What is the most important information I should know about lorazepam?
You should not use this medicine if you have narrow-angle glaucoma or myasthenia gravis, or if you are allergic to Valium or a similar medicine.
Do not use lorazepam if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause birth defects or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn.
Lorazepam may be habit-forming. Misuse of habit-forming medicine can cause addiction, overdose, or death.
What is lorazepam?
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen). Lorazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety.
Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders.
Lorazepam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lorazepam?
It is dangerous to purchase lorazepam on the Internet or from vendors outside the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. The sale and distribution of lorazepam outside the U.S. does not comply with the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the safe use of this medication.
You should not take lorazepam if you have:
- narrow-angle glaucoma;
- myasthenia gravis; or
- a history of allergic reaction to any benzodiazepine, such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, flurazepam, and others.
To make sure lorazepam is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- seizures or epilepsy;
- kidney or liver disease (especially alcoholic liver disease);
- asthma or other breathing disorder;
- open-angle glaucoma;
- a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior;
- a history of drug or alcohol addiction; or
- if you use a narcotic (opioid) medication.
Do not use lorazepam if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause birth defects. Your baby could also become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking lorazepam.
Lorazepam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using lorazepam.
Lorazepam is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
The sedative effects of lorazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking lorazepam.
How should I take lorazepam?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Never use lorazepam in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms.
Lorazepam may be habit-forming. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Misuse of habit-forming medicine can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Lorazepam should be used for only a short time. Do not take this medicine for longer than your doctor recommends.
Do not stop using lorazepam suddenly or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including a seizure (convulsions). Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.
Call your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your anxiety symptoms.
Store lorazepam at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Lorazepam is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Store the liquid form of lorazepam in the refrigerator.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of lorazepam can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, and fainting.
What should I avoid while taking lorazepam?
Avoid drinking alcohol. Dangerous side effects could occur.
Lorazepam may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
What are the possible side effects of lorazepam?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe drowsiness;
- thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
- unusual changes in mood or behavior;
- confusion, aggression, hallucinations;
- worsened sleep problems;
- sudden restless feeling or excitement;
- muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, trouble swallowing;
- vision changes; or
- upper stomach pain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- weakness;
- slurred speech, lack of balance or coordination;
- memory problems; or
- feeling unsteady.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect lorazepam?
Taking lorazepam with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- any other medicines to treat anxiety;
- probenecid;
- aminophylline or theophylline;
- an antidepressant, or medicine to treat mental illness;
- a barbiturate such as phenobarbital;
- narcotic pain medicine;
- seizure medicine; or
- medicine that contains an antihistamine (such as sleep medicine, cold or allergy medicine).
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with lorazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about lorazepam.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.04. Revision date: 9/28/2016.
