lorazapan

[anxiety65]

what are the side effects of lorazapan and are there withdrawal symptoms

[anxiety65]

I have taken Lorazepam on occasion up till about 4 weeks ago.  I have had a lot of anxiety and since the prescription says I can talk 1 pill twice a day I have been doing that.(1MG).  I find that my stomach does not feel great in the morning and I feel a lot better when I take a pill.  sometimes I feel anxious in the afternoon and have been taking one at that time as well.  I have had nausea, a couple of bouts of dry heaves, no fever, headaches, and sweating. feels better most times when I take a pill.  I am concerned I may have become addicted to this. how do I wane off these?

thanks,

Joe

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Sedation is the side effect of which most patients complain. In a group of around 3500 patients treated for anxiety, the most common side effects complained of from lorazepam were sedation (15.9%), dizziness (6.9%), weakness (4.2%), and unsteadiness (3.4%). Side effects such as sedation and unsteadiness increased with age.Cognitive impairment, behavioral dis-inhibition and respiratory depression as well as low blood pressure may also occur.
Withdrawal symptoms may happen after taking therapeutic doses of lorazepam for as little as one week. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, severe anxiety, panic attacks depression, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, irritability, sweating, dizziness, numbness/tingling of extremities, hypersensitivity to light, sound, and smell, perceptual distortions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, hallucinations, delirium, seizures, tremor, stomach cramps, muscle aches, agitation, palpitations, fast heart beat,  short-term memory loss, and fever. The half life of lorazepam is about 18 hours, thus it can take up to 90 hour to be completely metabolized from the body.