LORAZEPAMTRANSCRIPT (page 1 of 3)If you have anxiety, or insomnia, which means you have trouble sleeping, you maybe prescribed Lorazepam. You may also be familiar with its brand name, Ativan.Lorazepam is a high alert medication, which means if you do not take it exactly asprescribed it may cause illness or injury.To understand how Lorazepam works, let’s look at what causes anxiety and insomnia.Your brain is constantly firing information and messages to the rest of your body,telling you what to think, what to feel and what to do. When you are faced with asituation that makes you anxious, your brain puts you in a state of alert and gets youready to face the situation. When it passes, the nerve signals in your brain slow downand your body calms. But when you suffer from anxiety, or insomnia, your brain can’tturn off that state of alert, making it difficult to calm down or to fall asleep.Lorazepam enhances a chemical in the brain called GABA, which helps calm down thesignals that are firing in your brain so you can relax and fall asleep.Lorazepam comes in a tablet or liquid. Your healthcare provider will decide howmuch you need to take and how best to take it, but tablets come in 0.5 milligrams, 1milligram and 2 milligrams dosages.Lorazepam is a powerful medication. Some people should not take it. Do not takeLorazepam if you are allergic to the ingredients in it or if you are allergic to other antianxiety medications like Xanax or Valium.Do not take Lorazepam if you are pregnant. This medication can harm your baby.If you are breastfeeding, tell your healthcare provider before using Lorazepam.A different medication may be safer for you and your baby.Before taking Lorazepam, tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of:liver or20% gradient meshkidney disease, asthma or other breathing problems, glaucoma or depression.Lorazepam can be highly addictive. If you have a history of abuse of: street drugs,healthclipsprescription medications or alcohol, tell your healthcare provider. There may be ahealthclipsdifferent medication available for you.Before taking Lorazepam, give your healthcare provider a complete list of all otherhealthclipsmedications you use, including vitamins and herbal supplements.healthclips(Continued on next page)4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_md_10043_98_en_t00002.pdf healthclips© Milner-Fenwick, Inc.5% gradient meshLORAZEPAMTRANSCRIPT (page 2 of 3)Some side effects of Lorazepam include: drowsiness, trouble remembering things,muscle weakness, blurred vision, change in appetite, and headache.If you do notice any of these side effects, contact your healthcare provider about howto manage them.Be aware that you are at an increased risk of falling while taking Lorazepam. Get upfrom a sitting or lying position slowly.Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, including your car, until you know howLorazepam affects you.Do not drink alcohol while taking Lorazepam. Drinking alcohol while taking Lorazepamcan cause serious side effects leading to death.If you have an allergic reaction like: trouble breathing, hives, or swelling of your faceor throat; call 911.If you have: hallucinations, confusion, thoughts of hurting yourself or others or if youfeel like you are going to pass out; call your healthcare provider right away.This is not the complete list of side effects. Make sure you discuss all possible sideeffects with your healthcare provider.Take Lorazepam exactly as prescribed. Do not change your dose or take it for longerthan prescribed.If you have been prescribed liquid Lorazepam, only use the dropper supplied tomeasure your dose.You may take your Lorazepam as needed, or you may need to take it several times20% gradient meshthroughout the day depending on your prescription. Try setting an alert on your phoneor watch so you don’t forget.healthclipsIf you are on a dosing schedule and miss a dose, take your Lorazepam as soon ashealthclipspossible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip your missed dose and return toyour normal medication schedule.healthclipsDo not double dose. If you think you have taken too much Lorazepam, call 911. Anhealthclipsoverdose can lead to death.(Continued on next page)4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_md_10043_98_en_t00002.pdf healthclips© Milner-Fenwick, Inc.5% gradient meshLORAZEPAMTRANSCRIPT (page 3 of 3)Store Lorazepam tablets away from moisture and direct sunlight. Your bathroommedicine cabinet is not the best place because of moisture. Liquid Lorazepam shouldbe kept in your refrigerator.Always store your medication out of sight and out of reach of children to preventaccidents.When you are done taking Lorazepam tablets, crush all of your remaining pills and mixthem with undesirable trash like kitty litter or coffee grounds.Dispose of liquid Lorazepam by flushing it down a drain or toilet.Do not sell or give your Lorazepam to anyone else. It is against the law and canseriously harm anyone else taking it. Contact your local police station for moreinformation on proper disposal directions.Lorazepam can help relieve your anxiety and help you get the sleep you need. But it isa powerful medication that should only be taken exactly as prescribed. If you have anyquestions about Lorazepam, ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist for moreinformation.20% gradient meshhealthclipshealthclipshealthclipshealthclips4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_md_10043_98_en_t00002.pdf healthclips© Milner-Fenwick, Inc.5% gradient mesh
