can I drive a tractor trailer while taking ativan for generalized anxiety disorder?

I am not going to argue with all of the Dr. Phil wannabe's on here, these are the Facts.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=391.41
OP may want to discuss #9 in private with his Doctor instead of on an open forum, just my opinion, I am not judging.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/1308.11
That is a list of banned substances, Ativan is not listed, and as long as he does not exceed the prescribed amount he will be LEGAL, however I am not a Doctor and do not have any idea if he is SAFE. I am not qualified to make that determination.

 

I'll ditto the positive and helpful sentiments and add: I would recommend having a long conversation with your therapist or psychiatrist or whomever prescribed you the medicine because of another issue than just driving while taking it. That's the long term YOU issue. What the company and CDL school recruiters DON'T tell you about is the stress, anxiety and loneliness that goes with your first year in trucking as a student, then a trainee then a rookie. It's a very mentally and emotionally demanding job and even more so in the beginning. They don't tell you about that part when they're selling you on this cool career and it really isn't for everyone. You can adapt and have a great career but share the conditions you will be under with your therapist so you can deal with what is to come before it surprises you and puts you further behind. Hopefully you are getting some therapy for the underlying condition to go along with the medication and given the demands that will be placed on you as a new driver you'll want to incorporate some additional coping mechanisms working with your medical professional. He (or she) needs to know what's ahead for you so you two can come to the fullest and best treatment plan for you. Having an episode at home is bad enough. Imagine being all alone in the small space of your truck, in a parking lot full of strangers a thousand miles from home. It can be handled but it's best to think ahead and involve your mental health professional from the get go so that situation doesn't happen. Best of luck to you.

 

Good luck whatever you do

 

The issue that is being faced is not that it is a banned drug or not. We have to consider what the company will decide and their insurance company.

Contacting your doctor is one of the steps, but the trucking company can choose to be stricter than the banned list. Especially with a new driver and no history.

 

Rugerfan, the fact that you call ativan "anti-psychotic" med while saying you know something about it shows exactly how much you dont know. And "being a man" and having a mental illness have nothing to do w each other.

Like telling someone with cancer to "just quit having cancer and be a man"

You should really educate yourself...or keep posting and showing the world how ignorant you are

 

Dude I didn't say anti-psychotic anywhere in my post im not quite sure where you got that from

 

I am a driver as well as a nurse(LPN). You passed 1 physical. got permission from all of your doctors. After you get your CDL, you go to a company with no gaurantee that you will have a job until you have passed another physical, drug screen (urine and possible hair sample), driving test and any questioning the company's safety dept will have. Get a letter from all of your docs of what they treat you for and that they give their permission for you to drive a commercial motor vehicle and make copies giving 1 to the company and 1 for yourself for roadside inspections. DOT finds that drug in your truck and without those letters and a script from your docs your short career will be ruined. Not trying to scare you but give the info you need. I do not take a controlled substance but have a medical issue that has given me problems with the process. Good Luck to you.

 

calm down there bud, the guy asked a question. No need to be an ###


edit -

good luck to you OP. Id probably rather you be on the road than some of these guys who are two trips to the truck stop buffet from falling into a diabetic coma while driving.

 

You can attack the post, but not the poster. Read the forum rules.

He is entitled to an opinion whether you like it or not.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy

OP, I would highly recommend speaking to your personal physician about setting up an appointment with a therapist who practices CBT. I too used to take Ativan/Lorazepam (1mg - as needed) for Panic Attacks, in fact I probably have a few pills lying around the house somewhere. I also used to take Cipralex (10mg) as a once-daily dosage. Speaking from personal experience I have brought Ativan on the road with me before, through Canadau/US borders (in properly labelled prescription bottles) and used the medication while on trips. I've never had to use Ativan while driving, and while I can only speak from personal experience here, I would have felt completely safe if I was operating my truck while taking the medication.

Ativan is used as a short-term medication to relieve the sufferer of fear and anxiety, amongst other uses. For those who have never experienced a full onset panic attack before, it is a hellish experience that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. I won't get in to details but you can Google the symptoms if you are interested, even one can be a life-changing experience for the worst. Ativan is great for relieving that suffering and bringing the person back to an altered state of normalcy. The inherent problem with the drug is that is does not solve the anxiety issue at hand. Being a benzodiazepine drug, it also has the potential for dependency and withdrawal symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy will address the underlying issues at hand. I figured out quite quickly what my "trigger/triggers" were that set the anxiety in motion at the age of 24, hereditary genetics being one of them. CBT will help you formulate positive thoughts and try to encourage you to change your whole mindframe about what is happening to you. Instead of worrying about when your next panic attack might be, CBT will encourage you to embrace your mental health, your wellness and your anxiety in general. It will enlighten you to realize that anxiety won't hurt you, and symptoms are usually gone within 15-25 minutes.

Mental illness still has quite a large stigma surrounding it, but believe me, there are millions and millions of people suffering each day around you. It could be the cashier at the fuel desk, the LEO giving you a level 1 or your dispatcher pushing you to run harder and harder. It's nothing to be ashamed of and makes you no less of a person than anyone else. Though my experience is still a work-in-progress, I feel 100% better about my general health today compared to three years ago when it first began. It was a struggle getting here, no doubt about it. But you're only as sick as the secrets you keep. Be open, stay positive and you'll get there. Don't give up on a career before it even begins. I have faith in you. Look inside yourself and you'll see it too.