Lorazepam

Lorazepam may increase the risk of serious or life-threatening breathing problems, sedation, or coma if used along with certain medications. Tell your doctor if you are taking or plan to take certain medications for cough or for pain that contain opiates (e.g. codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol). Your doctor may need to change the dosages of your medications and will monitor you carefully. If you take lorazepam with any of these medications and you develop any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical care immediately: unusual dizziness, lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, or unresponsiveness. Be sure that your caregiver or family members know which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor or emergency medical care if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Lorazepam may be habit forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer time than your doctor tells you to. Tell your doctor if you have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, if you use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications. 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, another mental illness, or thoughts of harming or killing yourself or trying to do so.

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; aggression; 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.

🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?

Lorazepam is used to relieve anxiety. Lorazepam is also used to treat insomnia caused by anxiety or temporary situational stress. Lorazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Lorazepam comes as a tablet, an extended release capsule (Loreev), and concentrate (liquid) to take by mouth with or without food. The tablets and concentrate (liquid) are usually taken with or without food two or three times a day. If lorazepam (tablets or concentrate) is used to treat insomnia, it is usually taken at bedtime. The extended release capsules (Loreev) are usually taken with or without food once a day in the morning. 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.

Swallow the extended release capsules whole; do not chew or crush them. If you are unable to swallow the extended release capsule, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the entire contents onto a tablespoon of applesauce. You may prepare the mixture in advance and store it for up to 2 hours. When you are ready to take your medication, swallow all the mixture without chewing. Then drink water to wash down the mixture and be sure that you have swallowed all of it. Do not store the medication mixture for future use.

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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 water, juice, or carbonated beverages just before taking it. It also may be mixed with applesauce or pudding just before taking the dose. Stir the mixture gently for a few seconds. Take the entire mixture immediately; do not store it for future use.

🔔 Other uses for this medicine

Lorazepam is also sometimes used to treat 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.

🔔 What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking lorazepam,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lorazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, in Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium, Valtoco), estazolam, flurazepam, oxazepam, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lorazepam tablets, extended release capsules, or concentrate. If you are taking the extended release capsules, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to aspirin or tartrazine (a yellow dye in some processed foods and drugs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have narrow angle glaucoma (a serious eye condition that may cause loss of vision). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take lorazepam.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures, sleep apnea (condition in which a person briefly stops breathing many times during the night), lung problems or any condition that affects your breathing such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you take lorazepam late during your pregnancy, your baby may experience sedation and/or withdrawal symptoms after birth. Tell your baby’s doctor right away if your baby experiences any of the following symptoms: breathing problems, sluggishness, low muscle tone, jitteriness, irritability, restlessness, shaking, excessive crying, or feeding problems. If you become pregnant while taking lorazepam, call your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are taking lorazepam.
• talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medication if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should take lower doses of lorazepam because higher doses may not be more effective and are more likely to cause serious side effects.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking lorazepam.
• you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

🔔 What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.