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Ativan & Magnesium Citrate
Lorazepam, sold in the United States under the brand name Ativan, classifies as a benzodiazepine prescription medicine. Your doctor may prescribe it for you to reduce anxiety. Magnesium citrate has a couple of recognized medical uses, including as a mild laxative and to help fight migraine headaches 3. Before you start using a supplement of magnesium supplement with Ativan, you should ask your doctor if it is a good idea. He will make recommendations according to your medical conditions.
Ativan Benefits
Ativan functions as a depressant of your central nervous system, or CNS. It effectively slows down your CNS, MayoClinic.com notes. If you are prone to anxiety above and beyond normal levels, your doctor may prescribe Ativan to help calm you and decrease your anxiety. The medication essentially works as a sedative, so it also may help you sleep when you have trouble doing so because of anxiety.
- Ativan functions as a depressant of your central nervous system, or CNS.
- If you are prone to anxiety above and beyond normal levels, your doctor may prescribe Ativan to help calm you and decrease your anxiety.
Ativan Side Effects
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Ativan, like all benzodiazepine medications, can cause addiction if you use it for a long period. You may become dependent upon the medicine both physically and psychologically, the University of Maryland Medical Center indicates. When you stop taking Ativan, you may experience the same types of withdrawal symptoms that you would if you stopped drinking large amounts of alcohol. You may need to go through detoxification and rehabilitation. Ativan also can make you lethargic and sleepy, two types of side effects considered serious, MayoClinic.com notes. You should query your doctor about these side effects of Ativan if you experience them. Many other side effects of Ativan have been reported, but do not classify as common.
- Ativan, like all benzodiazepine medications, can cause addiction if you use it for a long period.
- Ativan also can make you lethargic and sleepy, two types of side effects considered serious, MayoClinic.com notes.
Magnesium Citrate Benefits
The mineral magnesium has specific duties as part of your normal body function. Drugs.com notes that the mineral helps your nervous system and muscles function normally. As a supplement, magnesium citrate may help to loosen your stools if you have constipation by increasing water levels in your intestines 3. This can decrease the dryness and hardness of your stools and make it easier for you to pass them. MedlinePlus notes that three doses of 610 milligrams of magnesium citrate each day may help to decrease migraine headache severity 3. These doses also may help you to have fewer migraine attacks.
- The mineral magnesium has specific duties as part of your normal body function.
- Drugs.com notes that the mineral helps your nervous system and muscles function normally.
Magnesium Citrate Side Effects
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Magnesium citrate ingestion may cause an exaggerated relief from constipation in the form of diarrhea 3. The substance also can cause stomach discomfort or upset, Drugs.com relates. You may sweat more than normal when you take the supplement, and you may feel as though you are spinning or dizzy. You should ask your doctor about these problems, but you can continue to use magnesium citrate unless the physician recommends stopping 3.
Interactions
Drugs.com states that no interactions between magnesium citrate and Ativan have been reported 13. You still may experience problems when using the two together, so you should note any possible problems and get advice from your physician about them. You may have an interaction no one has yet reported, although this appears unlikely.
Related Articles
References
- Drugs.com: Drug Interaction Results: Ativan and Magnesium Citrate
- MayoClinic.com: Lorazepam (Oral Route); November 2010
- Drugs.com: Magnesium Citrate
- Guerrera MP, Volpe SL, Mao JJ. Therapeutic uses of magnesium. Am Fam Physician. 2009;80(2):157-62.
- Chang J, Mclemore E, Tejirian T. Anal Health Care Basics. Perm J. 2016;20(4):15–222. doi:10.7812/TPP/15-222
- U.S. National Library of Medicine ToxNet. Magnesium Compounds. Updated February 13, 2003.
- University of Connecticut Health. Colonoscopy Preparation Instructions – Magnesium Citrate.
Writer Bio
Carole Anne Tomlinson is a registered nurse with experience in rehabilitation, nutrition, chemical dependency, diabetes and health problems related to the elderly. Tomlinson holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and is presently working on her master's degree in nursing. Her screenplays have been viewed by Merchant Ivory, Angela Lansbury and Steven King's associates.