Lorazepam - Instructions For Use, Indications, Dosage

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Lorazepam

Instructions for use:

1. 1. Pharmacological action
2. 2. Release form
3. 3. Indications for use
4. 4. Contraindications
5. 5. Method of application
6. 6. Side effects
7. 7. Storage conditions

Lorazepam is an anti-anxiety drug used to treat panic attacks, neurosis-like conditions, and various stress-related disorders.

pharmachologic effect

The active substance of Lorazepam has a central muscle relaxant, hypnotic, anxiolytic, sedative, anticonvulsant and antiemetic effect.

Lorazepam is a medium-acting medication that is used to treat panic attacks and to reduce anxiety. Lorazepam, according to the instructions, is not effective in acute delusional, hallucinatory, affective disorders, and in the treatment of psychotic disorders such as depression or associated anxiety, it is not recommended to use it as the main drug.

Long-term use of Lorazepam can lead to tolerance and a gradual decrease in effectiveness, as well as the development of drug dependence and addiction.

Release form

Lorazepam is available in the form of a solution for intravenous or intramuscular administration in 2 ml ampoules containing 4 or 8 mg of the active ingredient, as well as in the form of tablets of 0.5, 1, 2 and 2.5 mg.

The drugs Loram, Lorafen and Merlit are analogues of Lorazepam and contain the same active ingredient.

Indications for use of Lorazepam

According to the instructions Lorazepam should be used for:

• Sleep disorders that are caused by anxiety or a short-term stressful situation;
• Epilepsy and status epilepticus, most often as part of combination therapy;
• Psychoactive states and phobias;
• Emotional reactive states;
• Psychosomatic disorders and headaches with respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and other diseases of internal organs;
• Endogenous psychoses, including manic and catatonic states, as well as states of anxiety and excitement in schizophrenia;
• Panic disorder;
• Acute alcoholic delirium;
• Neuroses and neurosis-like conditions;
• Symptomatic convulsive conditions.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of Lorazepam according to the instructions are:

• Closed-angle glaucoma;
• Myasthenia gravis;
• Acute alcohol intoxication;
• Acute intoxication with psychotropic drugs;
• Hypersensitivity to lorazepam or other components of the drug.

Lorazepam in any dosage form should not be used during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, and during breastfeeding. The drug in the form of tablets is prescribed from the age of 12, in the form of a solution for injection - from the age of 18.

In addition, Lorazepam should be used with caution when:

• Suspected angle-closure glaucoma and sleep apnea;
• Epilepsy;
• Porphyrias;
• Renal dysfunction;
• Hyperkinesis;
• Psychosis;
• Shock;
• Organic brain diseases;
• Coma;
• Severe depression;
• Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
• Hypoproteinemia.

Method of application of Lorazepam

For adults, Lorazepam is usually prescribed in a daily dose of 2 mg, divided into 3 doses. In this case, half of the daily dose is recommended to be taken in the morning and afternoon, and the other half - immediately before bedtime.

Depending on the symptoms, the dosage of Lorazepam may vary:

• In neurological practice - 1 mg up to 3 times a day;
• To relieve excitement, 2 mg of Lorazepam are used in the form of intravenous injections.

The maximum daily dose for oral administration is 10 mg, for intramuscular and intravenous administration, a single dose should not exceed 4 mg of Lorazepam.

With a sharp withdrawal of Lorazepam, withdrawal syndrome may develop, which manifests itself as:

• Insomnia;
• Increased anxiety;
• Shiver;
• Irritability and increased reaction to auditory, tactile or light stimuli;
• Gastrointestinal disorders;
• Excitation;
• Headache and muscle pain;
• Convulsions and psychotic conditions.

Care should be taken with the simultaneous use of Lorazepam with drugs that have a depressing effect on the central nervous system, and with ethanol-containing drugs, since such a combination of drugs can lead to the development of aggressiveness, psychomotor agitation and pathological intoxication. It should also be borne in mind that nicotine reduces the activity of Lorazepam.

Side effects of Lorazepam

According to the instructions, Lorazepam rarely causes side effects and, judging by the reviews, the therapy carried out by the drug is usually well tolerated. The most common side effects include:

• Central nervous system, in the form of increased fatigue, muscle weakness, ataxia, dizziness, amnesia;
• Digestive system manifested as constipation, dry mouth, nausea, appetite and liver function disorders, dysphagia, diarrhea.

Also, the use of Lorazepam can lead to changes in the peripheral blood picture and cause minor allergic reactions in the form of itching and skin rash. According to reviews, the most likely local reactions with intravenous administration include venous thrombosis and phlebitis.

Most often, undesirable side effects during therapy with Lorazepam are observed at the beginning of treatment or when the recommended doses of the drug are exceeded.

Storage conditions

Lorazepam belongs to list B drugs with an expiration date of 36 months. It is dispensed only by medical prescription.

Information about the drug is generalized, provided for informational purposes only and does not replace the official instructions. Self-medication is hazardous to health!