Trusted information about Lorazepam.

Lorazepam: uses Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety. Lorazepam belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves ( central nervous system ) to produce a calming effect. Lorazepam works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in body ( GABA ) .

Lorazepam: how to use Don't swallow whole. Place tablet under tongue. It'll dissolve in about 20 seconds. Wait at least 2 minutes before swallowing to make sure all drug is absorbed.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. If directed by your doctor, use Lorazepam regularly in order to get most benefit from it. To help we remember, use it at the same time ( s ) each day.

Lorazepam may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended time ( more than 1-4 weeks ) , if it has been used in high doses, or if we have a history of alcoholism, drug abuse, or personality disorder. In such cases, if we suddenly stop Lorazepam, withdrawal reactions may occur while use Lorazepam. Such reactions can include seizures, trouble sleeping, mental/mood changes, increased reactions to noise/touch/light, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, hallucinations, numbness/tingling of arms and legs, muscle pain, fast heartbeat, short-term memory loss, and very high fever. Report any such reactions to your doctor immediately. When stopping extended, regular treatment with Lorazepam, gradually reducing the dosage as directed will help prevent withdrawal reactions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Though it's very unlikely to occur, Lorazepam can also result in abnormal drug-seeking behavior ( addiction/habit forming ) . Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop medication when so directed. This will lessen the chances of becoming addicted.

Don't suddenly stop using Lorazepam without your doctor's approval. Some conditions may become worse when drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

When used for an extended time, Lorazepam may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Don't increase your dose without first talking to your doctor.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Lorazepam: other used This section contains uses of Lorazepam that aren't listed in approved professional labeling for drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use Lorazepam for a condition that's listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

If directed by your doctor, Lorazepam may also be used to reduce the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and for sleeping trouble ( insomnia ) .

Lorazepam: side effects Drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination, headache, nausea, blurred vision, change in sexual interest/ability, hair loss, constipation, heartburn, or change in appetite may occur while use Lorazepam. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Lorazepam because he or she has judged that the benefit to we is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Lorazepam don't have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

A very serious allergic reaction to Lorazepam is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If we notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Lorazepam: precautions Before taking Lorazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines ( e. g. , diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam ) ; or if we have any other allergies.

Lorazepam should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if we have:

Before using Lorazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Lorazepam may make we dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness or clear vision such as driving or using machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using Lorazepam.

The elderly may be more sensitive to effects of this drug, especially drowsiness and unsteadiness. Also, elderly mayn't experience relief of anxiety with Lorazepam. It may have opposite effect on the elderly, causing mental/mood changes, sleeping problems, increase in sexual interest, or hallucinations.

Children mayn't experience relief of anxiety with Lorazepam. It may have the opposite effect on children, causing agitation, shaking, or hallucinations.

Lorazepam isn't recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Infants born to mothers who took this drug during last weeks before delivery have had withdrawal symptoms, including unusual drowsiness, slowed breathing, and feeding problems. Consult your doctor for more details

Lorazepam passes into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding isn't recommended while using Lorazepam. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Lorazepam: interactions Your healthcare professionals ( e. g. , doctor or pharmacist ) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Lorazepam shouldn't be used with the following medication because a very serious interactions may occur while use Lorazepam:

If you are currently using Lorazepam listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Lorazepam.

Before using Lorazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products we may use, especially of:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if we also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines ( e. g. , diphenhydramine ) , anti-seizure drugs ( e. g. , carbamazepine ) , medicine for sleep or anxiety ( e. g. , alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem ) , muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers ( e. g. , codeine ) , psychiatric medicines ( e. g. , chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone ) .

Check labels on all your medicines ( e. g. , cough-and-cold products ) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

This document doesn't contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Lorazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist.

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People With Anxiety Disorders Tend To Suffer From Increased Blood Clotting

" The blood froze in my veins " or " My blood curdled " - these common figures of speech can be taken literally, according to latest studies. Indeed, more literally than some of us would like. For it turns out that intense fear and panic attacks can really make our blood clot and increase risk of thrombosis or heart attack.

Earlier studies showed that stress and anxiety can influence coagulation. However, they were based almost entirely on questionnaire surveys of healthy subjects. In contrast, Bonn-based research team around Franziska Geiser ( from Clinic and Policlinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy ) and Ursula Harbrecht ( from Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine ) have been first to conduct a very careful examination of coagulation in patients with anxiety disorders.

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time - fear of failing math's test, dread of going down into dark cellar or, in a more general sense, trepidation about what future holds. But some people are gripped by powerful fears when confronted by quite normal everyday situations. For example, sufferers of agoraphobia frequently have panic attacks when caught up in a crowd. The symptoms can be dramatic: palpitations, sweating, shaking, blind panic or fainting - even leading to death. Another anxiety disorder frequently encountered can be described as social phobia. Those affected fear above all situations in which they become the centre of attention in a group. They begin to stutter or turn red. In order not to avoid embarrassment, social phobia sufferers may become recluses, shying away from human contact and staying at home.

The medical researchers in Bonn compared patients who suffer from a severe form of panic disorder or a social phobia with a healthy control group. In order to rule out as far as possible influence of factors like age and sex, each of 31 patients with anxiety disorders was matched with a corresponding healthy patient of same age and sex. The subjects first had to give blood samples and were asked to perform a number of tests on the computer. A second blood sample was then taken. The blood analysis, which measured various coagulation factors, produced a clear result: The group of anxiety patients showed a much more highly activated coagulation system than the healthy control group.

In coagulation system two mechanisms operate that are indispensable to life and normally work in opposite directions, each counterbalancing other. On one hand, coagulation involves a thickening of the blood so that a plug can form and prevent excessive bleeding from damaged vessels. On other hand, there's " fibrinolysis', a process that keeps blood fluid and breaks down clots. In case of anxiety-disorder patients, however, the researchers observed through close analysis of blood an activation of coagulation accompanied by an inhibition of fibrinolysis. Yet, apart from the prick for blood sampling, no real injury had occurred. For these types of patients, coagulation system goes out of balance as the coagulation tendency rises - possibly with dangerous consequences. In extreme cases imbalance can lead to blockage of a coronary artery.

The increased coagulation tendency could, says Franziska Geiser, be " missing link " that explains why anxiety patients have a statistically higher risk of dying from heart disease by a factor of 3 or 4. " Of course, this doesn't mean that every patient with a marked anxiety disorder must now worry about having a heart attack. The coagulation values we measured were always within physiological scale, which means there is no acute danger, " adds project leader. A real health threat only arises when other risk factors, like smoking and obesity, also come into the equation.

Franziska Geiser also has some good news for people with anxiety disorders. A follow-up study has produced the first evidence that coagulation activation subsides in patients who have completed successful therapy for their condition. In this respect, Doctor Geiser calls for earlier diagnosis of anxiety disorders, pointing out that too much time is wasted before effective psychotherapy is prescribed. " After all, we've programmes to help population give up smoking or take more exercise. But if we want to reduce the number of heart disorders, it would make sense to improve way anxiety disorders are diagnosed and treated. "

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This release is available in German.

Source: Doctor Franziska Geiser University of Bonn

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