Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Lorazepam as follows:
- Lorazepam can take some time, about 2 – 3 weeks, to fairly adjust to your body, before any relief with your complaints and easing of side-effects is experienced. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
- Your physician could change the dose of Lorazepam, based on the response you show. Notify your doctor of any unresolving anxiety, muscle spasms, worsening muscle pain and discomfort, episodes of seizures, insomnia, or continuing unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised. Maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
- Starting Lorazepam at a low dose, watching for the response, and gradually changing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to controlling/reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side effects caused by Lorazepam intake.
- Lorazepam use in expectant mothers could harm the unborn baby and result in pregnancy complications, such as, low birth weight baby, small head circumference, and preterm delivery. So, Lorazepam use should be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning to get pregnant. Women in the child-bearing age group, taking Lorazepam on a regular basis, must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
