Lorazepam is a drug that is used for various purposes. It is sometimes used as a sedative in patients who are recipients of medical ventilation. It is, however, not recommended for use in patients who are critically ill because propofol has been found to have better effects and results.
The drug has an amnesic effect that is relatively potent. This is because of its sedative and anxiolytic effects upon the body. It is mostly used as premedication because of these characteristics. Premedications are drugs that are used for treating a patient before the use of anesthesia.
Oral lorazepam is in most cases administered within a period of between 90 and 120 minutes before the programmed surgical procedure or treatment. Intravenous lorazepam can be administered up to 10 minutes into the medical procedure. At intensive care units, lorazepam is used for the purpose of producing sleep and inducing body calmness.
This drug is also used in the treatment of cases of serious epilepsy and acute seizures. It has also been recommended for use in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in patients who want to stop drinking. It is used as such because it is quite safe for the human liver. After administration, it does not need hepatic, oxidation, or any other liver processes in order to metabolize it into active forms. Lorazepam is also used in the treatment and relief of the symptoms of vertigo and dizziness in patients suffering from Ménière’s disease.
These are some of the good uses of lorazepam. The dark side of lorazepam is that it creates a very high degree of tolerance and dependence. These characteristics make it cause addictive symptoms whether it is used for good reasons (medical reasons) or for bad reasons (abuse).
The withdrawal symptoms that are associated with addiction to drugs occur in about 35% of patients who are put on lorazepam treatment for a period of more than four weeks. The addiction becomes much worse and far stronger if the lorazepam has been administered in higher dosages and for a longer period of time.
In view of this, the FDA recommends that lorazepam, like the other benzodiazepines, should only be used for the medical conditions in which it is indicated for the treatment or relief. Before its administration, the prospective patients should be subjected to thorough medical examination by a qualified medical professional.
Where possible patients should be put on treatment with other medications that may have fewer side-effects than those encountered with benzodiazepines in general or lorazepam in particular. Patients should be advised to take the medications in the proper dosages and should not under any circumstances take the medication for more than four weeks.
To escape the development of addiction and withdrawal symptoms, continuous and frequent use of lorazepam should be avoided. Once the body becomes used to the effects and the mechanism of action of the drug, it will induce withdrawal symptoms once the patient stops taking the medication. Patients should be put on the lowest dosage possible so as to avoid addiction and dependence.
