Do not drink alcohol or use street drugs during your treatment. Drinking alcohol or using street drugs during your treatment with lorazepam also increases the risk that you will experience these serious, life-threatening side effects. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness. Lorazepam may cause a physical dependence a condition in which unpleasant physical symptoms occur if a medication is suddenly stopped or taken in smaller doses , especially if you take it for several days to several weeks.
Do not stop taking this medication or take fewer doses without talking to your doctor. Stopping lorazepam suddenly can worsen your condition and cause withdrawal symptoms that may last for several weeks to more than 12 months.
Your doctor probably will decrease your lorazepam dose gradually. Call your doctor or get emergency medical treatment if you experience any of the following symptoms: unusual movements; ringing in your ears; anxiety; memory problems; difficulty concentrating; sleep problems; seizures; shaking; muscle twitching; changes in mental health; depression; burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet; seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear; thoughts of harming or killing yourself or others; overexcitement; or losing touch with reality.
Lorazepam is used to relieve anxiety. Lorazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation. Lorazepam comes as a tablet and concentrate liquid to take by mouth. It usually is taken two or three times a day and may be taken with or without food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take lorazepam exactly as directed.
Lorazepam concentrate liquid comes with a specially marked dropper for measuring the dose. Ask your pharmacist to show you how to use the dropper. Dilute the concentrate in 1 ounce 30 milliliters or more of water, juice, or carbonated beverages just before taking it.
It also may be mixed with applesauce or pudding just before taking the dose. Lorazepam is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy, insomnia, and nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment and to control agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
If you take several doses per day and miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Using cocaine or other stimulants such as MDMA ecstasy and amphetamines with lorazepam can also lead to drowsiness. It's a good idea to avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking lorazepam.
Grapefruit juice may increase the amount of lorazepam in your blood. It's best to not have drinks such as coffee, tea and cola, or to eat a lot of chocolate because these contain caffeine.
Caffeine is a stimulant and may reduce the calming effects of lorazepam. Alcohol can increase the effects of lorazepam and make you go into a very deep sleep.
It's important not to drink alcohol while you're taking lorazepam. Lorazepam will not affect any contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. Some contraceptives may make lorazepam less effective. Talk to a doctor if you're taking a contraceptive and you think your lorazepam is not working very well. Do not drive a car or ride a bike if lorazepam makes you sleepy, gives you blurred vision, or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions.
This may be more likely when you first start taking lorazepam, but could happen at any time for example, when starting another medicine. Even if your ability to drive is not affected, the police have the right to request a saliva sample to check how much lorazepam is in your body.
UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking lorazepam. If you're having trouble sleeping, things you can do to help yourself get better sleep include:. Page last reviewed: 2 January Next review due: 2 January Lorazepam On this page About lorazepam Key facts Who can and cannot take lorazepam How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.
About lorazepam Lorazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It's used to treat anxiety and sleeping problems that are related to anxiety.
It can also be given as an injection in hospital if you're having a seizure or fit. It's also known by the brand name Ativan. The full sedating effect lasts for around 6 to 8 hours. The most common side effect is feeling sleepy drowsy during the daytime. It's not recommended to use lorazepam for longer than 4 weeks. If lorazepam makes you feel sleepy, do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery.
Do not drink alcohol while taking lorazepam. It can make you sleep very deeply. Lorazepam can be taken by adults and children aged 13 years and older for anxiety. It can also be taken by adults and children aged 5 years or older as a "pre-med". Lorazepam is not suitable for everyone. To make sure it's safe for you, tell a doctor before starting lorazepam if you: have had an allergic reaction to lorazepam or any other medicine in the past have liver or kidney problems have breathing or chest problems have myasthenia gravis , a condition that causes muscle weakness have sleep apnoea , a condition that causes breathing problems when you're asleep have or have had depression or thoughts of harming yourself have been diagnosed with personality disorder have or have had problems with alcohol or drugs have arteriosclerosis , a condition that affects blood flow are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or breastfeeding have glaucoma , a condition that causes high blood pressure in the eye are going to have a general anaesthetic for an operation or dental treatment.
Always take lorazepam exactly as a doctor or pharmacist has told you. Will my dose go up or down? What if I forget to take it? If you forget to take your lorazepam: for anxiety — if it's less than 3 hours since your missed dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If more than 3 hours have passed, skip the missed dose. Take you usual dose the next night. If it does not, call the hospital to ask what to do next. If you forget to take lorazepam, never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact for advice if:. Take the lorazepam packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you. Common side effects These common side effects happen to more than 1 in people. If you get these side effects, keep taking the medicine and speak to a doctor: feeling sleepy or very tired in the daytime muscle weakness problems with your coordination or controlling your movements Serious side effects It happens rarely in less than 1 in people, but some people have serious side effects when taking lorazepam.
Tell a doctor straightaway if: your breathing becomes very slow or shallow your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow; this could be a sign of liver problems you find it difficult to remember things amnesia you see or hear things that are not there hallucinations you think things that are not true delusions you keep falling over you notice mood changes such as talking too much, feeling overexcited, restless, irritable or aggressive Mood changes can become serious and are more likely in children or if you're over Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, lorazepam may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.
For patients with states of anxiety , it is usual to take half a tablet 0. Administer the drug orally together with some water. The duration of treatment usually does not exceed weeks, but this is a fact that the doctor who treated you should consider and it will be decided upon when you are examined. Depending on the evolution of the patient, the specialist will evaluate whether to increase or decrease the dose or, on the contrary, if the drug should be withdrawn gradually.
Patients with sleeping disorders as insomnia are usually prescribed a dose of Lorazepam 1 tablet of 1 mg daily. The tablet should be taken just before bedtime. However, elderly patients and people with kidney or liver failure are recommended to take a half tablet daily. Remember that this dose may be adjusted by the doctor depending on each patient. If you believe that the Lorazepam dose that the doctor has prescribed is too strong or, conversely, very weak you should consult your doctor.
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