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Is It Safe To Take Magnesium Citrate And Omega 3 Fish Oils With Ativan?
Question: i am suffering from anxiety, currently on Ativan, 1mg, 3 times daily, Have been on it since Sept 2013. I am getting better, doing more things and becoming less anxious. I still have issues with going to certain places but I am doing them now. I have some questions about supplements that not to many if anyone can answer. Is it safe to take Magnesium citrate and Omega 3 fish oils with Ativan?
Brief Answer:
No interaction has been reported.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I read your query in detail and it was nice to note that you are getting better in terms of your anxiety. I can see the amount of work that you have put into your treatment and your motivation to get better is really admirable.
Ativan is Lorazepam which is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety. Omega 3 fish oil have been proposed to have cardiac benefits by controlling blood pressure and lowering lipids. Magnesium citrate is used as a laxative. There have been no reported interactions between Lorazepam and Magnesium citrate or Omega 3 fish oils. They can be taken together without much problems. However, it is prudent to note that in case you feel any difficulty, it must immediately be reported to your treating physician.
I hope that answers you questions. I do hope that you keep getting better and soon will be able to completely get over your anxiety.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
No interaction has been reported.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I read your query in detail and it was nice to note that you are getting better in terms of your anxiety. I can see the amount of work that you have put into your treatment and your motivation to get better is really admirable.
Ativan is Lorazepam which is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety. Omega 3 fish oil have been proposed to have cardiac benefits by controlling blood pressure and lowering lipids. Magnesium citrate is used as a laxative. There have been no reported interactions between Lorazepam and Magnesium citrate or Omega 3 fish oils. They can be taken together without much problems. However, it is prudent to note that in case you feel any difficulty, it must immediately be reported to your treating physician.
I hope that answers you questions. I do hope that you keep getting better and soon will be able to completely get over your anxiety.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you for your response. It is greatly appreciated. All of the people I am working with keep saying the same thing, it takes time to get over my issues of anexity. I would like to add, I should of put this in the first place. In XXXXXXX 2013 my family dr put me on Wellaburtin (spelling) 5 mg once a day. I took this for two months and started to get real dizzy and real nervous with thoughts of death. Not suicide but just death. My mind was going 100 mphs, I consulted and he took me off of it. He put me on Lexapro 10mg. The first day I took it, I passed out and ended up in the hospital for three days. They did extensive testing of my heart with nothing coming back negative. The treating ER Dr said I should have never been on an anti-depressant. The cardiac dr and my physicatrist also agree with that statement. Now I am hesitant to go back to my family dr. I am also very hesitant to take anything else with the Ativan because it is working. Sidenote, I was taking 50 grams of protein shakes and gnc vitamins (energy) and drinking redbull while I was taking the anti-depressant. Probably not a good mixture. Since then, only a erbal multi vitamin daily and nothing else. I am drinking approx. 90 ounces of water daily (weight 180 lbs) with no caffine intake or protein shakes or redbull or any other supplement. if you have any thoughts on this, pleas let me know. I know I am getting better, but it is just painfully slow. thanks
Brief Answer:
Please see details below
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for following up. I can understand what you might have been through all this time due to anxiety and the side effects of the medicines that you have taken.
Its understandable when you say that your improvement is very slow. But I would prefer to look from another point of view. Slow improvement with no side effects is better that no improvement or having side effects. So, as long as the improvement is there, I would say its a good thing.
Its good that you have stopped taking all those protein shakes and energy supplements. Many a times they are responsible for causing anxiety themselves. So, it would be better if you keep yourself away from them in future too.
I would also like to disagree with your psychiatrist and cardiologist regarding the use of anti-depressants. Medications like lexapro (escitalopram) are actually first line treatment for anxiety disorders. Since you are improving, there is no need to change the treatment. However, had there been no improvement or in case, your improvement stops progressing at a point of time (hope that never happens), I would have recommended using a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor other than escitalopram (since you had adverse event with it earlier), like sertraline or paroxetine at a low dose and gradually build up dose.
One last thing. Just make sure that you don't keep on increasing the dose of ativan. It has a tendency to cause dependence. So, after some time, when you feel quite better, it would be advisable to gradually taper the dose (at a very slow pace).
Hope I was able to clear some of your doubts. Please feel free to ask any further queries that you might have. In case you don't have any, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Please see details below
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for following up. I can understand what you might have been through all this time due to anxiety and the side effects of the medicines that you have taken.
Its understandable when you say that your improvement is very slow. But I would prefer to look from another point of view. Slow improvement with no side effects is better that no improvement or having side effects. So, as long as the improvement is there, I would say its a good thing.
Its good that you have stopped taking all those protein shakes and energy supplements. Many a times they are responsible for causing anxiety themselves. So, it would be better if you keep yourself away from them in future too.
I would also like to disagree with your psychiatrist and cardiologist regarding the use of anti-depressants. Medications like lexapro (escitalopram) are actually first line treatment for anxiety disorders. Since you are improving, there is no need to change the treatment. However, had there been no improvement or in case, your improvement stops progressing at a point of time (hope that never happens), I would have recommended using a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor other than escitalopram (since you had adverse event with it earlier), like sertraline or paroxetine at a low dose and gradually build up dose.
One last thing. Just make sure that you don't keep on increasing the dose of ativan. It has a tendency to cause dependence. So, after some time, when you feel quite better, it would be advisable to gradually taper the dose (at a very slow pace).
Hope I was able to clear some of your doubts. Please feel free to ask any further queries that you might have. In case you don't have any, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you again for the follow up. Yes, I am no longer taking any protein shakes or energy vitamins or red bull or any caffine for that matter.
That is a very good point, slow improvement is better then going backwards. Didn't think of it that way. Thanks, that really helps. I am a life long athlete, it is hard for me to see something take so long. But, I didn't get good at sports overnight, it took time.
I haven't increased my dosage since XXXXXXX 2014. You said the same thing my psychiatrist said, I am keeping you on this because it is working for you with no side effects. If we see a stalling or regression we will slowly take off and try one of the drugs that you mentioned.
We have discussed when it is time to come off the Ativan, he will do it at very slow pace. I am taking it currently when I wake up then 6.5 hours later and 6.5 hours after that. This is compared to 3 months ago when I woke up and then about every 5 hours after.
my energy level Is coming back slowly and I am up to working three full days know. I am starting to enjoy the things that I like to do more and more without any fear.
if you have any other insight on what else has worked for your patients that would pertain to me, I would greatly appreciate any offerings.
thanks again!
That is a very good point, slow improvement is better then going backwards. Didn't think of it that way. Thanks, that really helps. I am a life long athlete, it is hard for me to see something take so long. But, I didn't get good at sports overnight, it took time.
I haven't increased my dosage since XXXXXXX 2014. You said the same thing my psychiatrist said, I am keeping you on this because it is working for you with no side effects. If we see a stalling or regression we will slowly take off and try one of the drugs that you mentioned.
We have discussed when it is time to come off the Ativan, he will do it at very slow pace. I am taking it currently when I wake up then 6.5 hours later and 6.5 hours after that. This is compared to 3 months ago when I woke up and then about every 5 hours after.
my energy level Is coming back slowly and I am up to working three full days know. I am starting to enjoy the things that I like to do more and more without any fear.
if you have any other insight on what else has worked for your patients that would pertain to me, I would greatly appreciate any offerings.
thanks again!
Brief Answer:
You are doing great. Keep it up.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I really am glad that things are working for you and are moving forward in a positive direction. I am also happy to note that I and your treating psychiatrist seem to agree on a lot of points.
You are already doing a lot for your betterment. However, in addition you can try a few things which won't take up much of your time and can help you:
- Keep playing the sports you like; it will keep you busy as well as help you feel relaxed.
- Try not to think about your symptoms often. Anxiety is a condition in which more you think about it, more it troubles you. Keep yourself involved in things you like to do and try to ignore subtle symptoms as much as you can.
- Try deep breathing for 1-2 minutes whenever your are tensed or anxious.
- Try listening to music when free. It helps relaxing.
- Try maintaining a diary of daily events where you freely express your emotions
(good or bad).
I hope some of the above might help you further in your conquest against anxiety. In case of any doubt/clarification/ query, you can ask me directly at
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sunil-gupta/67657
Wishing a speedy recovery.
All the best,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
You are doing great. Keep it up.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I really am glad that things are working for you and are moving forward in a positive direction. I am also happy to note that I and your treating psychiatrist seem to agree on a lot of points.
You are already doing a lot for your betterment. However, in addition you can try a few things which won't take up much of your time and can help you:
- Keep playing the sports you like; it will keep you busy as well as help you feel relaxed.
- Try not to think about your symptoms often. Anxiety is a condition in which more you think about it, more it troubles you. Keep yourself involved in things you like to do and try to ignore subtle symptoms as much as you can.
- Try deep breathing for 1-2 minutes whenever your are tensed or anxious.
- Try listening to music when free. It helps relaxing.
- Try maintaining a diary of daily events where you freely express your emotions
(good or bad).
I hope some of the above might help you further in your conquest against anxiety. In case of any doubt/clarification/ query, you can ask me directly at
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sunil-gupta/67657
Wishing a speedy recovery.
All the best,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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