My husband is using Lorazepam for anxiety. It does help.
He thinks it might be causing him to have headaches...
What would be a good substitute for Lorazepam? He prefers not to use any other addictive med. Its going to be hard enough to get off this one.
At this point he still has too much anxiety to try weaning off of it.
He is taking the supplement Relora which does help some but its not enough to do just Relora.
Another question: What CAUSES the anxiety???
Posted by JCarlhelp (Member # 15957) on :
Bartonella and sometimes babesia
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
A major symptom of Lyme Disease IS anxiety.
I personally wouldn't hesitate to take whatever med could help mediate that symptom as it can be just as disabling/debilitating as other symptoms, BIG TIME.
If the lorazepam is helping him perhaps he should just continue taking it for the time being? If he feels his headaches are due to the lorazepam perhaps he would consider switching to low-dose valium?
I might get beaten up for saying this, but sometimes you just really do need the pharmaceuticals.
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
I used to take Lorazepam and it was HORRIBLE to get off of. I tried to wean but couldn't. I ended up going cold turkey which almost killed me but I did it. I had insomnia for 18 months after that.
The only thing that helped me was Magnesium and time. Any supplement you take, you have to see if it can affect GABA and I avoided these things while getting off the Lorazepam because I didn't want my brain to think I was getting Lorazepam.
But Magnesium can help with anxiety. And Lorazepam can cause anxiety as adverse effect. Especially with older folks, the Lorazepam can be really bad. They had to "restrain" my g.daddy at the hospital when he had adverse effect from it. Google it.
Also, a good chiropractic adjustment can help with anxiety and colonics, if your husband is willing *really* helps calm the nervous system.
Other than that, I might try some gentle herbal tea but I avoided Valerian as this affects GABA. Alcohol affects GABA too, and may trick your brain into thinking you took the drug.
Depending on what dose he's on, he may switch to Valium in order to be able to "taper". Valium comes in larger milligram pills (10 mg) and so it's easier to split up as opposed to the 1mg pills of Lorazepam.
Good luck!
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
Try L-theanine (2)200 mg twice a day. Is he doing any adrenal support? Ashwaganda and pregnenolone helps that and also calms down the nervous system.
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
oh, I misread - I thought you said he was trying to wean!
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
What can happen in drugs that are addictive is that your body becomes used to them. Then you have to "up the dose" to get the same effect. If you do not up the dose, the drug can then cause anxiety, which is really withdrawal.
But once you get to about 2 mg, 3 x day, I think they cannot up the dose anymore. That's when you've got to figure out what you're going to do from there. And at the higher doses, the side effects can get more severe, for example, depression and short term memory loss.
Sorry for the bad news but just wanted you to be aware!
Posted by droid1226 (Member # 34930) on :
Taper down with low dose valium.
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
He has been on Lorazepam before and weaned off of it. It was awful - he knows the craziness it causes.
The family doctor told him it will make him think he's going crazy, but he's not - its just the drug!
So he knows how to do the weaning off. He never had problems with it causing anxiety or needing to "up dose". The only thing was possibly headaches.
He has tried L theanine with no results.
Avoids the GABA as that caused anxiety.
He wants something to ease the anxiety so he can get off the Lorazepam. He didn't want to go on another drug that also needs to be weaned off! Why go through that process twice?
How much magnesium can you take in a day to help with anxiety? He is currently taking 2,000 mgs of magnesium.
He hasn't been to the chiropractor lately, but he has been getting regular cranial therapy treatments which seemed to help more than chiro.
Yes, he is doing adrenal support. He's taking the James Wilson adrenal support.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Has he treated Bartonella?
For me personally, anxiety is Bart. Along with impatience, irritability.
The Benzo type drugs just make me sleepy- don't hold an attraction, too much to do-
I am starting to take some aptogen herbs (rhodiola, cordyceps) help even things out--
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
MannaMe, I don't know what dose of Mg, as some of it is only absorbed about 17% while others, like "ReMag" are absorbed at 100%. So I guess it depends on what kind you are taking. Here is a quick PubMed article that talks about Mg and anxiety. I just wanted you to know there can be a correlation.
quote:Originally posted by faithful777: Try L-theanine (2)200 mg twice a day. Is he doing any adrenal support? Ashwaganda and pregnenolone helps that and also calms down the nervous system.
If he takes these supplements while backing off the drugs, it will help him stay calmer.
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
He's treating Lyme and Babesia. Hasn't treat Bart, unless he may have rifed for it a few times.
The magnesium is Vitacost brand, Glycinate Chelate Buffered. Is that a good kind?
He needs to bring the anxiety levels down before he can begin to wean off the Lorazepam.
He does have Ashwaganda in the one adrenal support. The pregnenolone he never used.
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
This is going to be tricky because weaning off the Lorazepam is likely going to cause more anxiety but if you're giving something that helps anxiety (like Valerian) -at the same time- as Lorazepam (if that's even safe), it seems like he will still notice when you lower the Lorazepam.
It's almost like you'd have to start with a really low dose of the Valerian (for example) and increase that dose as you lowered the dose of the Lorazepam. (Both Valerian and Lorazepam affect GABA).
As I stated before, it may be easier to switch over to Valium and wean off the Valium? Valium will come in 10mg pills that are easier to cut up than the 1 or 2 mg pills of Lorazepam. Because with a 10 mg pill you can cut it to 7 1/2, then 5mg, then 2.5mg, etc. With a 1 mg pill there's not much playroom...
Also, you can buy the Valerian in a tincture (liquid drops) so that may be another idea.
Hope you figure something out!
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
Whatever you do, even if it's with something herbal like Valerian, speak with a pharmacist to check for any drug interaction because herbs are powerful, too.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
I use source naturals magnesium malate and really like it. You can get it cheaper at amazon using their subscribe and save.
Posted by Polkahero (Member # 37841) on :
Valium also comes in 5 mg and 2 mg tablets which makes it even easier to taper down. 10 mg of Valium would equal about 0.5 mg of Xanax/Klonopin/Ativan.
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
Source naturals Magnesium malate did not work for me but it may have been because I was not taking it with B6.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Add Glycine at night (up to 2000 mg) to the l-theanine before bed. Source Naturals has a cheap one on Amazon.
Here's an article on Glycine and Taurine for anxiety (taurine did nothing for me though, but it's worth a try).
He is taking 1/4 teaspoon of taurine 3 x per day. Has been for years. Hadn't heard about using glycine.
Does Valium work like Ativan? He has trouble with side effects of most meds he tries... Ativan / Lorazepam was one of the few without alot of side effects.
Posted by droid1226 (Member # 34930) on :
They make valium in 2mg, 5mg, and 10mg. It's way slower when it metabolizes in the body. So there's not as much rebound anxiety.
I've never felt the need to go up in dose in 2 yrs. I take 2mg in the morn and 2mg before bed. It's been a life saver because bart has done a number on my CNS.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
I don't know if valium works like ativan. All I know is that valium has worked for me. Granted, I do not take it every day.
But when I really need something for out-of-nowhere anxiety or in very stressful situations, that's my go-to med. 5mg works for me. I've never found it to be addictive as one gloom and doom doc lectured me about who had no clue what I was dealing with. Sometimes you just need a quick and effective remedy to function like a normal human being.
Another thing-regarding the taurine, why is he taking that? Unless you're vegan you likely have more than enough already. And if he has a CBS and/or SUOX MTHFR mutation, taking a taurine supplement might not be a good idea, although I don't know what the ramifications could be (still learning).
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
His health care provider had him taking the taurine. The info about taurine says "blood pressure support, sleep support, and stress management"
He needed it for all 3 of those.
What is a CBS or SOUX MTHFR mutation? He does have the 677 MTHFR mutation. He is supplementing for the mutation and things seem to be improving. Though nothing dramatic yet.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
MannaMe, that's a whole other topic, and one which I'm still learning about.
From my very limited understanding, both the CBS677 and the SUOX mutation indicate that one should not overdo sulphur-containing meds, supps or foods.
Taurine from what I have read, is a sulphur-based amino acid and unless you're vegan, you already get more than enough taurine via animal protein.
Hoping more knowledgable/experienced people will chime in here.
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