Lorazepam

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine commonly used to treat anxiety or insomnia. Lorazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It helps to calm people if they are anxious or finding it difficult to sleep. It can also be called an anxiolytic medicine. Anxiolytic is a word used to refer to any medicine that treats anxiety. Lorazepam works by improving the effect of a naturally occurring chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). 

Side effects are common when starting a new medication, some of the side effects you might experience when starting lorazepam include:

• daytime drowsiness and tiredness

• dizziness, feeling less alert

• poor muscle control, muscle weakness 

If you would like more information about taking lorazepam please speak to your doctor.

Please do not worry about these side effects. Some people will not get any side effects at all. If you think you are getting side effects from taking lorazepam, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it via the 'Yellow Card' system.

If you have taken more lorazepam than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medial help immediately - even if you do not feel any different.