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Can Lorazepam Be Taken Along With Ondansetron?
Question: I am currently suffering from severe panic attacks and the only way I have been able to control them is by taking Lorazepam every 4 to 6 hours.I am on hospice and preparing to have both legs below the knee amputated. My hospice nurse wants me to take a whole .5 mg pill however I am affraid to due to all the pain medication I am taking (Oxycodone 45mgs every 4 hours) so I only take 1/2 a lorazepam every 4 hours. I am also taking Ondansetron as needed for nausea and vomiting and I have read somewhere that Ondansetron also works as an anti-depressant or as an SSRI. My question is this; will Ondansetron help me control my panic attacks? Also is it safe to take Ondansetron with Lorazepam and can I take them together? Also how many milligrams of Lorazepam do I need a day in total for a maintenance dose to be effective?
Brief Answer:
It's safe to use Lorazepam with Ondansetron
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing Health Care Magic for your health related queries
Before proceeding to discussion I would like to summarize your history
You are a 39 years old male with medical history of systemic lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Myeloma and bilateral Charcot foot. Currently you are on Prednisone 20, Oxycodone 45 four times a day, Ibuprofen 400 four times for pain. You are also taking Ondansetron for nausea and antihistaminics for nasal problems on PRN basis. You have complaints of severe panic attacks. Hypnosis, Prozac, Buspirone didn't work and instead made anxiety worse. You have been advised to take Lorazepam 0.5 mg on SoS basis every 4-6 hourly, but you are taking 0.25mg
Now coming to discussion-
-Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine medicine. The drug is a safe drug and is free of serious side effects. The drug acts on GABA receptors which are different from opioid receptors on which Oxycodone acts. So as per my opinion there is no need to worry about taking Lorazepam. It is safe to take the drugs together. Take the drugs as per prescription only.
-Ondansetron is an antiemetic drug with central action. The drug also acts on 5-HT3 receptors which is responsible for its anxiolytic action. The drug helps in reducing anxiety but its potency is less than benzodiazepines like lorazepam. It can't be used to abolish severe panic attacks.
-Lorazepam is usually prescribed at 1 mg doses and you have been advised to take 0.5 mg doses. As per my opinion 0.5 mg doses are sufficient to control panic attacks and this dose four times a day is effective to maintain panic Free State.
Discuss with your doctor before making any change in doses. There is no need to fear from Lorazepam it's safe to use.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again for more doubts in follow up question.
It's safe to use Lorazepam with Ondansetron
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing Health Care Magic for your health related queries
Before proceeding to discussion I would like to summarize your history
You are a 39 years old male with medical history of systemic lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Myeloma and bilateral Charcot foot. Currently you are on Prednisone 20, Oxycodone 45 four times a day, Ibuprofen 400 four times for pain. You are also taking Ondansetron for nausea and antihistaminics for nasal problems on PRN basis. You have complaints of severe panic attacks. Hypnosis, Prozac, Buspirone didn't work and instead made anxiety worse. You have been advised to take Lorazepam 0.5 mg on SoS basis every 4-6 hourly, but you are taking 0.25mg
Now coming to discussion-
-Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine medicine. The drug is a safe drug and is free of serious side effects. The drug acts on GABA receptors which are different from opioid receptors on which Oxycodone acts. So as per my opinion there is no need to worry about taking Lorazepam. It is safe to take the drugs together. Take the drugs as per prescription only.
-Ondansetron is an antiemetic drug with central action. The drug also acts on 5-HT3 receptors which is responsible for its anxiolytic action. The drug helps in reducing anxiety but its potency is less than benzodiazepines like lorazepam. It can't be used to abolish severe panic attacks.
-Lorazepam is usually prescribed at 1 mg doses and you have been advised to take 0.5 mg doses. As per my opinion 0.5 mg doses are sufficient to control panic attacks and this dose four times a day is effective to maintain panic Free State.
Discuss with your doctor before making any change in doses. There is no need to fear from Lorazepam it's safe to use.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again for more doubts in follow up question.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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