Anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications contraindicated?

by | Jan 18, 2013 | Columns, Healing Lyme, interactions, The Basics | 3 comments

Dear Stephen,
I am on Lexapro and also take Ativan as needed (depression and anxiety likely due to lyme). Are there any herbs in the book/protocol that are not okay with these medications? I plan to try the core protocol and may have to add in other herbs as needed, but haven’t been able to find any information on whether this is okay. I ask because there may be many others who are on anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications and are afraid to add in all the herbs in case there are interactions of any sort! Thank you!
Stephen’s response:
I have included all the known herb/drug interactions in the book itself. I do not remember any specific contraindications for these drugs but you should review the book and check each herb you are planning on taking and see if there are known interactions. But as I say, I do not remember these as being problematical. Remember, there are other solutions for anxiety that are more natural, and I suggest reading up on the topic.
Stephen

Author

  • Stephen Harrod Buhner

    Stephen Harrod Buhner was an Earth poet and an award-winning author of twenty-four books on nature, indigenous cultures, the environment, and herbal medicine including the acclaimed book Healing Lyme: Natural Healing & Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis & Its Co-infections.

    Stephen came from a long line of healers including Leroy Burney, Surgeon General of the United States under Eisenhower and Kennedy, and Elizabeth Lusterheide, a midwife and herbalist who worked in rural Indiana in the early nineteenth century. The greatest influence on his work, however, was his great-grandfather C.G. Harrod who primarily used botanical medicines, also in rural Indiana, when he began his work as a physician in 1911.

    Stephen’s work has appeared or been profiled in publications throughout North America and Europe including Common Boundary, Apotheosis, Shaman’s Drum, The New York Times, CNN, and Good Morning America. Stephen lectured yearly throughout the United States on herbal medicine, the sacredness of plants, the intelligence of Nature, and the states of mind necessary for successful habitation of Earth.

    He was a tireless advocate for the reincorporation of the exploratory artist, independent scholar, amateur naturalist, and citizen scientist in American society – especially as a counterweight to the influence of corporate science and technology.

    View all posts

This protocol was incredible. After only a few weeks most of my symptoms were gone. After six months all my symptoms were gone… it has given me my life back.

– Amazon review by Joseph

Please note:

Stephen Buhner is no longer living and this Q + A column on Planet Thrive is closed to new questions. It will be kept on our website so readers can access vital information in the archives, communicate with each other in the comments section, and find herbs, books + lyme adjuncts in our directory. If you want to read more of Stephen’s writings, please see his website at: stephenharrodbuhner.com.



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3 Comments

  1. Michelle

    Hi Stephen.

    I am looking to start taking your liquid Lyme protocol version, which is in the green dragon website. 8 oz one. How long can I take this for, 12 months or over? Also, how many teaspoons do I have to take a day?

    Is it also safe to use with antidepressants which I take daily. That’s all I take.

    Thanks.

  2. Laura

    Ativan is a benzodiazepine. This could actually be causing your anxiety especially due to what’s known as interdose withdrawal. My suggestion is read about this class of medications. There are ways to wean off very slowly. Never stop suddenly.

    Everyone knows about opioids and their dangers but benzodiazepines are very debilitating as well.

  3. Tim

    Hi Laura,

    I found this site as I’m about to start the core protocol and was wondering about taking it with Ativan. Do you have any references for safe weaning you could point me to? Thanks!

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