Side Effects Of Lorazepam

Lorazepam is a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It is frequently used to treat anxiety, and doctors may also prescribe it for sleep issues, alcohol withdrawal, and active seizures. Patients receiving chemotherapy typically use lorazepam to reduce the nausea and vomiting that could occur during their treatment, and the medication is used during surgical procedures to block memory formation and sedate patients on mechanical ventilators. Lorazepam should not be used during pregnancy, and it is not safe for use in individuals who have narrow-angle glaucoma, severe respiratory insufficiency, or myasthenia gravis. Before lorazepam is prescribed, patients should let their healthcare team know if they have epilepsy, respiratory conditions, liver disease, kidney issues, or a history of depression. Lorazepam can be taken with or without food, and patients who use it for anxiety relief should take the largest dose before bedtime.

Drowsiness

Patients who take this medication often report drowsiness, and individuals over fifty years old may experience prolonged sedation when lorazepam is used during surgery. Patients may find they are tired during the day, and the drowsiness might make them unable to participate in daily activities as well as they otherwise would. Since each patient will experience drowsiness differently, it is especially important for patients to avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or performing other potentially dangerous tasks during their first few days or weeks of using this medicine. This will help patients learn how lorazepam impacts their energy levels, and they can plan ways to minimize this impact or get help with driving and other tasks as needed. To minimize drowsiness, it could be beneficial to split the prescribed daily dose of lorazepam into several smaller doses throughout the day. Taking the largest dose just before bedtime could reduce the disruption this medication might create in the patient's daily activities. Patients who are difficult to wake should be taken to an emergency room to be evaluated, and any instances of increasing drowsiness while on lorazepam should be reported to the patient's doctors immediately.

Nausea

Although lorazepam is prescribed to reduce nausea caused by chemotherapy, patients who use it have sometimes reported nausea as a side effect. Generally, nausea associated with lorazepam is most likely to occur in female patients over sixty years old, and it typically begins during the first month of treatment. Patients who take lorazepam together with ondansetron (a medication used to reduce vomiting after surgery or chemotherapy) tend to experience nausea more than patients who use lorazepam by itself. Individuals who struggle with chronic pain while on lorazepam are also at an elevated risk of having nausea as a side effect of this medicine. To reduce nausea, patients may want to try getting outside for fresh air, and it can help to avoid strong odors and perfumes. Eating small, bland meals is recommended, and some patients have reduced their nausea with the use of ginger or peppermint. Patients should always let their doctor know if they experience nausea for more than a few days, and it is especially important to inform healthcare staff if nausea worsens or prevents the patient from eating or drinking entirely.

Constipation

Constipation is one of the most common side effects associated with lorazepam. The drug slows down the normal stimulation of the gastrointestinal system, and this produces constipation. Female patients over sixty years old are most likely to develop constipation while on lorazepam, and those who take lorazepam with zoledronic acid have an even higher risk of this side effect. To reduce the likelihood of constipation, patients who use lorazepam may want to increase their dietary fiber intake. This can be done by eating more high-fiber foods such as oatmeal, whole wheat, and cereals. Patients may also need to take a fiber supplement, and laxatives could be needed if fiber is not enough to relieve constipation. In cases of prolonged constipation that have lasted more than four or five days, patients might need to use an enema instead; these are available over-the-counter, and they can be administered by hospital staff as well. Prolonged or untreated constipation could cause serious complications. Patients should make a doctor's appointment if constipation is accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, leaking stool, or rectal bleeding. If the patient vomits, has a swollen abdomen, or is unable to pass any bowel movements at all, emergency medical attention is necessary.

Loss Of Coordination

Loss of coordination is one of the most frequently reported side effects of lorazepam use. This side effect is typically worse when larger doses of the medication are used, and patients who are elderly could be affected more severely. Patients have reported feeling unsteady on their feet, and this increases the risk of falls. In conjunction with unsteadiness, patients have also reported dizziness and weakness. Individuals who feel unsteady or dizzy while taking lorazepam should be especially careful to sit up slowly when getting up from a lying position, and it is equally important to take care when standing up from a sitting position. Throw rugs and other trip hazards should be removed from the patient's home, and it may be necessary for the patient to use a cane, walker, or another device to minimize the risk of falls. Any changes in coordination should be evaluated by the patient's physician to determine whether they stem from an underlying medical condition or whether they are just a side effect of the lorazepam.

Headaches

Patients who take lorazepam may sometimes experience headaches. Female patients and those over sixty years old are particularly likely to report this side effect, and it also occurs more frequently in patients with depression and in those who take zolpidem. Tension headaches and headaches that last for a prolonged period have both been reported in patients who use this medication. Since headaches can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, patients should inform their healthcare team if they experience this side effect, and emergency medical attention should be obtained if the patient experiences a headache that causes severe pain or changes in vision. Depending on the severity of the patient's headaches, it may be necessary to take additional prescription medicine to relieve this side effect. Pain from mild to moderate headaches could be eased with the use of hot or cold packs applied to the affected area, and resting in a dark, quiet room is often recommended. Some patients have found relief from headache pain by adding caffeine or ginger products to their diets.