Overview Of Lorazepam
Lorazepam is a strong prescription medication. Depending on the setting, patients may take this medication as an oral tablet or injection at the hospital. Patients dealing with an anxiety disorder typically receive this medication as an oral tablet that they take daily. Injections of this medication through an intravenous line are typically used before surgical procedures. The injections appear to be a treatment for seizures as well.
As mentioned, many patients receive lorazepam as a sedative before surgery or anxiety treatment. In fact, many consider it to be the best anxiety medication. However, there are also other anxiety medications and anxiety remedies. Some patients may try natural anxiety medication as well as psychotherapy for anxiety. Of course, patients should understand how lorazepam works as a treatment for anxiety and other conditions.
Class Of Medication
Lorazepam belongs to a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. This includes alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam. First developed in the 1960s, this medication class works by increasing the amount of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. This slows the nervous system down and produces a feeling of relaxation and calm.
Some benzodiazepines are more effective for particular conditions than others. For example, alprazolam is particularly effective for anxiety. Clonazepam is beneficial for seizures, nerve pain, and panic disorder. All medications in this class are regulated as controlled substances due to the risk of dependency. They are typically prescribed for only two to four weeks to reduce this risk.
How It Works
As mentioned, lorazepam is one of the common benzodiazepines. Thus, it works similar to most of them and boosts the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid in an individual’s body. This neurotransmitter is responsible for transmitting messages between various cells around the body. A higher level of this neurotransmitter relieves significant amounts of anxiety and stress. In other words, it calms individuals down.
Evidence indicates that lorazepam is a particularly rapid medication in regards to how fast it takes to have a beneficial effect on a patient. Many patients say that they experience immediate effects from lorazepam. However, reports show that lorazepam’s peak effects come after one to one and a half hours after patients take their dose.
