- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
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Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin has been a member of the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College, and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychogenomics. He has served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999.
"With the advent of the genomics and proteomics revolution and the pace of advances in medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
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Question
Lorazepam: Is it addictive?
I suffer from panic attacks, and my psychiatrist has suggested short-term lorazepam. But I'm afraid to take it because of the risk of addiction. Am I right to be concerned?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Lorazepam is a mild sedative that's sometimes used to treat panic disorder. Lorazepam belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines. The short-term use of any benzodiazepine — if closely monitored — typically doesn't lead to significant physical dependence or addiction. However, stopping such a medication after taking it for longer than a few months or so usually requires tapering off the medication to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
It is important to keep in mind that just because your body develops a physical dependence on a drug doesn't mean that you are addicted to it. Addiction is marked by impaired control over the use of the drug, preoccupation with its use, and continued use despite adverse consequences, with or without physical dependence.
If you have a history of addiction or feel that you're somehow vulnerable to addiction, it is best to work with your doctor to select a medication that is less likely to be associated with dependence and addiction and that won't interact with other medications you're taking.
Medication is one treatment option for people with panic disorder. But another effective and often overlooked treatment option is cognitive behavior therapy. If you have a panic disorder, it is important to work with a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety disorders and has experience in managing the use of benzodiazepine medications.
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