Drug Details
Therapeutic Class:
Benzodiazepines; benzodiazepine anticonvulsants; antiemetics
Forms:
Oral tablet: 0.5 mg; 1 mg; 2 mg
Extended-release oral capsule: 1 mg; 2 mg; 3 mg
Oral concentrate solution (dropper): 2 mg/mL (30 mL)
Injection vial: 2 mg/mL; 20 mg/10 mL
Administration:
By mouth
Intravenously (into a vein)
Intramuscularly (into a deep muscle mass)
Therapeutic Uses:
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety associated with depressive symptoms
Relief of insomnia (sleeping problems) due to anxiety or situational stress
Surgery-related anxiety (given shortly before anesthesia)
Status epilepticus (seizures that last more than 5 minutes or more than one seizure in a 5-minute span)
Controlled Status:
Schedule IV controlled substance
What is lorazepam?
Lorazepam is a fast-acting benzodiazepine. Lorazepam enhances the level of GABA, a brain chemical, in the central nervous system. By doing so, lorazepam slows down brain activity, resulting in anxiety disorder treatment and termination of seizures.
Lorazepam is a schedule IV controlled substance.
There may be other uses of lorazepam—your pharmacist or physician can give you further information and assistance. Who can take lorazepam?
- Adults
- Children who are 12 years and older
* Children younger than 12 years: only used as off-label to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, neonatal seizures.
*Extended-release lorazepam should not be used for anyone younger than 18 years old.
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