Cymbalta and Ativan Drug Interactions

Although combining Ativan and Cymbalta may cause drug interactions, there may be certain situations where a healthcare provider may prescribe these two medications together. However, these medicines should not be combined without your healthcare provider's approval and supervision, as the drug interactions could lead to serious and even life-threatening complications (such as difficulty breathing).

Do Cymbalta and Ativan Interact?

Cymbalta^® (duloxetine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication classified as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Ativan^® (lorazepam) is a prescription benzodiazepine medication. These two medications may potentially interact with each other.

Drug Interactions With Cymbalta and Ativan

Combining Cymbalta and Ativan can be advantageous in some situations. For instance, sometimes both medications are taken at the same time in order to help treat anxiety. The Ativan might be taken temporarily until the Cymbalta begins to start working (which may take a little while).

However, these two medications should be combined cautiously. They are both central nervous system depressants ("CNS depressants"), which means they both slow the activity of the central nervous system, including the brain.

Combining Cymbalta and Ativan may potentially cause too much CNS depression. This could lead to extreme drowsiness, confusion, lethargy, poor coordination, and other such problems. In severe cases, breathing difficulty or other life-threatening problems may also result.

Combining Cymbalta and Ativan

In any case, do not combine Ativan and Cymbalta without your healthcare provider's approval and supervision.

If your healthcare provider recommends that you take these medications together, it is wise to proceed with caution. For instance, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how the combination will affect you. Also, it is a good idea to avoid alcohol while taking Cymbalta and Ativan, as alcohol can make this interaction worse.

At any time, if you feel that you may be experiencing negative, bothersome, or even intolerable effects from a drug interaction, please check with your healthcare provider. Your dosages may need to be adjusted, or your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding this particular combination in your situation.