Patient/caregiver was instructed upon Lorazepam and mechanism of action of Lorazepam as follows:
- Neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord are chemical messengers that help the nerve cells to communicate with each other. These chemicals can both be excitatory and inhibitory.
- Excitatory neurotransmitters help in stimulating the brain and spinal cord nerve cells. These chemicals contribute to promoting the impulses to spread from one cell to the other. Increased promotion of nerve impulses among nerve cells can contribute to increased activity, alertness, reduced rest and sleep, and anxiety.
- Inhibitory neurotransmitters help in depressing or inhibiting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These chemicals contribute to inhibiting the spread of impulses from one cell to the other. Inhibition of nerve impulses among nerve cells can contribute to reduced activity and alertness, increased rest and sleep, and control of anxiety symptoms.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. Increasing effects of GABA results in inhibition of spread of impulses between nerve cells, thus reducing excitability, alertness, and anxiety, and promoting dizziness and sleep.
- Lorazepam is a medication belonging to the benzodiazepine family, used for management of anxiety and sleep disorders.
- Lorazepam works by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, thus contributing to muscle relaxation, control of convulsions in individuals with history, reduced alertness, reduced sensitivity to pain, increased rest, promotion of sleep, and control of anxiety symptoms.
- Thus, Lorazepam can be used to help with relief of muscle spasms, sleep induction and sedation in individuals with history of sleep disorders and insomnia, and control of anxiety episodes in individuals with history of anxiety and mood disorders. Lorazepam can also help with preventing episodes of convulsions in individuals with history of seizure disorders.
