| Note |
a mixed syndrome. When drug intervention is indicated in patients whose anxiety is accompanied by depressive symptoms, the choice, essentially, is among three basic strategies: 1. an antidepressant. 2. a tranquilizer. 3. a combination of 1 and 2. with respect to strategy 2, you should know that ativan (lorazepan) has been shown to be statistically and clinically significantly effective in alleviating the anxiety component of this mixed syndrome, in common protocol controlled studies of 653 patients (337 on Ativan). Since ativan was also found to be compatible with tricyclics, if you opt for this strategy (3) your patient has the benefit of rapid anxiolytic action, absence of long-acting metabolites, and rapid clearance when you decide to discontinue ativan. All benzodiazepines, however, including ativan produce added CAN depressant effects when administered with alcohol and other CNS depressants. In either case, Ativan offers you the convenience of a b.i.b schedule and a flexibility not possible with any fixed combination |
