Lorazepam: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What drug lorazepam?

What is lorazepam for?

Lorazepam is a drug with a function to treat anxiety. Lorazepam belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines that act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. This medication works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).

OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this medication that are not listed on labels approved by a professional, but may be prescribed by your healthcare professional. Use this medication for the conditions listed in this section if only it has been prescribed by your healthcare professional.

If directed by your doctor, this medication may also be used to reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and trouble sleeping (insomnia).

The lorazepam dosage and side effects of lorazepam are detailed below.

How is lorazepam used?

Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition, age, and response to treatment.

If recommended by your doctor, use this medication regularly for the most benefit. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.

This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses (more than 1-4 weeks) or if you have a history of alcoholism, substance abuse, or personality disorders. Symptoms of withdrawal (such as seizures, difficulty sleeping, mental / mood changes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, hallucinations, numbness / tingling of the arms and legs, muscle pain, fast heartbeat, short-term memory loss) very high fever, and increased reactions to sound / touch / light) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medicine. To prevent this the doctor can reduce the dose gradually. Report any immediate withdrawal reactions.

Although they are beneficial, they may also be addictive, although they are rare. This risk can be increased if you have abused alcohol or drugs in the past. Take this medication exactly as prescribed to reduce your risk of addiction.

Do not suddenly stop using this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may get worse when the use of this drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually lowered.

When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work well. Talk to your doctor if this medication doesn't work well.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is lorazepam stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Lorazepam dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of lorazepam for adults?

Usual Adult Dose for ICU Agitation: IV, intermittent:

Initial dose: 1-4 mg IV every 10 to 20 minutes to control acute agitation.

Maintenance dose: 1-4 mg IV every 2-6 hours as needed to maintain the desired level of anesthesia.

IV, continuous infusion:

0.01-0.1 mg / kg / day IV to maintain the desired level of anesthesia.

High-dose infusions (greater than 18 mg / hour for more than 4 weeks, or greater than 25 mg / hour over several hours or days) have been associated with tubular necrosis, lactic acidosis and hyperosmolality conditions due to polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol solvents. .

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety:

Oral:

Initial dose: 1 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day.

Maintenance dose: 1-2 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day. The daily dose can vary from 1 to 10 mg / day orally.

IV:

Alternatively, an initial intravenous dose of 2 mg or 0.044 mg / kg, whichever is smaller, may be given.

Usual Adult Dose for Insomnia: 2-4 mg orally at bedtime

Usual Adult Dose for Mild Anesthesia: Premedication for Anesthesia:

IM: 0.05 mg / kg up to a maximum of 4 mg.

IV: 2 mg total, or 0.044 mg / kg, whichever is less.

This dose is usually not used in patients over 50 years of age.

Larger doses as high as 0.05 mg / kg up to a total of 4 mg can be given.

Usual Adult Dose for Nausea / Vomiting: Oral or IV: 0.5-2 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed

Usual Adult Dose for Status Epilepticus: 4 mg / slow IV dose for more than 2 to 5 minutes (maximum rate: 2 mg / minute); may be repeated in 10 to 15 minutes; usual maximum total dose: 8 mg

What is the dose of lorazepam for children?

Usual Children's Dose for Nausea / Vomiting - Induced Chemotherapy: Children: IV: Limited information is available, especially for some doses:

Single dose: 0.04-0.08 mg / kg / dose before chemotherapy (maximum dose: 4 mg)

Multiple doses: Multiple main uses 0.02-0.05 mg / kg / dose (maximum dose: 2 mg) every 6 hours as needed

Usual Children's Dose for Anxiety: Infants and Children: Usual: 0.05 mg / kg / dose (maximum dose: 2 mg / dose) every 4-8 hours; Range: 0.02-0.1 mg / kg

Usual Children's Dose for Anesthetics: Anesthetics (preprocedure): Infants and Children:

Oral, IM, IV: Usual: 0.05 mg / kg; Range: 0.02-0.09 mg / kg

IV: Can use smaller doses (for example, 0.01-0.03 mg / kg) and repeat every 20 minutes, as needed according to the titration to function

Usual Children's Dose for Status Epilepticus: Infants and Children: 0.05-0.1 mg / kg (maximum: 4 mg / dose) slow IV for more than 2 to 5 minutes (maximum rate: 2 mg / minute); can repeat every 10 to 15 minutes if needed.

Adolescents: 0.07 mg / kg (maximum: 4 mg / dose) slow IV for more than 2 to 5 minutes (maximum rate: 2 mg / minute); may be repeated in 10 to 15 minutes if needed; usual maximum total dose: 8 mg.

In what dosage is lorazepam available?

Tablet, Oral: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg

Lorazepam side effects

What side effects can lorazepam have?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: nausea, vomiting, sweating, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using lorazepam and call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Confusion, feelings of depression, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
• Hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;
• Hallucinations; or
• Feelings of dizziness, fainting

Less serious side effects may include:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue;
• Blurred vision
• Sleep problems (insomnia);
• Muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;
• Amnesia or forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating;
• Nausea, vomiting, constipation;
• Change in appetite or
• Skin rash

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Lorazepam Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using lorazepam?

Before using lorazepam,

• • Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lorazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane) Serax), prazepam (Centrax), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), other drugs, or one of the ingredients in Lorazepam tablets. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of ingredients.
  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using. Be sure to mention the following: antihistamines; digoxin (Lanoxin); levodopa (Larodopa, Sinemet); medications for depression, seizures, pain, Parkinson's disease, asthma, colds, or allergies; muscle relaxants; oral contraceptives; probenecid (Benemid); rifampin (Rifadin); sedative; sleeping pills; theophylline (Theo-Dur); sedative; and doctor's valproic acid (Depakene). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects
  • Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma. seizures; or lung, heart, or liver disease.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking lorazepam, call your doctor right away.
  • Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medication if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should take lower doses of lorazepam because higher doses may not be more effective and are more likely to cause serious side effects.
  • If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about using lorazepam.
  • You should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
  • Talk with your doctor about safe use of alcohol during treatment with lorazepam. Alcohol can make the side effects of this drug worse.
  • tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Smoking can decrease the effectiveness of this drug.

Is Lorazepam safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category D according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

It is not known whether lorazepam passes into breast milk or could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Lorazepam Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with lorazepam?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

• Barbiturates such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
• MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
• Medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
• Narcotic drugs such as butorphanol (Stadol), codeine, hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), antalgin (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), naloxone (Narcan) , oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Asendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxvoxamine (Luvox) , imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil)

Can food or alcohol interact with lorazepam?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with lorazepam?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Glaucoma, acute or narrow angle
• Lung disease, severe or
• Sleep disturbance (temporarily stopping breathing while sleeping) - This drug should not be used in patients with this condition.
• Kidney disease - Use with caution. The effect can be increased due to the slow elimination of the drug from the body.
• Lung disease, mild to moderate - Use with caution. Can make this condition worse

Lorazepam overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.