If taken with certain drugs, lorazepam may raise the risk of serious or life-threatening respiratory issues, sedation, or coma. Inform your doctor if you are currently taking or intend to start taking any opiate medications, including codeine (in Triacin-C, Tuzistra XR) or hydrocodone (in Anexsia, Norco, or Zyfrel) for coughing or codeine (in Fiorinal) for pain. Other opiate medications include fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Subsys), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo (Conzip, Ultram, in Ultracet). Your doctor will closely monitor you and may need to adjust the dosage of your drugs. Call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking lorazepam together with any of these drugs: unusual dizziness, lightheadedness, excessive drowsiness, slowed or laboured breathing, or unresponsiveness. If you are unable to seek treatment on your own, make sure your caregiver or family members are aware of any symptoms that may be dangerous so they can contact the doctor or emergency services.

An addiction to lorazepam is possible. Never exceed the recommended dosage, frequency, or duration. Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Inform your doctor if you use or have ever used illicit drugs, consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, or have ever misused any prescription drugs. Don’t consume alcohol or use illicit substances while receiving treatment. Using illicit drugs or alcohol while taking lorazepam also increases your risk of developing these severe, potentially fatal side effects. Also let your doctor know if you suffer from depression or any other mental disease now or in the past.

If you take lorazepam for several days to weeks, especially, you run the risk of developing a physical dependence—a state in which uncomfortable physical symptoms appear if a medication is abruptly removed or taken in reduced doses. Without consulting your doctor, do not reduce the dosage or stop taking this drug. Stopping lorazepam abruptly can make your situation worse and result in withdrawal symptoms that could last anywhere from a few weeks to over a year. Your lorazepam dosage will likely be gradually reduced by your doctor. If you encounter any of the following symptoms, call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention: Unusual movements, ringing in the ears, anxiety, memory issues, difficulty concentrating, sleep issues, seizures, shaking, muscle twitching, changes in mental health, depression, burning or prickling sensations in your hands, arms, legs, or feet, thoughts of harming or killing yourself or others, excessive excitement, or losing touch with reality are all signs that something is wrong.

Anxiety is reduced with the use of lorazepam. The drug lorazepam belongs to the group of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It functions by reducing brain activity to promote relaxation.

Both tablets and liquid concentrates of lorazepam are available for oral use. It can be taken with or without food and is often taken two to three times per day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the medication instructions precisely.

A carefully marked dropper is included with the liquid lorazepam concentration to measure the dosage. To learn how to use the dropper, ask your pharmacist to demonstrate. Just before taking the concentrate, mix it with 1 ounce (30 millilitres) or more of water, juice, or fizzy beverages. Just before consuming the dose, it can also be combined with pudding or applesauce.

In addition to controlling agitation brought on by alcohol withdrawal, lorazepam is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy, insomnia, nausea and vomiting after cancer treatment. Discuss the potential dangers of using this medicine for your illness with your doctor.

Other prescriptions for this drug are possible. For more information, consult your physician or pharmacist.

Before taking lorazepam,

• Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you have any allergies to any medications, including lorazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, in Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Gen-Xene, Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), estazolam, flurazepam, oxazepam, temazep For a list of the ingredients, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: valproic acid, muscle relaxants, oral contraceptives, probenecid (Probalan, in Col-Probenecid), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater), sedatives, sleeping pills, theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo 24, Theochron), tranquillizers, and medications for depression, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, colds, or allergies (Depakene). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you have glaucoma, let your physician know. Most likely, your doctor will advise against taking lorazepam.
• If you have or have previously experienced seizures, as well as lung, heart, or liver issues, let your doctor know.
• If you are breastfeeding a child or intend to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Call your doctor right away if you get pregnant while taking lorazepam.
• If you are 65 years of age or older, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using this medicine with your doctor. Higher doses of lorazepam may not be more beneficial and are more likely to have major adverse effects when taken by older persons.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking lorazepam if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that this medicine may cause you to feel sleepy. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

You should skip the missing dose and carry on with your regular dosing regimen if you take multiple doses throughout the day. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects from lorazepam are possible. If any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away, contact your doctor right once:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Mouth ache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Alterations in appetite
• Anxiety or excitement
• Constipation
• Having trouble urinating
• Often urinating
• Distorted vision
• Alterations in sex desire or capacity

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these signs or any of the ones detailed in the IMPORTANT WARNINGS section:

• Shuffled walking
• Persistent, little tremor or restlessness
• Fever
• Severely itchy skin
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Abnormal heartbeat

Other negative effects of lorazepam are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right once.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To determine how you react to lorazepam, your doctor will request a number of lab tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.