AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Question Hello Dr.
My name is Amy. I suffer from Generalized anxiety disorder and have from the age of seven, and I am now twenty three. I have no insurance and am traveling with my fiance for his work, I have been taking paxil for about ten years now and for some reason has stopped working. I am now having severe panic attacks and am fearful to leave my apartment. I am trying to get back home to Oregon where my mother can aid me financially in getting treatment but I am all the way in Houston TX right now. My fiance and I are going home for Christmas, but I am so fearful of driving I don't know if I am going to make it. My question is my mother is planing on sending me some ativan to make the drive, but I wanted to make sure that Paxil and ativan do not have any bad interactions. I know I shouldn't take anything without a doctors prescription, but I don't know what else to do this is my only hope of making home without completely losing it. I take 40 mg of paxil daily by mouth. Thankyou for help and time.
Answer Dear Amy
Please do not take Ativan and if you are driving or even helping to drive this as it can severely affect your concentration and alertness. In Australia it can be illegal to drive and take such drugs. If you are not driving it may help you in the short term but in the long term it could make matters considerably worse as it is addictive and can potentially increase the severity of depressive states. I have driven from Dallas to Calgary (and back) on my own, which must be a similar distance so get your boyfriend to do all the driving. I would not stop taking the Paxil until you get to Oregon and see a psychiatrist if possible for further advice and help.
