Effectiveness of Lorazepam & It’s Dosage, Side Effects

Lorazepam must be taken by the person to whom it was prescribed for as it might be habit-forming. When you use this habit-forming medicine wrongly it may cause overdose or addiction and even death. Lorazepam must not be shared with any other person particularly with someone who has a record of drug abuse or addiction. Always put the medication in a safe and secured place where others will not reach to it.

Lorazepam is associated with a division of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Lorazepam effectively influences chemicals of the brain that is unbalanced in individuals suffering from anxiety.

• Lorazepam is used for effective treatment of anxiety disorders.
• You must not take lorazepam if you have an allergy to Valium or a similar medicine or if you have myasthenia gravis or glaucoma narrow-angle.
• Do not take lorazepam if you are carrying a baby. Lorazepam can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms or birth defects in a newborn.
• You should not use lorazepam in case you are pregnant. This medication can cause defects during the child birth or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn child.
• Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited while taking lorazepam. It can enhance the alcohol effects.

It is hazardous to buy lorazepam from the vendors outside US or through the internet. The medications that are distributed via internet sales might contain hazardous ingredients or might not be sold by a pharmacy with license. The distribution and sale of lorazepam outside US do not fulfill the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) regulations for using this medication safely.

It is not advisable to take lorazepam if one has:

• Myasthenia gravis;
• Glaucoma narrow-angle; or
• A record of any benzodiazepine allergic reaction like diazepam (valium), clonazepam, chlordiazepoxide, flurazepam.

In order to ensure lorazepam is safe to use, inform your physician if one has:

• Epilepsy or seizures;
• Alcoholic or general liver disease or a kidney disease;
• Any breathing disorder or asthma;
• Glaucoma open-angle;
• A record of suicidal thoughts or depression;
• A record of alcohol addiction or drug or
• In case you are using another narcotic medicine.
• You must not use lorazepam in case you are pregnant.

Lorazepam can cause defects during child birth. There are chances of your baby becoming dependent on lorazepam as well. This can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in the baby. The babies that are dependent on this habit-forming medicine might require treatment for numerous weeks. Inform your physician if you are planning to become pregnant or if you are pregnant. It is advisable to use good birth control measures for preventing pregnancy when you take lorazepam.

Lorazepam can create problems to a baby by passing through breast milk. Breast-feeding is prohibited when using lorazepam.

For anyone less than eighteen years of age, lorazepam is not permitted.

In older adults, the sleep effects of lorazBeginningepam might last longer. In older adults who use benzodiazepines, accident falls are most common. You must be cautious in order to avoid any accidental injury or accidental falls when taking lorazepam.

Standard Adult Dosage of Lorazepam for Anxiety:

Tablets:

• Beginning dosage: 2-3 milligrams per day orally given 2-3 times / day
• Maintenance dosage: 1-2 milligrams orally 2-3 times / day

Parenteral:

• Intravenous OR IV: 2 milligrams total, or 0.044 milligrams/kg, whichever is lesser.
• The everyday lorazepam dosage may vary from 1-10 milligrams per day.
• There has to be a gradual increase in the dosage in order to prevent unfavorable effects
• In case of a higher lorazepam dosage, there has to be an increase in the evening dosage prior to the daytime dosages.
• Anxiety disorders management or for the acute/short-term symptoms relief or anxiety that is associated with depressive symptoms

Standard Adult Dosage for Light Anesthesia:

• IM: 0.05 milligrams/kg up to a highest of 4 milligrams
• Intravenous OR IV: 2 milligrams total, or 0.044 milligrams/kg, whichever is lesser.
• The dosages of other central (CNS) nervous system depressant meds (injectable) must be lessened.
• In order to have the best effect, intramuscular meds has to be given 2 hours prior the operative procedure.
• Narcotic analgesics must be given at their general preoperative time.
• Intravenous OR IV: This dosage should not be increased ordinarily in patients above fifty years of age.
• Intravenous OR IV: Bigger dosages like 0.05 milligrams/kg up to a max of 4 milligrams might be given.
• In order to have an optimum effect, intravenous meds has to be given 15 – 20 minutes before the expected operative procedure.
• Preanesthetic medication in adults causes sedation (drowsiness or sleepiness), relief from anxiety and a reduced capability to remember events related to the surgery day.

Standard Adult Dosage for Status Epilepticus:

• milligrams/kg intravenous OR IV up to 4 milligrams per dosage; might repeat in 5-10 minutes
• Max. lorazepam dosage: 8 milligrams.
• Monitoring the vital signs, maintaining an unhindered airway and the availability of artificial ventilation equipment
• The IM route might be useful when there is no availability or intravenous port
• Treating status epilepticus.

Standard Adult Dosage for Insomnia:

• 4 milligrams given orally at night.
• There has to be a gradual increase in the lorazepam dosage for avoiding unfavorable effects.
• Use: Insomnia management

Standard Geriatric Dosage for Anxiety:

Debilitated or Elderly patients:

• 1- 2 milligrams per day orally (in divided doses)
• There has to be a gradual increase in the lorazepam dosage in order to avoid any unfavorable effects.
• Use: Anxiety disorders management or for the acute/short-term relief of anxiety symptoms or anxiety related to depressive symptoms.

Standard Pediatric Dosage for Anxiety:

12 years and above:

• Beginning dosage: 2-3 milligrams per day given orally 2-3 times / day
• Maintenance dosage: 1-2 milligrams orally 2-3 times / day.
• The everyday dosage of lorazepam may vary from 1 -10 milligrams per day.
• The dose must be gradually increased in order to prevent any kind of unfavorable effects.
• In case of a change to a higher dosage, the evening dosage must be increased in prior to the daytime dosage.
• Use: Anxiety disorders management or for the acute/short-term effective relief of anxiety symptoms or anxiety related to depressive symptoms.

Standard Pediatric Dose for Insomnia:

• 12 years and above: 2 – 4 milligrams of lorazepam given at bedtime orally.
• For Debilitated or elderly patients, an initial dose of 1-2 milligrams/day in separated dosages is recommended.
• When there is an indication of higher dosage, it has to be a gradual increase for avoiding undesirable effects.
• Use: Insomnia management.

If you have any symptoms of lorazepam allergic reaction like the following, you need to get urgent medical help immediately: swelling on your lips, face, throat or tongue.

Contact your physician instantly if you have the below severe side effects of lorazepam:

• Rigorous drowsiness;
• Hurting yourself or suicidal thoughts;
• Strange changes in behavior or mood
• Aggression, confusion, hallucinations;
• Deteriorate sleep problems;
• Sudden feeling of excitement or restless feeling;
• Drooping eyelids, muscle weakness or trouble swallowing;
• Changes in vision; or
• Upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), dark urine.

The side effects of common lorazepam may comprise of the following:

• Drowsiness, dizziness;
• Weakness;
• Indistinct speech, lack of coordination or balance is also a side effect of lorazepam;
• Problems in memory; or
• Unsteady feeling.