As we already know, people who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience a series of quite unpleasant symptoms, both physical and emotional, that can end up destroying the person’s emotional well-being, affecting one or more areas of their life. Anxiety has to be treated by a professional who will determine what type of treatment is most appropriate for the particular person’s situation. In most cases it is only a matter of carrying out psychological treatment, but in some others it is necessary to combine it with the use of some drugs such as lorazepam, which has the purpose of helping the person manage their anxiety levels. .
In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the lorazepam for sleep: what it is for, dosage and side effectswe are going to explain in detail what this type of drug that is widely used today consists of.
Lorazepam: what it is and what it is for
He lorazepam normon It is a drug that is used to control a person’s anxiety levels. It is a benzodiazepine or psychotropic substance that has the effect of a short-term sedative.
That is, lorazepam contains depressant effects and helps the neurotransmitter “GABA” (responsible for regulating anxiety levels) to bind with its receptor, producing relaxing effects in the person.
What is Lorazepam or Orfidal used for?
Under the trade name Orfidal, this type of drug, so popular on the market, also has certain hypnotic, sedative and anticonvulsant properties, which is why the proposal has currently been made to use it as a preanesthetic drug.
It is important to mention that lorazepam does not interfere with people’s daily activities, that is, because it has these types of anesthetic properties, it will not cause people to have difficulties in their daily lives. It only makes people with anxiety feel calmer. stabilizing your psychological state and emotional. This also helps the person have less risk of suffering from some other type of emotional disorder.
Lorazepam for sleep: recommended doses
We can find this drug in two presentations: a concentrated solution that can be ingested orally and in tablet form. The dose to be ingested has to be determined by the doctor since each case is different, however in general it is usually taken. two to three times a day.
As for the liquid concentrate of this drug, doses are obtained through a dropper specifically marked for that. The concentrate is diluted in approximately 1 ounce of water or with some other liquid and easy-to-digest beverage such as juice. Obviously it is necessary to follow this treatment punctually as indicated by the doctor.
It is extremely important to mention that lorazepam, if not consumed strictly following the doctor’s specific instructions, can lead to a certain degree of dependence. Something that is also important to keep in mind is that when consumed excessively and for a very long period of time, the person can develop tolerance to this type of treatment.
If you want to know more about taking psychotropic drugs, you can consult this article about .
Lorazepam for anxiety
Once the treatment has started, you must consult with the doctor at a certain time to know if the dose ingested is still appropriate or to inform us about when and how we should abandon the treatment. Treatment should never be abandoned without proper medical consent or suddenly, since if so, the situation may worsen due to the appearance of certain withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms may be, for example: insomnia, irritability, nervousness, etc. When the medication is discontinued, it should be done gradually, consuming smaller amounts of this drug each time.
Lorazepam Side Effects
Like all or almost all drugs, Lorazepam also has certain side effects that should be taken into account when ingesting them, remembering that whenever they appear, especially if they are serious side effects, you should consult your doctor. If one or more side effects appear, the doctor must assess whether the dose will be modified or whether another type of medication should be tried. Some of the most common side effects of Lorazepam are the following:
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Agitation
- Stomach upset, sometimes accompanied by diarrhea
- Constipation
- Frequent urination
- Blurry vision
- Changes in sexual drive and/or desire
Some of the rare side effects that can be serious and of course must also be taken into account are the following:
- Fever
- Staggering when walking
- Difficulty breathing
- Discoloration of the skin or eyes.
- Severe skin rashes
- Inability to remain seated
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Lorazepam for sleep: what it is for, dosage and side effectswe recommend that you enter our category.
References
US National Library of Medicine. (2017, April 15). Lorazepam. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/druginfo/meds/a682053-es.html