Lorazepam chemical structure
Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Lorazepam

Lorazepam (marketed under the brand names Ativan®, Temesta®, Tavor®) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. Pharmacologically, it is classified as a sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant. more...

Home
Diseases
Medicines
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Labetalol
Lacrisert
Lactitol
Lactuca virosa
Lactulose
Lamictal
Lamisil
Lamivudine
Lamotrigine
Lanophyllin
Lansoprazole
Lantus
Lariam
Larotid
Lasix
Latanoprost
Lescol
Letrozole
Leucine
Leucovorin
Leukeran
Levaquin
Levetiracetam
Levitra
Levocabastine
Levocetirizine
Levodopa
Levofloxacin
Levomenol
Levomepromazine
Levonorgestrel
Levonorgestrel
Levophed
Levora
Levothyroxine sodium
Levoxyl
Levulan
Lexapro
Lexiva
Librium
Lidocaine
Lidopen
Linezolid
Liothyronine
Liothyronine Sodium
Lipidil
Lipitor
Lisinopril
Lithane
Lithobid
Lithonate
Lithostat
Lithotabs
Livostin
Lodine
Loestrin
Lomotil
Loperamide
Lopressor
Loracarbef
Loratadine
Loratadine
Lorazepam
Lortab
Losartan
Lotensin
Lotrel
Lotronex
Lotusate
Lovastatin
Lovenox
Loxapine
LSD
Ludiomil
Lufenuron
Lupron
Lutropin alfa
Luvox
Luxiq
Theophylline
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics

Lorazepam is rapidly and nearly completely absorbed after any mode of application (oral, sublingual, i.m., i.v.). The onset of action is several minutes after i.v. injections, 30 to 45 minutes after oral/sublingual administration, and up to 1 hour after i.m. injections.

The duration of action depends on the dose, and is normally 6 to 12 hours. The half-life of lorazepam in patients with normal liver function is 11 to 18 hours. Therefore, 2 to 4 daily doses are often needed.

0.5mg (500µg) of lorazepam is equivalent to 5mg of diazepam . Other experts estimate a proportion of 1mg lorazepam to 5mg diazepam.

Indications

Lorazepam is indicated for:

  • Treatment of anxiety disorders
  • Short-term treatment of insomnia, particularly if associated with severe anxiety
  • Treatment of symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal
  • As a premedication,
    • To facilitate unpleasant procedures, such as endoscopies and dental surgery.
    • To augment the action of the primary anaesthetic drug.
    • To produce varying degrees of anterograde amnesia for the duration of the procedure.
  • Long-term treatment of otherwise resistant forms of petit mal epilepsy
  • Acute therapy of status epilepticus
  • Acute therapy of catatonic states alone/or with haloperidol
  • As an initial adjunctive treatment for depressions, mania and psychosis
  • Treatment of acute delirium, preferrably together with haloperidol
  • Supportive therapy of nausea/emesis frequently associated with cancer chemotherapy, usually together with firstline antiemetics like 5-HT3-antagonists

Lorazepam is available in tablets and as a solution for intramuscular and intravenous injections. It is also available as a parenteral patch.

Dosage

Daily doses vary greatly from 0.5 mg bedtime for insomnia and 2.5 mg every 6 hours and more in the acute treatment of mania, before the firstline drugs (lithium, valproic acid) control the situation.

Catatonia with inability to speak is very responsive and sometimes controlled with a single dose of 2 mg oral or slow i.v. injection. Catatonia may reoccur and treatment for some days may be necessary. Sometimes haloperidol is given concomitantly.

The control of status epilepticus requires slow i.v. injections of 2 to 4 (or even 8) mg. Patients should be closely monitored for respiratory depression and hypotensive effects.

In any case, dose requirements have to be individualized especially in the elderly and debilitated patients in whom the risk of oversedation is greater. Safety and effectiveness of lorazepam is not well determined in children under 18 years of age, but it is used to treat serial seizures. With higher doses (preferably i.v.-doses) the patient is frequently not able to recall unpleasant events (anterograde amnesia) such as therapeutic interventions (endoscopies etc.), which is a desirable effect. But in these cases the risk is given that a patient later makes unjustified allegations of sexual abuse during treatment due to poor recall.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Lorazepam: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, And Annotated Research Guide To Internet References $39.36 Physical Dependence after Benzodiazepine Treatments in Rats: Comparison of Short and Long Treatments with Diazepam and Lorazepam. : An article from: Journal of Studies on Alcohol $5.95
Diagnostic dilemma.(Lorazepam toxicity) : An article from: Pediatric News $5.95

Lorazepam vs. Dimenhydrinate in Treating Vertigo
Vertigo is the impression of motion of oneself or one's surroundings. The management of acute vertigo in the emergency department includes therapy with ...
Stability of lorazepam in 0.9% sodium chloride stored in polyolefin bags
Stability of lorazepam in 0.9% sodium chloride stored in polyolefin bags. Norenberg JP, Achusim LE, Steel TH et al. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2004; 61(10): ...
Midazolam Superior to Lorazepam for Status Epilepticus - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included
ORLANDO, FLA. -- Intravenous midazolam was more effective than intravenous lorazepam for initial management of status epilepticus in pediatric patients ...
Continuous Enteral Lorazepam In The Trauma Patient - Abstract
Purpose: To determine if continuous enteral lorazepam (CEL) was efficacious and cost effective in the mechanically ventilated trauma patient. Methods: ...
Lorazepam To Prevent Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures
Clinical question Does intravenous lorazepam prevent recurrent seizures in patients with uncomplicated alcoholism presenting to the emergency department ...
Lorazepam Prevents Recurrence of Alcohol-Related Seizures - Statistical Data Included
Alcohol abuse has been linked to seizures in adults, although the reason for this is not well established. Theories that may explain the link include ...
Lorazepam 2-mg sublingual tablets
METHOD OF PREPARATION Note: Calibrate the mold to be used with this base prior to preparing the tablet triturates for the first time. Also, the ratio ...
Low-dose lorazepam can reverse morphine-induced hypothermia - Post Cesarean Section
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Among patients who received morphine after cesarean section, 7% developed hypothermia, and lorazepam normalized temperatures ...

Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay