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Lorazepam

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Lorazepam belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines.

It can be used for short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty sleeping), anxiety or panic.

Lorazepam may be used to control symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal or for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use this medication?

Follow the instructions on your medication label and take this medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Lorazepam may be taken with or without food.
If you feel that the medication is not working well, please consult your doctor.
You should obtain this medication from the same doctor or clinic whenever possible.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you are directed by your doctor to take the medication regularly and forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your usual timing. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you. If you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
You are taking any other medications including over-the-counter medications, supplements, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal remedies. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
You have or have ever had:

Other drug allergies
Other mental health conditions such as depression
Medical conditions such as:

Lung, brain, kidney or liver disease
Previous drug or alcohol abuse
Glaucoma (high pressure in the eyes), seizures (fits), Myasthenia Gravis (an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves and muscles) or sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing during sleep)

This medication may be habit-forming when taken excessively or for a prolonged duration (especially at high doses). This may result in:

Unintentional, regular use of the medication
Dependence or over-reliance on the medication
Decreased effectiveness of the medication.

This can be prevented by taking the medication:

On a short-term basis (2 - 4 weeks)
At the lowest effective dose
Intermittently (for example, taking it once every 2 or 3 nights for the relief of sleep difficulty)

If you have been taking the medication on a long-term basis or at high doses, do not stop taking it abruptly as it may lead to withdrawal symptoms such as increased sweating, increased heart rate, tremors, trouble sleeping, increased agitation, hallucinations, increased anxiety, nausea or vomiting, and in severe cases, medical emergencies such as fits.

If you wish to cut down, discuss with your doctor to come up with a discontinuation plan. It is often best to reduce the dose gradually over a few weeks.

If you are prescribed this medication for other conditions, consult your doctor or specialist for further advice about the appropriate dose and duration.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.

Nausea or stomach discomfort

Take this medication with or after food
Take simple meals and avoid rich or spicy foods

Constipation

Drink more water (if not on fluid-restricted diet), eat more high-fibre foods, and exercise regularly
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need a medication to help with your constipation

Light-headedness (especially during a sudden change in posture)

Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position

Feeling tired or drowsy

Discuss with your doctor if you can take this medication at a different time of the day
Avoid driving or engaging in activities requiring concentration

Feeling clumsy or unsteady

Speak to your doctor if it becomes bothersome

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak to your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

Memory loss (amnesia)
Abnormal thinking, changes in behaviour, or hearing or seeing things that do not exist (hallucinations)
Unusual excitement, irritability, or agitation (disinhibition)
Unusual sleep-related activities such as walking, eating or cooking
Confusion
Fast, slow or irregular heartbeat
Problems with eyesight
Dark brown urine, light coloured stools (pale grey/clay-coloured), yellowing of skin and eyes (symptoms of liver problems)

If you experience any of these side effects, you should stop your medication and inform your healthcare professional immediately.

Please also take note that not all possible side effects are listed above. If you have any concerns about your medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication as it can cause excessive drowsiness.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on Oct 2021

This article was last reviewed on Wednesday, February 16, 2022