Lorazepam Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & more

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Uses

Anxiety can be alleviated with the help of this medicine. The sedative effects of benzodiazepines, of which lorazepam is a member, are the result of the medications’ action on the central nervous system, which includes the brain and the nerves. This medication achieves its therapeutic impact by boosting the activity of a specific naturally occurring molecule found in the body (GABA).

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How to take lorazepam in pill form

Please also see the section labeled Warning.

Before beginning to use lorazepam and whenever you get a refill for an existing prescription, be sure you have read the Patient’s Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist. If you have any questions, you should consult with either your physician or your pharmacist.

Take this drug by mouth as advised by your doctor, either with or without meals. Your age, current medical condition, and how well you are responding to treatment all play a role in determining the appropriate dosage.

Make sure to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your medical professional if you want to reap the full benefits of using it. Utilizing it at the same time(s) each day will assist you in remembering how to operate it.

This prescription, despite the fact that it helps a large number of people, can sometimes lead to addiction. If you have a substance use disorder, such as excessive drug or alcohol use or addiction, your risk may be significantly increased for this condition. To reduce the likelihood of becoming addicted to this drug, it should be taken precisely as directed. Inquire with your primary care physician or your pharmacist for further information.

Do not discontinue the use of this medication all of a sudden without first discussing it with your primary care provider. It is possible that certain conditions will become even more severe if you suddenly stop taking this medication. It’s possible that your current dose needs to be gradually lowered.

It is possible that the effectiveness of this drug will diminish after prolonged use. Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice that this drug is no longer functioning well.

If your situation does not improve or if it gets worse, you should consult your doctor.

Side Effects

It’s possible that you’ll have sleepiness, dizziness, lack of coordination, headache, nausea, blurred vision, change in sexual interest or ability, constipation, heartburn, or a shift in your appetite. Notify your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if any of these side effects continue or become worse.

Keep in mind that the reason your doctor has recommended that you take this medication is that he or she believes that the potential benefits to you outweigh the potential risks of doing so. The majority of persons who take this medicine do not report experiencing any severe adverse effects.

Notify your physician as soon as possible if you experience any rare but serious side effects, such as changes in your mental state or mood (such as hallucinations, depression, or suicidal thoughts), trouble speaking, vision changes, unusual weakness, difficulty walking, memory problems, or signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat).

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any rare but very serious adverse effects, such as yellowing of the eyes or skin, seizures, or slow or shallow breathing. These symptoms may indicate that the medication is no longer working properly.

It’s possible that this tranquilizing medicine might occasionally have the opposite of its typical impact. This opposite impact may cause symptoms such as agitation, impatience, violent conduct, confusion, restlessness, excitement, and talking more than is typical. Notify your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects.

It is quite unusual for this medicine to cause an extremely severe allergic reaction. However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you observe any symptoms of a major allergic response, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms include:

This list of potential adverse effects is not exhaustive in any way. Please consult your physician or pharmacist if you have any side effects that are not listed above.

In the United States, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit their website at www.fda.gov/medwatch to report any adverse effects.

In Canada, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345 to report any adverse effects you experience.

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Precautions

Inform your physician or pharmacist that you are allergic to lorazepam, as well as to any other benzodiazepines (including alprazolam, clonazepam, and diazepam), or if you have any additional allergies before beginning treatment with lorazepam. There is a possibility that this product contains inactive substances, which, if present, could result in allergic responses or other complications. Discuss the matter further with your pharmacist for further information.

Inform your doctor or pharmacist of your complete medical history before beginning treatment with this medication. In particular, make sure to mention any of the following conditions: kidney disease, liver disease, glaucoma, lung/breathing problems (such as sleep apnea), mental/mood disorders (such as depression, psychosis), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such as excessive use of or addiction to drugs or alcohol).

This medication may cause you to feel drowsy, lightheaded, or distort your vision. Drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana (also known as cannabis) can make you feel more lightheaded and sleepy. Do not operate a motor vehicle, any machinery, or engage in any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are able to complete them safely. Steer clear of beverages containing alcohol. If you are a marijuana user, you should consult your primary care physician (cannabis).

Before undergoing surgery, it is important to discuss all of the products you use with your dentist or doctor (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

It’s possible that elderly people are more vulnerable to the negative effects of this medication, particularly the lack of coordination and drowsiness it causes. Drowsiness and a loss of coordination can both contribute to an increased risk of falling. In addition, lorazepam may not have the same soothing impact on elderly people as it does on younger people (see also Side Effects section).

It is possible that this medication will have the opposite soothing effect on children, leading them to become agitated, shake, or experience mental or emotional shifts (such as agitation, and hallucinations).

Inform your physician if you are pregnant or if you want to become pregnant in the near future. While taking lorazepam, you should avoid getting pregnant at all costs. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible about the potential dangers and advantages of doing so. It is possible for lorazepam to harm an unborn child. In the event that you observe signs in your newborn infant, such as slower breathing, difficulties in feeding, or frequent crying, contact the doctor as soon as possible. Consult your doctor for additional details.

This medication can be found in breast milk. Before starting to breastfeed, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

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Interactions

Drug interactions can alter the way in which your prescriptions work or raise the likelihood that you will have major adverse effects. This document does not contain all possible medication interactions. Maintain a list of all the goods you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as herbal remedies, and give it to both your primary care physician and your pharmacist. Without first consulting your physician, you should never alter the dosage of any medication, stop taking any medication, or start taking any new medication.

Clozapine, kava, and sodium oxybate are some examples of products that might interact with this medication (also known as gamma hydroxybutyrate or GHB).

If this drug is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing issues, the chance of serious side effects (such as slow or shallow breathing, and severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased. These adverse effects include slow or shallow breathing, and severe drowsiness/dizziness. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including opioid pain relievers or cough relievers (such as codeine or hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), other drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol or cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines. These medications may interact with the effects of this medication (such as cetirizine, and diphenhydramine).

You should read the labels on all of your medications (such as those meant to treat allergies or coughs and colds) since some of them may contain substances that make you feel sleepy. Talk to your local pharmacist about the proper way to use those products.

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Overdose

Dial 911 if you suspect that someone has overdosed and they are exhibiting serious symptoms such as passing out or having problems breathing. In any other case, you should immediately contact a poison control center. To reach the poison control center for your area in the United States, dial 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents can call a provincial poison control center. Confusion, sluggish reflexes, clumsiness, deep slumber, and loss of consciousness are some of the symptoms that can occur with an overdose.

Notes

Alterations to one’s lifestyle, such as beginning a stress reduction program, can help this medication work better for its intended purpose. Talk to your primary care physician or your pharmacist about making adjustments to your lifestyle that could be beneficial to you.

It is imperative that you do not provide this medication to anyone else. It is against the law to give it away.

Tests in the laboratory and/or examinations by a doctor (such as blood counts and liver function tests) should be carried out on a regular basis in order to track your improvement and identify any potential adverse reactions. Consult your doctor for additional details.

Neglected Dose

If you are required to take more than one dose per day, you should avoid taking the missed dose if it is getting close to the time for the following dose. Instead, you should skip the dose you missed. Your next dose should be taken at the typical time. It is not necessary to double the dose in order to catch up. If you are supposed to take it once a day before bed and you forget to do so, you should not take it the following morning. Make sure to get in touch with your primary care physician for advice.

Storage

Keep at room temperature and away from light and moisture. Store at room temperature. Keep away from the bathroom at all costs. Always make sure that children and animals are kept well away from any medications.

Unless you have been specifically told to do so, you should not flush drugs down the toilet or pour them down a drain. When it is no longer needed or has passed its expiration date, dispose of this product in the appropriate manner. Talk to your neighborhood pharmacy or the firm that handles garbage disposal in your area.