Ativan is a brand name for the prescription medication lorazepam that is used to treat anxiety, depression and other related disorders. Ativan is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines, which include the popularly known drug Valium. These medications work by balancing neurotransmitters or signaling chemicals in the brain that are responsible for moods and emotions, allowing the mind and body to relax. Vitamins also affect neurotransmitter signals in the brain, and deficiencies of certain nutrients can lead to depression and other mood-related imbalances. Consult your doctor about medications and vitamin B-complex supplements to treat symptoms of mental illness.
Step 1
See your family doctor or mental health professional about treatment options for anxiety and depression. Your doctor will prescribe Ativan if it is suitable for your condition. Discuss taking a vitamin B-complex supplement concurrently with this medication.
Step 2
Fill your prescription of Ativan and carefully read the drug information provided by the pharmacist. Take the recommended dosage or 2 to 6 mg per day exactly as prescribed by your doctor. You usually take your daily dosage of Ativan in two or three divided amounts, consuming the largest dose before you go to bed. Your doctor may gradually increase the daily dose to a total of 10 mg depending on your condition and symptoms.
Step 3
Swallow Ativan tablets with a glass of water, with or without food. This medication is available in 0.5, 1 and 2 mg tablets, which should be swallowed whole. Other forms of lorazepam include a liquid concentrate which is diluted in 30 ml or more of water or juice before drinking the medication. Continue taking Ativan at the same times every day, for the duration prescribed by your doctor.
Step 4
Add a vitamin B-complex supplement to your diet. Take this supplement with your breakfast or any time early in the day, as B vitamins help to increase energy levels. You can take this vitamin at the same time as an Ativan dosage if desired. B vitamins such as vitamin B-6, B-12 and folate are important nutrient factors for nerve health and the production of neurotransmitters that affect moods. A deficiency in these vitamins can trigger or exacerbate anxiety and other transient or chronic mental illnesses.
Tips and Warnings
- Doctors also use Ativan to treat insomnia, epilepsy and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Situational anxiety is treated with single doses of this medication as prescribed by a doctor. Take vitamin B-complex supplements as directed on the product label.
- Do not use Ativan if you are allergic to other benzodiazepine medications such as Xanax. Do not use this medication if you are pregnant or nursing. Ativan and other benzodiazepines may be habit-forming; use them exactly as prescribed.
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