The effects of long-term anxiety states can cause emotional exhaustion in 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 accompanying psychological therapy, providing the patient with support for recovery.
Lorazepam is a tranquilizing and anxiolytic drug. corresponding to the category of high potency benzodiazepines ; to which five basic properties are attributed:
This type of anxiolytics has 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.
Likewise, one of the advantages that lorazepam has over other types of benzodiazepine is that it acts on the emotional elements eliminating them therefore it nullifies the tendency to suffer from disorders with an emotional and psycho-reactive basis or charge.
This quality makes it a particularly recommended medicine when it comes to accompany some type of psychological intervention in addition to being combinable with other psychotropic drugs or antidepressant treatments.
Uses of this drug
The prescription of lorazepam is mainly limited to treatment of anxiety disorders and with the aim of relieving, both in the short and long term, the symptoms that this alteration entails. More specifically in cases in which the symptoms interfere or limit the patient’s life.
However, it is necessary for the clinical professional to regularly review and evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for each patient, since its chronic use has not been validated by clinical studies and, furthermore, lorazepam is susceptible to causing dependence in the person both physically and psychologically.
Likewise, lorazepam is also recommended for the treatment of many other diseases or conditions. These include:
Method of administration and dosage
The two formats in which lorazepam can be found are in tablets or in a concentrated liquid solution to be taken orally. The usual dose is restricted to two or three daily doses that is, approximately 2.5 mg of product.
However, in order to achieve the best possible results, it is recommended that the physician establishes the frequency of administration and duration on an individualized basis. Likewise, if it is necessary to increase the daily dose, it must be done progressively, thus eliminating possible side effects.
Because of the high tolerance that this drug generates, it is advisable that lorazepam be used only in short periods of between two and 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:
Lorazepam Side Effects
As with most medications, regardless of their action or purpose, lorazepam can also be accompanied by a series of side effects and risks.
Yes ok These adverse effects do not have to appear in all people 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 as: very common, common, infrequent, rare, very rare or of unknown frequency.
1. Very frequent
Sedation
Feeling tired.
Feeling of suffocation.
2. Frequent
Asthenia.
Muscular weakness
Ataxia.
Feeling of confusion
Depression.
Dizziness
3. Infrequent
Nausea.
Alterations in libido
Impotence.
Decrease in 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 bilirubin levels
Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
Increase in transaminases and phosphatase.
Thrombocytopenia or decrease in the number of platelets in the blood.
Agranulocytosis or decrease in the 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 that they go to the doctor’s office as soon as possible.
Precautions
There are a series of indications or conditions to take into account before starting lorazepam treatment, given that 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
The use of lorazepam is disapproved in people allergic to this active ingredient, 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 consumption of lorazepam is prohibited are when the person suffers from myasthenia gravis, severe breathing difficulties, sleep apnea or if you suffer from severe liver disease.
It is necessary that the patient inform his doctor if he is taking any other type of medication, including that which can be obtained without a prescription, in order to avoid any possible interference or harmful effect on the body as a consequence of the combination of drugs. .
Likewise, it is necessary for the patient to know that Both barbiturates and alcoholic beverages have a depressant effect on the central nervous system, so 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 lactation
It is necessary that the patient inform the medical staff if she is pregnant or if she intends to become pregnant, given that the consumption of benzodiazepines is associated with an increased risk of malformations in the fetus if administered during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Furthermore, if this drug is administered when the woman is in the late phase of pregnancy, it is possible that 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 he runs the risk of acquiring a physical dependence that ends in a postnatal dependency syndrome
On the other hand, this medication is highly contraindicated during breastfeeding. The effect of benzodiazepines secreted through breast milk may include sedative effects on the baby and inability to breastfeed.
2. Children, the elderly and patients with physical weakness
Under no circumstances should benzodiazepines be administered to children, except for very extreme conditions or illnesses, with the duration of treatment being as short as possible.
Also, since The elderly and physically weak patients have a greater predisposition to suffer the effects of medication it is recommended that they be administered in very low doses.
3. People with respiratory failure
Like the elderly or physically weak, patients with some type of respiratory failure should also consume this drug in much lower doses, since the risk of suffering respiratory depression is much higher
4. Driving and use of machinery
Due to the sedative effects of lorazepam, people who need to drive vehicles or operate machinery should exercise caution, since the medication may alter the ability to perform these tasks.
