Lorazepam Concentrate: Uses, indications and precautions when using

This is an automatically translated article.

Lorazepam Concentrate is a medication used to treat anxiety disorders. When taking the drug, patients need to strictly follow the instructions for use and the advice of the doctor to achieve the best effect.

1. What does Lorazepam do?

What does Lorazepam treat? Lorazepam belongs to a class of benzodiazepines that work on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) and is used to treat anxiety. It works by improving the effects of a natural chemical in the body (GABA).

2. Indications / contraindications to the use of Lorazepam Concentrate

2.1 Designation

Treatment of anxiety, short-term treatment of insomnia and in intermittent seizures; Use as a pre-anesthetic; Used in antiemetic regimens to control nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

2.2 Contraindications

People with hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines and to solvents prepared for injection such as benzyl alcohol, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol; Patients with acute narrow-angle glaucoma.

3. Dosage and usage

Read the instructions for use carefully before you start taking Lorazepam. If there are any questions, the patient should seek medical advice; Lorazepam Concentrate is liquid. When using, use a special medicine dropper to measure the exact amount of medicine prescribed by the doctor. Patients can mix the medicine with a little juice, water, apple sauce or pudding, stir well and use immediately. Do not have medicine ready for later doses. Dosage of Lorazepam is indicated based on the medical condition, age and response to treatment of each patient. Patients should take the drug according to the doctor's advice to get the best treatment effect. The medicine should be taken at the same time every day; If the drug is abruptly stopped, the patient may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, trouble sleeping, mood swings, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hallucinations, numbness in hands and feet, muscle pain, heart palpitations, short-term memory loss, high fever, increased response to noise/exposure/light,... To prevent this risk, your doctor will reduce your dose from words for the patient. Withdrawal symptoms may occur in patients who use Lorazepam regularly for a long time (1-4 weeks), in high doses, or in patients with a history of alcoholism, drug use or personality disorders. . The doctor should be informed immediately if the patient experiences withdrawal symptoms; Drugs can be addictive. The risk of addiction is higher for people with stimulant use disorders (alcohol, drug addicts). Taking Lorazepam exactly as prescribed can reduce the risk of dependence. The patient can ask the doctor for more details; Do not suddenly stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor, because some medical conditions can be aggravated if the patient stops taking the medicine suddenly. Patients need to reduce the dose gradually; When you have been using the drug for a long time, it may no longer be effective. Patients need to inform the doctor if the effect of the drug is no longer as before; Patients should inform their doctor if their health problems do not improve or even get worse.

4. Undesirable effects

Some unwanted side effects that may occur when taking Lorazepam are as follows:
Mild: Drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, changes in sexual ability, constipation, heartburn, changes in appetite,... If these side effects persist or worsen, the patient should notify the doctor immediately; Severe: Mental changes (hallucinations, depression, thoughts of suicide), slurred speech, difficulty speaking, vision changes, unusual weakness, difficulty walking, mental problems Remember, signs of infection (fever, persistent sore throat, etc.). When experiencing the above symptoms, the patient should immediately notify the doctor; Very serious: Yellow eyes or skin, seizures, slow/shallow breathing. These are rare but very dangerous side effects, need to take the patient to the emergency room immediately; Serious allergic reactions: Rash, severe dizziness, itching or swelling (especially in the face, tongue, throat), difficulty breathing,... These reactions are very rare and when detected, the patient should be taken to the hospital. go to the emergency room immediately. Warning: Using Lorazepam Concentrate in combination with opioid medications (such as codeine, hydrocodone) can increase your risk of serious side effects, including death. To reduce the risk of this condition, the doctor should prescribe the patient the smallest dose of Lorazepam, taken for the shortest possible time. If any serious side effects such as slow/shallow breathing, unusual lightheadedness, severe drowsiness or dizziness, difficulty waking up, etc. occur, the patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately.

5. Be careful when using Lorazepam

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to Lorazepam or other benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, or if you have any other allergies. In addition, the patient should inform the doctor about any medical history, especially liver disease, kidney disease, glaucoma, lung or breathing problems (sleep apnea), disorders psychiatric (depression, psychosis), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (alcohol or drug abuse);
Lorazepam may cause dizziness, drowsiness or blurred vision. Alcohol or stimulants can also make you more dizzy or drowsy. Therefore, patients should not drive or operate machinery that requires alertness or clear vision until they can safely do the above. At the same time, avoid the use of alcoholic beverages, stimulants. In addition, the patient needs to pay attention to the following:
Before surgery, the patient needs to inform the doctor about the drugs he is using; Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of Lorazepam, especially loss of coordination and drowsiness. In addition, it is possible that drug use does not reduce anxiety in the elderly. It can even have the opposite effect such as mood swings, trouble sleeping, hallucinations or increased sexual interest, loss of coordination, drowsiness, etc., increasing the risk of falls; When using Lorazepam for children, it may not be effective in reducing anxiety. It can even cause side effects such as agitation, tremors or hallucinations; The drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy because it can harm the unborn baby. If you notice unusual symptoms in your baby such as slow breathing, difficulty feeding, constant crying, you should immediately notify your doctor; Lorazepam can pass into the milk ducts, so a woman taking this medicine should consult her doctor before breast-feeding.

6. Drug interactions

Drug interactions can change how a drug works or increase the risk of serious side effects. Some things to keep in mind include:
Inform the doctor about all the medicines that the patient is taking. Also, do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor's approval; Some drugs that can interact with Lorazepam include: clozapine, kava, sodium oxybate; There is an increased risk of serious side effects including dizziness, excessive sleepiness, slow/shallow breathing, etc. if Lorazepam is combined with medicines that can cause drowsiness or breathing problems. Therefore, it is important to inform the doctor if the patient is taking opioid pain relievers, cough suppressants (codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol, sleep and anti-anxiety medications (alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem). carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), antihistamines (cetirizine, diphenhydramine); Check the patient's medications (anti-allergy, cough and cold medicines) as they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Patients should ask their doctor about using these medications safely.

7. Some important notes

Some important notes when using Lorazepam that patients should pay attention to are as follows:
Overdose: If the patient overdoses, has serious symptoms such as fainting, difficulty breathing, the patient should be taken to the hospital. go to the emergency room immediately. Symptoms of drug overdose include confusion, slow reflexes, poor sleep, loss of consciousness,...; Missed dose: If a dose is missed and is taking more than 1 dose/day, do not take the missed dose if it is almost time for the next dose. If 1 dose/day is prescribed at bedtime and missed that dose, the patient should not take the supplement the next morning but should consult a doctor; Storage: The drug should be stored in the refrigerator, not in the bathroom, and out of the reach of children and the reach of pets; In addition, patients need to make lifestyle changes to reduce stress that will help increase the effectiveness of Lorazepam Concentrate. Also, do not share Lorazepam with other people. Patients should perform blood tests, liver function tests periodically to monitor health, evaluate drug side effects.
With many years of experience in the examination and treatment of diseases, now Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining, screening and treating diseases. treat many serious diseases. Therefore, when there are signs of abnormal health, patients can go to the examination, diagnose the disease and receive advice on how to use the drug effectively, avoiding unwanted side effects.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webmd.com