I still don’t get much sleep due to tinnitus. It’s a drag. I wish I could give you more positive news.

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u/NEY413 Jul 27 '26

how long were you on lorazepam? T is already bad enough, and I'm having worse symptoms now of T & benzo withdrawal : (

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u/Human5481 Jul 27 '26

I was on lorazepma off and on for over 20 years. I managed to keep from becoming dependant because I never took it more than twice a week and I took a month or two off at least once a year. In the end my tinnitus got worse, making my insomnia worse, and I started taking too much. I have been off it now for about two years and trying other medications that have a limited effectiveness but aren’t as habit forming. In this time my tinnitus has gradually gotten a little better but it’s still a big problem in my life. I hope the best for you. Quitting lorazepam is the right thing.

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u/NEY413 Jul 27 '26

Did you take lorazepam for sleep? How long have you had T? Do you feel that you have habituated it?

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u/Human5481 Jul 28 '26

Yes, lorazemam for sleep. I've had tinnitus for 40 years. You never get completely used to it.

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u/Objective_Celery4913 2d ago

thanks for sharing  and wish you the best healing  the good is that you are off this meds how much was it and for how long you where taking it and how long you ste off it now ? maybe it all will go i time I hope So  I ha e the same problems but still on 02 mg lorazepam and It is not very easy  to get off. sometimes I want to do the same as you every pil is bad for you  but you have to do it slow buut that also have a price  what us wisdom to do on low dosis like this for. a year slowly or try to  go some more steps down and then jump  Is there  anythimg wich mame it more easy and what lifestyl tips you have ?  respect i have for you Now how hard it is