Will the drug lorazepam (ativan) be helpful in stopping my panic attacks when I fly?
I have horrible panic attacks when I fly, bad enough to where I don’t want to fly anymore. I have to fly very soon and my doctor prescribed me to lorazepam (ativan) specifically for traveling and said it would work. I was just wondering if anyone knew how effective this drug is and if it will work in my situation. Thanks.
Possibly. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine (same class of meds as Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) to name just a couple. I have my doctorate in Pharmacology and also stress out when I fly. My physician and I discussed this and found a one time dose of a BETA-BLOCKER (such as Inderal [propanolol]) would be a great idea. I used it and it worked PERFECTLY–better than a benzodiazepine alone. Beta-blockers, like Inderal, work by "blocking" some adrenaline (epinephrine) so you’re not is a "fight or flight" stressed-out mode. After I took it (40 mg one hour before boarding), my heart rate was approximately 68 and I felt 100% relaxed. For short term use, this is the ONLY med I would suggest provided you do not have low blood pressure or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Sometimes, the stress of a panic attack is more powerful than the "relief" you may feel from Ativan. Also, Ativan will remain in your system for quite a few hours and may make you unstable if you will be driving after you reach your destination. Same can be said about a beta-blocker, but through personal and professional experience, the only thing I’d use when encountering a phobia, is a beta-blocker….Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
you should google this please using the exact spelling of the brand
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Ativan is quite effective. I wouldn’t worry.
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I was on Ativan for awhile AND even flew several times. It worked for me.
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Personal Experience
Yes it will work. Lorazepam is good for controlling panic attacks as it will make you very relaxed and probably quite sleepy too. Make sure you don’t mix it with alcohol and you’ll be fine. Also, depending how long your flight is, you may not be able to drive when you land. Hope you get on ok.
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Personal experience!
Yes, it will work in you situation. It can make you feel drowsy, but the panick atack is worse. You should travel with someone else so if the drug makes you too drowsy there is someone to help you.
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Well to start off taking any drug with out specific orders by a doctor or physician isn’t advised… Now with that said I have taken many things I shouldnt have anyway lol… but Lorazepam can be quite dangerous to year heart! and with higher elevation that may create more of a risk… Now im not a doctor but just fore-warning… but here are somethings i do suggest if you feel like just toughing it out!
10 tips for coping with panic attacks
One: If you feel a panic attack coming on and find you are breathing rapidly, breathe slowly in and out of a brown paper bag or cupped hands.
Although you may feel you can’t catch your breath, you are probably over breathing and taking in too much oxygen – making you feel giddy. A paper bag will help your oxygen levels return to normal.
Two: Change your lifestyle. Take regular exercise – this helps to burn off excessive adrenaline. Avoid cigarettes and alcohol. Eat regular meals and avoid processed foods and drinks, to keep blood sugar levels stable.
Three: Don’t attempt to fight your way out of a panic attack – this will simply increase the adrenaline. Instead accept the feelings will come and go and allow the symptoms to play their tricks as they will. Practise imagining yourself floating over them. Eventually the panic will subside.
Four: Don’t bottle up your emotions. Find someone to confide in, such as a family member, friend or counsellor.
Five: Focus outside of yourself during an attack. Listen to some music or do a pleasurable task while waiting for the panic to subside.
Six: Learn a relaxation technique. First close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply. Locate any areas of tension and imagine them disappearing. Then, relax each part of the body, bit by bit, from the feet upwards. Think of warmth and heaviness. After 20 minutes of doing this, take some deep breaths and stretch.
Seven: Firmly tell yourself that your symptoms are nothing more than an over-sensitised nervous system. They are temporary feelings and are not medically harmful or dangerous.
Eight: Reduce your exposure to unnecessary stress. Be prepared to express your needs to others and assert yourself.
Nine: Look into cognitive behaviour therapy or other "talking treatments". You can find a list of practitioners on the website for the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (www.babcp.com).
10: Join a self-help group. You can find details through the No Panic charity freephone helpline on 0808 8080545. Also check the Mind charity website (www.mind.org.uk) and the NHS Best Treatments website for further help. Also visit http://www.phobics-society.org.uk for more information on anxiety disorders.
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Simple answer: Yes.
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pharmacist
For the short term, benzodiazepine drugs like ativan are extremely effective in stopping panic attacks.
However. Do not use these drugs for more than individual events like flying. The problem is rebound anxiety. After the drug wears off, any anxiety symptoms you have become much worse. Not a problem if you have, say, a phobia of flying that ONLY triggers panic attacks when you try to fly. However, if you have generalized anxiety or random panic attacks, long term use of the drug will cause these to become much worse.
Again, it’s only long term use that is the problem….else ativan would be the treatment of choice for anxiety disorders. Great if you just have a fear of flying.
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Possibly. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine (same class of meds as Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) to name just a couple. I have my doctorate in Pharmacology and also stress out when I fly. My physician and I discussed this and found a one time dose of a BETA-BLOCKER (such as Inderal [propanolol]) would be a great idea. I used it and it worked PERFECTLY–better than a benzodiazepine alone. Beta-blockers, like Inderal, work by "blocking" some adrenaline (epinephrine) so you’re not is a "fight or flight" stressed-out mode. After I took it (40 mg one hour before boarding), my heart rate was approximately 68 and I felt 100% relaxed. For short term use, this is the ONLY med I would suggest provided you do not have low blood pressure or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Sometimes, the stress of a panic attack is more powerful than the "relief" you may feel from Ativan. Also, Ativan will remain in your system for quite a few hours and may make you unstable if you will be driving after you reach your destination. Same can be said about a beta-blocker, but through personal and professional experience, the only thing I’d use when encountering a phobia, is a beta-blocker….Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
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20+ years in the medical field + an an Instructor at a medical school
its a fairly strong narcotic and should work for you. good luck : )
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Thank you so much for your opinion on Will the drug lorazepam (ativan) be helpful in stopping my panic attacks when I fly? | Panic Attacks Cause , I totally agree with you. It is fantastic to see a fresh outlook on this and I look forward to more.