What Does Lorazepam Treat and What Is It?
A benzodiazepine is lorazepam.
It is authorized for the treatment of status epilepticus (constant seizures), anxiety, insomnia, or sleep difficulties brought on by worry or stress, and as a drug administered just before anesthesia.
However, alcohol withdrawal may also be treated with benzodiazepines.
When a person suffers excessive anxiety or concern for at least six months, they are said to have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Additional signs include:
• Restlessness
• Fatigue (poor energy, feeling weary all the time) (low energy, feeling tired all the time)
• difficulty paying attention
• Irritability
• tense muscles
• sleep disruption (difficulty falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night)
What Is The Most Important Information Regarding Lorazepam That I Should Know?
You may notice that you feel sleepy or dizzy while taking this drug, so don't drive a vehicle or operate equipment until you know how it affects you.
Anxiety or sleeplessness may go better quickly or gradually after taking lorazepam.
Benzodiazepines, like lorazepam, are often used only temporarily.
Even when taken as advised, they may result in emotional and/or physical reliance (addiction).
Your doctor will determine how long you need to take the medication after hearing from you.
Do not discontinue taking lorazepam without first consulting your doctor.
The following withdrawal symptoms from lorazepam usage include difficulty sleeping, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, nausea, tremors, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, and seizures.
When dose is reduced, withdrawal symptoms might occur for any cause.
When lorazepam is used with pharmaceuticals like opiate painkillers, it may have fatal adverse effects include delayed breathing and respiratory difficulties.
Opioid pharmaceuticals, which include prescription painkillers like codeine, oxycodone, and morphine as well as illicit substances like heroin, are used to alleviate pain.
Cough syrup also contains certain opioid drugs.
Get medical help right away if you have lightheadedness, drowsiness, slow or labored breathing, or if you pass out when taking lorazepam together with an opioid medicine.
If a patient doesn't speak or doesn't wake up, caregivers need to seek medical assistance straight away.
While using this drug, stay away from alcohol.
Are There Particular Worries Regarding Lorazepam And Pregnancy?
Inform your healthcare practitioner if you want to get pregnant so they can appropriately manage your medication.
People with anxiety disorders who want to become pregnant must make crucial choices about the risks and benefits of using benzodiazepines during pregnancy.
Low birth weight and early delivery are made more likely by lorazepam.
Other possible side effects include "floppy infant syndrome" and neonatal withdrawal.
It's crucial to talk about this with your doctor and any other caretakers.
Since lorazepam does enter breast milk, care is suggested during nursing.
What Questions Should I Address With My Doctor Before Taking Lorazepam?
Your condition's symptoms that upset you the most
- Medications you have previously taken for your problem, whether they were successful or had any negative side effects, whether you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
- Discuss any adverse effects you encounter with your healthcare practitioner if you take medicine.
- While some side symptoms may go away with time, others can call for drug adjustments.
- Any other psychological or physical conditions you may have, such as obstructive sleep apnea
- Any pharmaceutical allergies you may have, along with any other medicines you are presently taking (including over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, and dietary supplements).
- You also get other non-medication treatments, such talk therapy or drug rehab.
- How these various therapies interact with the drug may be discussed with your doctor.
- Those who are older or prone to falling
- If you are nursing or want to get pregnant
- If you take drugs or alcohol
The best way to take lorazepam is.
You may take lorazepam with or without meals.
In the event that you have an upset stomach, take with meals.
Every day at set times, or on a "PRN" basis, lorazepam may be taken.
The maximum amount of dosages you should take in a day will often be prescribed by your healthcare professional.
Based on your answer, your healthcare professional will choose the dosage and method of drug administration that is best for you.
Liquid lorazepam should be measured using an oral syringe or dosage spoon, both of which are available from your pharmacist.
You may use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your prescription if you take it daily rather than just "as required".
To make sure you are taking your prescription, you may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you.
What Happens If I Forget To Take A Lorazepam Dose?
If you forget to take a dosage of lorazepam, do so right away unless it is almost time for your next dose.
Consult your healthcare practitioner about this.
Do not take more than what is recommended or double your subsequent dosage.
What Affects Lorazepam Use Should I Avoid?
When using lorazepam, stay away from alcohol and illicit substances.
They might lessen the medication's positive effects (like making your illness worse) and raise its negative effects (like drowsiness).
Accidental overdoses from drugs like lorazepam are more likely when alcohol is used.
What Takes Place If I Take Too Much Lorazepam?
Dial 911 or your doctor if there has been an overdose.
You could require immediate medical attention.
The poison control hotline's number is 1-800-222-1222.
Confusion, poor coordination, sluggish reflexes, unconsciousness, and death are all signs of overdosing.
There is a particular medication that may be used to counteract lorazepam's effects.
Flumazenil, a medication that may counteract the effects of lorazepam, must be administered via an IV at a medical facility.
Your need for this drug can only be determined by a doctor.
What Potential Lorazepam Side Effects Exist?
typical adverse consequences
- Feeling lightheaded, groggy, tired, or dizzy
- Deficiencies in coordination and attention span
If you start taking lorazepam and start to experience these adverse effects, they usually become better within the first week or two as you keep taking the drug.
Consult your healthcare practitioner if side effects persist or become bothersome.
uncommon or severe side effects
- breathing difficulties, speech difficulties, extreme exhaustion, dizziness, or fainting.
- symptoms such as an elevated heart rate, headache, memory loss, irritability, and restlessness
- Some users of benzodiazepines have significant allergic reactions including facial edema.
- This may start to happen right after the first dosage.
- Some persons who use benzodiazepines for sleep have engaged in activities including driving while sleeping or just partially awake, making phone calls, and preparing or eating meals while awake but not totally awake.
- When they awaken, the people have no recollection of the incidents.
- signs of depression or poor mood, suicidal or self-harming thoughts, or loss of interest in life.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Long-Term Lorazepam Use?
When used as prescribed, lorazepam is a safe and efficient drug.
Even when taken as directed, benzodiazepines may cause emotional and/or physical dependency (addiction).
After two or more weeks of daily usage, physical dependency may develop.
Long-term usage of the drug raises the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms after terminating treatment with lorazepam.
What Additional Drugs Might Interact With Lorazepam?
Other benzodiazepine drugs should not be administered with lorazepam.
When taking lorazepam with other drugs that also make people drowsy, care should be used since lorazepam makes people drowsy.
- These could consist of:
- such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), are antihistamines.
- Benzodiazepines such as morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin®), and hydrocodone (Vicodin® and Lortab®) are used to treat pain.
- Codeine cough syrup and other opioid cough medicines
- sleeping pills like zolpidem (Ambien®).
- Tricyclic antidepressants, additional anti-anxiety drugs, drugs to treat schizophrenia, certain anticonvulsants, and others (such as amitriptyline)
How Long Does Lorazepam Take To Work?
Anxiety or sleeplessness may become better quickly after taking lorazepam, over a few days, or even only a few hours after the initial dosage.
FDA Black Box Warnings Summary
According to the FDA, benzodiazepine medicines, such as lorazepam, when combined with opioids or other sedative pharmaceuticals may cause major adverse effects, including breathing difficulties or even death.
Patients who are taking opioids together with benzodiazepines, other sedative drugs, or alcohol, as well as those who are caring for them, should get urgent medical help if they develop extraordinary lightheadedness or dizziness, excessive drowsiness, slow or labored breathing, or become unresponsive.
Because it is a benzodiazepine, lorazepam has the potential of abuse, overuse, and dependence.
With continued usage of the drug, lorazepam may lead to physical dependency.
When quitting lorazepam, a withdrawal response might happen, however this risk can be minimized by gradually lowering the dosage.
Never suddenly stop taking lorazepam, and never modify your treatment without first talking to your doctor.