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 emotional well-being of the person affecting one or more areas of their lifetime. Anxiety has to be treated by a professional who will determine what type of treatment is the most appropriate for the particular person's situation. In most cases it is only a matter of carrying out a psychological treatment, but in some others it is necessary Combine it with the use of some drugs such as lorazepam that has the purpose of helping the person to manage their levels of anxiety.
In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the lorazepam for sleep: what is it for, dosage and side effects, we are going to explain in detail what this type of drug, which is widely used today, consists of.
Index
- Lorazepam: what it is and what it is for
- Lorazepam for sleep: recommended doses
- Side effects of Lorazepam
Lorazepam: what it is and what it is for.
The lorazepam normon It is a drug that is used to control a person's anxiety levels. It is a benzodiazepine or psychotropic substance that acts as a short-term sedative.
That is, lorazepam contains depressant effects of Central Nervous System and it helps the neurotransmitter "GABA" (responsible for regulating anxiety levels) to bind with its receptor, producing relaxing effects on 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 anticomvulsant properties, which is why the proposal has currently been made to use it as a pre-anesthetic drug.
It is important to mention that lorazepam does not interfere with people's daily activities, that is, it does not by having this type of anesthetic properties, it will cause people to have difficulties in their day to day. 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 its two presentations: a concentrated solution that can be ingested orally and in the form of tablets. 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, the doses are obtained by means of a dropper marked specifically for that. The concentrate is diluted in approximately 1 ounce of water or with some other liquid and easy-to-digest drink such as juice. Obviously it is necessary to follow this treatment in a timely manner as indicated by the doctor.
It is extremely important to mention that lorazepam, if not consumed strictly following the specific instructions of the doctor, 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 a very long period of time, the person may develop tolerance to this type of treatment.
If you want to know more about taking psychotropic drugs, you can consult this article on mistakes we make when taking antidepressants and anxiolytics.
Lorazepam for anxiety
Once the treatment has started, you have to consult your doctor at a certain time to find out if the dose that is ingested is still adequate or to inform us about when and how we should abandon the treatment. Treatment should never be abandoned without due medical consent or suddenly, since if so, the situation may worsen due to the appearance of certain withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be for example: insomnia, irritability, nervousness, etc. When the drug is abandoned, it should be done gradually, consuming smaller amounts of this drug each time.
Side effects of Lorazepam.
Like all or almost all drugs, Lorazepam also has certain side effects that must be taken into account at the time of ingesting them, remembering that whenever they appear, especially if it is about serious side effects, you should consult your doctor. In the event that one or more side effects appear, the doctor has to assess whether the dose is going to be modified or whether another type of medication has to be tried. Some of the more common side effects of Lorazepam are the following:
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Agitation
- Upset stomach, sometimes accompanied by diarrhea
- Constipation
- The urge to urinate frequently
- Blurry vision
- Changes in sex drive and / or desire
Some of the rare side effects that can be serious and of course also have to be taken into account are the following:
- Fever
- Stagger when walking
- Difficulty breathing
- Discoloration of the skin or eyes.
- Severe skin rashes
- Inability to stay seated
This article is merely informative, in 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 effects, we recommend that you enter our category of Psychopharmaceuticals.
References
US National Library of Medicine USA (2017, April 15). Lorazepam. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/druginfo/meds/a682053-es.html
