Expert: Eric Brandt - 12/8/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello Eric,

My name is Amy. I have suffered from  Generalized anxiety disorder since the age of seven, and I am now 23. From age 12 I have been taking 20 mg of Paxil for my disorder and panic attacks. Two years ago my doctor thought because I had not had any symptoms of my disorder since the age of 12 that I may of grown out of my disorder and he wanted to wean me off my paxil. Well come to find out I still suffered from Generalized anxiety disorder, so he put me back on 20 mg of paxil. For some reason it had stopped working for me so he upped my dose to 40 mg daily. Well it felt like it was beginning to work and right around that same time my fiance and I were planning on leaving due to him getting a promotion and now his job required him to travel. I talked to my doctor and he told me I should be fine and he knew the paxil was going to work for me. Well about two months after me leaving Salem OR the paxil just stopped working for the most part. I am now in Houston TX and cant travel anymore, my fiance is going to take me home very soon where my mother can financially help me me to get the help I need, because right now I have no insurance and my fiance does not make enough money to send me to a psychiatrist and pay out of pocket.I am so sorry for the length of this question but in order to understand where I am coming from I think you will need a back story, and it hard to explain in short. December 19th my fiance is going to drive me home, due to the fact that I am not capable of driving without major panic attacks, and I am all the way in Houston TX, and my Mom is in Salem Oregon. I have serious panic attacks when I am in a car and travel far distances and it is horribly unbearable. My question is I called my doctor up in Salem and he said there is nothing he can do until I get up there, but I am not going to make it home if I don't take something. My mother and I are very close and she is so worried, my father takes ativan to help with his insomnia, and my mother is going to send me some. I need to know if it is safe to take Ativan and Paxil together just for the length of the drive to get me there in one piece, I understand it is addicting and you should not drive while taking it, which I am not going to do. But I need something or I am going to have a mental breakdown on the road. Thankyou in advance I really appreciate it, and I am sorry about the length once again.

 Regards,
 Amy Smith

ANSWER: Hi Amy,
You may take Ativan to help you get over the panic attack even though you are taking Paxil. But do not even consider gettig behind the steering wheel of the car.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok great, thankyou. Now what should I start out on with the Ativan, I know a small dose, but my mom is sending me the liquid and I want to be sure I dont take to much. There is probably directions but whats your expert opinion?

Answer
Hi Amy,
I did not know Ativan is available in oral liquid form. We only have oral tablets, sublingual tablets and injection here.
I would start with 0.5 mg and adjust the dose according to the response. That assuming you are of average size.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm