What can I take that won't contraindicate with Lorazepam?

[crose824]

8 weeks ago I nearly collapsed at work. Before this I was highly functioning, running my business, taking care of my kids. At first they said adrenal fatigue, then they said I have GAD and Panic. This is completely new, and turned my life totally on it's ear. About 4 weeks ago I was prescribed Lorazepam at an E.R. visit. I was only taking it "as needed" but after a psychiatrist recommended maybe if I took it more regularly my brain would stop "kindling" as it were. It worked at first... only taking .25 mg in in the morning and .25 mg in the afternoon. Now I feel it's getting worse again (perhaps "tolerance withdrawals"). I need something to to feel a little bit clearer. I have OTC kava tea, valerian drops, gaba supplements, but afraid to take any of them in case they contraindicate with the Lorazepam. Even with the Lorazepam I have been unable to work, or take care of my kids. They have been with their dad these 8 weeks. I am feeling beyond desperate. I know there has to be some natural ways to handle this, but am I going to have to totally get off of the Lorazepam before I can start trying those methods? Thank you.... I feel like everything I write is scattered like my brain these days.

[Paxiled]

It's not surprising you didn't do well on Effexor -- it's a very stimulating antidepressant and not usually used when anxiety is the primary problem.  The ssri class or tricyclics would usually be used for anxiety as the primary problem, so I have to say, added to your psychiatrist saying she won't help with your taper, I'd find a different psychiatrist -- one killed me, so be careful with them.  Especially if they take insurance.  So your negative reaction to Effexor is the usual one for an anxiety sufferer -- it targets norepinephrine, basically adrenalin, as well as serotonin, and so is very stimulating to most people.  Also, along with Paxil, the hardest of all these meds to stop taking.  Not the place to start.  Usually they start with Prozac, which, while stimulating, is the easiest to stop taking, and then Lexapro, as these are the two with the supposed best profiles for least problems.  Zoloft probably works for the most people on this site.  I was started on a tricyclic, imipramine.  My psychiatrist, who doesn't take insurance, doesn't use the snris, the class Effexor is in, for anxiety sufferers.  As for L-theanine, when I managed health foods stores I never met anyone it worked for, including me, and I'm not sure anyone knows exactly how it works in the body -- it's an ingredient in green tea.  But I don't think it would hurt, I just don't think it will help by itself.  With herbs, combinations work best.  The best systemic relaxant is said to be passionflower, but again, it works on GABA at least in part.  I have heard of The Road Back, but have never tried it.  As for tapering, if you have to do it yourself because you like this psychiatrist, just do it slowly.  You've only been on it a short time, so it shouldn't be a problem.  Try a book called The Anti-Depressant Solution for discussion of tapering off drugs.

[crose824]

Worth noting that we are also checking for any viruses that could be a culprit. She also checked thyroid, iron levels, and B vitamin levels. All looked good.

[Paxiled]

I should add, you can always try homeopathic remedies along with drugs as they don't contain active ingredients, but they're also pretty hit or miss.

[Paxiled]

Basically, the standard warning is not to take kava or valerian when taking a benzo, as they all target GABA.  The drug is obviously stronger than the herbs, and kava is stronger than valerian as a relaxant.  GABA supplements don't usually pass the blood/brain barrier, so they not only shouldn't be taken along with a drug targeting GABA but probably won't work.  Now, many people are prescribed gabapentin or Lyrica while taking a benzo, and those are basically GABA shot right to the brain, bypassing the digestive system.  And if you time it right, given how quickly benzos wear off, you could, if you really knew yourself and how your body reacts and really were expert on the use of herbs, you might be able to supplement the drug with natural relaxants, but again, it can be dangerous.  Most practitioners of natural medicine don't really think it works that well if you're taking pharmaceuticals, particularly if you're targeting the same part of the body.  If you decide you want to pursue the natural route, be careful stopping the Lorazepam -- if you're taking it every day it is an addictive drug and will become harder and harder to quit the longer you take it that way, so it has to be tapered off of at a speed that suits you.  On the other hand, you don't say how you collapsed at work or why -- GAD and Panic Disorder build up usually before they become chronic problems, and if they're not chronic you usually, or should, be sent to a therapist, not given a drug.  Physiological causes should also be looked for -- for example, I don't really know what adrenal exhaustion is, but the adrenals are intimately connected to the thyroid, and thyroid problems mimic mental disorders.  So do blood sugar, other hormonal problem, etc.  I don't think you're having tolerance withdrawals -- those happen when you've been on a drug a long time and it stops working.  What's happening to you is, benzos, particularly the one you're taking, don't last that long in effect and they're wearing off.  When they do they can also leave you tired.  Antidepressants, when they work, work all the time, they don't wear off the way benzos do, but then you're on an antidepressant and they're hard to stop taking, too.  There are herbs you can take to help the adrenals while you're on benzos or antidepressants, as they don't target the same neurotransmitters -- two examples that are relaxing are ashwagandha and holy basil.  Eleuthero is useful as well but can be invigorating.  I'd recommend a book by Hyla Cass, an academic psychiatrist, called Natural Highs for the natural approach overview.  Usually you would use substances, mostly amino acids and relaxants and adrenal support, in combination, along with therapy, exercise, meditation, dietary changes, etc.  A holistic approach.  No approach comes with guarantees of success.  Good luck.

[crose824]

Thank you so much for your thorough reply. I got "dizzy" at work. The room was not spinning but it was getting "foggy" and I felt I would pass out if I didn't lay down immediately. That continued to be a problem a few times over the next week or two at home , about 5, until someone said GAD. After which I started breathing my way to the sink, the recycle bin, sitting down when I needed to, and have avoided the dizziness on that level. But it seems to be related to being upright, walking anywhere. A week prior to this I had a 5 hour panic attack on a flight home from Hawaii due to an ear infection and thinking my ear drums were going to explode. Doctors think maybe that's what triggered this GAD. Although I have no history of panic attacks or anxiety attacks before this. A history of anxiety, but well managed with therapy and exercise.
I am seeing a therapist, but the exhaustion sometimes makes it hard to go to any appointments. I'm also following up with my ears. I think there's still damage in the right one, which could be triggering anxiety attacks. I always feel very off balance and "foggy" in the morning especially.
The Lorazepam was prescribed almost a month ago, but I have only been taking it daily the last 2 weeks... .25 mg in the morning and .25 mg in the afternoon as needed. I can not be sure obviously, but it feels like it doesn't really help me in the morning at all. Doing this per the psychiatrists instructions. But now that I've been taking it daily very nervous about stopping, as everyone warns how bad it can be. I usually feel the worst in the morning (regardless of taking the drug)...sometimes the afternoon (regardless of taking the drug)... and best in the evening and night time when I don't take anything at all.
The doc who prescribed this, only prescribed it as needed until Venlafaxion kicked in, which I had a horrible reaction to and stopped immediately after 3 days. The psychiatrist says since she didn't prescribe it she does not want to give me advice on tapering. So frustrating.
I read one of your posts yesterday and actually ordered Natural Highs already. Hoping to get it tomorrow! My naturopath also recommended I make a constitutional homeopathy appointment with someone in her office. Maybe that is the next step. I really like my naturopath and she seems competent in several areas but a few things have made me nervous... One, recommending the GABA on top of the Lorazepam. Two, not warning me animal adrenal supplements her office sold me might dramatically increase my anxiety (which they did).
Been doing a lot of therapy, meditation...some yoga. But exercise has been challenging with the adrenal fatigue and anxiety.
Do you think L-Theanine would be safe with the Lorazepam? And have you heard of The Road Back?
I apologize for the length of this and in no way will be surprised if you don't reply to all of it :) But thank you so much for your reply thus far. If I can do this naturally I will. If I can not and I am simply dealing with a sudden and straight forward case of extremely debilitating GAD, then I am not opposed to meds. My psychiatrist thought maybe gabapentin might work well for me given my negative reaction to the Venlafaxion and family history.