Lorazepam: Uses and Side Effects of This Drug

The effects of long-term anxiety states can be emotionally exhausting for the patient and also interfere with all aspects of daily life. To avoid its symptoms and the consequences they entail, intervention through psychological and pharmacological therapy is essential.

Benzodiazepines are the pharmacological treatments of choice in these cases. Within this group is lorazepam, which has numerous advantages when it comes to accompanying psychological therapy, providing the patient with support for recovery.

Related article: "Benzodiazepines (psychotropic): uses, effects and risks"

What is lorazepam?

Lorazepam is a tranquilizer and anxiolytic drug corresponding to the category of high-potency benzodiazepines; to which five basic properties are attributed:

Anxiolytics.
Amnesic.
Sedative and hypnotic.
Anticonvulsants.
Muscle relaxants.

This type of anxiolytics have the ability to stabilize the mental state so that it does not harm or interfere with the daily activities or tasks of the person who takes it.

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Likewise, one of the advantages that lorazepam has over other types of benzodiazepines is that it acts on the emotional elements eliminating themTherefore, it cancels the tendency to suffer from disorders with an emotional and psycho-reactive base or charge.

This quality makes it a medicine especially recommended when it comes to accompany some type of psychological intervention, in addition to being combinable with other psychotropic drugs or antidepressant treatments.

Related article: "Types of psychotropic drugs: uses and side effects"

Uses of this drug

The prescription of lorazepam is mainly limited to treatment of anxiety disorders and with the aim of alleviating, both in the short and long term, the symptoms that this alteration entails. More specifically in cases where the symptoms interfere with or limit the life of the patient.

However, it is necessary for the clinician to regularly review and evaluate the efficacy of the drug. each patient, since its use in a chronic form has not been validated by clinical studies and, in addition, lorazepam is likely to cause dependence in the person both physical and psychological.

Likewise, lorazepam is also recommended for the treatment of many other diseases or conditions. These include:

Irritable bowel syndrome.
Epilepsy.
Insomnia.
Treatment of nausea and vomiting induced by cancer treatment.
Management of agitation caused by withdrawal syndrome.

Method of administration and dosage

The two formats that lorazepam can be found in are tablets or a concentrated liquid solution to take by mouth. The usual dose is restricted to two or three daily intakes., that is to say 2.5 mg of product approximately.

However, in order to achieve the best possible results, it is recommended that the medical professional establish the frequency of administration and the duration of the individualized. Likewise, in the event that it is necessary to increase the daily dose, it is necessary to proceed to do so progressively, thus eliminating possible side effects.

Due to the high tolerance generated by this drug, it is advisable that lorazepam be used only for short periods of two to four weeks. In this way, the risk of physical dependence caused by its long-term consumption is also eliminated, and with it the withdrawal symptoms that it generates. These symptoms are:

States of anxiety.
Alteration of the senses.
Insomnia.
Dysphoria.
Psychosis Y seizures (in the least of the cases).

Side effects of lorazepam

As with most medications, regardless of action or purpose that these have, lorazepam can also be accompanied by a number of side effects and risks.

Yes OK these side effects do not have to appear in everyone, it is important to be able to recognize them and thus modify the doses or switch to another type of benzodiazepines.

These side effects can be classified into: very common, frequent, infrequent, rare, very rare, or frequency not established.

1. Very frequent

Sedation.
Feeling tired.
Feeling of suffocation

2. Frequent

Asthenia.
Muscular weakness.
Ataxia.
Feeling confused.
Depression.
Dizziness

3. Infrequent

Sickness.
Alterations in libido.
Impotence.
Descent of orgasms.

4. Rare

Agitation. Erections

5. Very rare

Hypersensitivity
Allergic skin reactions.
Lack of sodium.
Hypothermia.
Alterations in the secretion of antidiuretic hormone.
Hypotension.
Constipation.
Increased levels of bilirubin.
Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
Increased transaminases and phosphatase.
Thrombocytopenia or a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood.
Agranulocytosis or decreased number of neutrophils in the blood.
Pancytopenia or reduction of all blood cells.
Paradoxical reactions such as anxiety.
Depression of the central nervous system.
Respiratory problems.

In the event that the patient experiences any of the above adverse effects, it is advisable to go to the doctor's office as soon as possible.

Precautions

There are a number of indications or conditions to take into account before starting lorazepam treatment, since it is not indicated for all types of people. In the following cases its consumption is not recommended or at least, the patient You must be careful of the possible complications that this may cause you.

The use of lorazepam is discouraged in people allergic to this active principle, as well as to any of the elements found within this pharmaceutical specialty. The symptoms or adverse effects that the patient may suffer range from breathing difficulties or asthma attacks, to swelling, hives or anaphylactic shock.

Other cases in which the use of lorazepam is prohibited include when the person suffers from myasthenia gravis, severe breathing difficulties, sleep apnea or if she has severe liver disease.

It is necessary for the patient to inform her doctor in the event that he is taking any other type of medication, including one that can be Obtain without a prescription, in order to avoid any possible interference or harmful effect on the body as a result of the combination of drugs.

It is also necessary for the patient to know that both barbiturates and alcoholic beverages exert a depressant effect on the central nervous system, so that if they are administered or taken together the sedative effects of the medication are accentuated in a considerable and harmful way.

On the other hand, there are a series of special circumstances under which people should exercise caution when taking this medication, or not take it at all. These conditions include pregnancy and lactation; children, the elderly and physically weak patients, people with respiratory failure and driving and using machinery.

1. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is necessary for the patient to inform the medical staff if she is pregnant or if she intends to become pregnant, since the use of benzodiazepines is associated with an increased risk of malformations in the fetus if administered during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Also, if this drug is given when the woman is going through late pregnancy, lorazepam may cause a series of sequelae in the baby. These effects range from hypoactivity or hypothermia, to apnea and breathing and feeding problems. Another adverse effect that lorazepam has on the baby is that it runs the risk of acquiring a physical dependence that ends in a postnatal dependency syndrome.

On the other hand, this medicine is highly contraindicated during lactation. The effect of benzodiazepines secreted through breast milk can include sedative effects on the baby and the inability to breastfeed.

2. Children, the elderly and patients with physical weakness

In no case should benzodiazepines be administered in children, except for very extreme conditions or diseases, with the duration of treatment being as short as possible.

Also, since the elderly and physically weak patients are more prone to the effects of medication, it is recommended that they be administered in very low doses.

3. People with respiratory failure

Like the elderly or people in a situation of physical weakness, patients with some type of respiratory failure should also consume this drug in much lower doses, since the risk of respiratory depression is much higher.

4. Driving and using machinery

Due to the sedative effects of lorazepam, people who need to drive or drive machinery should be cautious, since medication can impair the ability to perform these chores.