Adult Dosing
Anxiety
- Start 2-3 mg/day PO divided bid-tid; 1-2 mg/day in elderly
- Range: 2-6 mg/day PO divided bid-tid
- Max: 10 mg/day
Short term therapy for insomnia [Not FDA approved]
Chemo related nausea/vomiting [Not FDA approved]
- 2.5 mg PO given for two doses, one on night before and the other just after chemotherapy
Pediatric Dosing
Anxiety/Sedation [Not FDA approved]
Child > 12 yrs
- 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/dose PO q4-8 hrs
- Max: 2 mg/dose
- Taper dose gradually to discontinue
Preoperative sedation [Not FDA approved]
Child >12 yrs
- 0.02–0.09 mg/kg/dose given 1 hr before surgery
- Max: 2 mg/dose
[Outline]
- Use of benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, both used alone and in combination with other CNS depressants, may lead to potentially fatal respiratory depression
- Use of lorazepam may cause emergence or worsening of pre-existing depression. Monitor patients for emergence of suicidality or unusual changes in behavior
- Avoid use during pregnancy, especially during first trimester because of possible increased risk of congenital malformations. Advise women of childbearing age to use effective contraceptive method
- Use of lorazepam, may lead to physical and psychological dependence. The risk of dependence increases with higher doses, long term use, history of alcoholism or drug abuse or in patients with significant personality disorders. Prescribe for short periods only (e.g. 2-4 weeks)
- Use with caution in patients with suicidal tendencies; do not allow access to large quantities of drug
- Do not with draw abruptly. Taper to discontinue
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Hx of alcohol/drug abuse
- Hx of suicide attempt
- Myasthenia gravis
- Impaired pulmonary function eg. sleep apnea, COPD
- Elderly patients
- Debilitated patients
Pregnancy Category:D
Breastfeeding: Lorazepam is excreted in breastmilk in low levels. Due to its relatively short half-life compared to other benzodiazepines, it would not be expected to cause any adverse events in breastfed infants with usual maternal doses. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 9 June 2010).
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Ativan 1 MG TABS [Bottle] (VALEANT)
30 mg = $122.39
90 mg = $335.96 - Ativan 2 MG TABS [Bottle] (VALEANT)
30 mg = $194.38
90 mg = $559.15 - LORazepam Intensol 2 MG/ML CONC [Bottle] (ROXANE)
30 ml = $44.99
90 ml = $122.55 - Ativan 0.5 MG TABS [Bottle] (VALEANT)
30 mg = $99.99
90 mg = $285.97
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
