Will I have withdrawal symptoms from taking 0.5mg of Ativan a day for three months? Sometimes 1mg?

HI, Ess!
You may or may not have withdrawals as everybody will respond differently. Why take a chance of getting information from non-professional sources? Go straight to your physician and discuss a reducing taper schedule which will help avoid or lessen any potential withdrawal symptoms. It's the only way to go because as you have read withdrawals can be very painful... if not done under medical supervision.
I too wish people weren't given this type of drug... it's riskier than any potential benefits. There are much better ways to tackle anxiety disorders.
Best regards and good luck to you! You'll get through it okay.
Wildcat

It may be helpful to refer to the Ashton Manual which is widely accepted as an authoritative resource on benzodiazepine withdrawal(it is free and available by searching Ashton Manual online) and discussing the topic and the tapering schedule described in the manual with your Doctor. The manual suggests it may be helpful to finish the final weeks of a taper from lorazepam with diazepam because it can be split into smaller equivalent doses than the .5 mg lorazepam and has a longer half life providing a more gradual taper. The manual describes potentially optimal tapering schedules from all types of Benzos. Hope this helps someone, God bless!

I was on 0.5 mg for about six months while adjusting to an anti-anxiety medicine. I went off it cold turkey once the Cymbalta kicked in. No withdrawal side effects. Yes, if you are having trouble tapering down from the Ativan, you should contact your doctor.

Ess44, how did you do with tapering or hopping off this medication? I am currently in the same situation (0.5 mg for 3 months) and desperately want to get off this roller coaster. I am trying to taper down to 3/4 of a tablet and after some horrific rebound anxiety for a few days, I am now experiencing sleepless nights. My plan was to do from 3/4 tablet for 2 weeks down to 1/2 tablet for 2 weeks and then 1/4 tablet. May give up and ask my doctor to prescribe a tapering schedule. Any advice from anyone?

Hi Ess,
Stephen gave you really good advice.
If stick to the 0.5 mg, the lower dose, at all times. Follow Stephen's advice on slowly skipping your your days.
O.5 mg is a good dose.
If you notice it's not working it means you have become tolerant. If this happens, I'd be more concerned about having to go through withdrawal.
Basically, only take it when you need it.
Best wishes
:-)

If you can skip several days without withdrawals you may find you are not in its grip yet. People who take the medication habitually without regard to need are more likely to have problems.

Good luck. :-)