According to the medical experts at Drugs.com, lorazepam belongs to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is used to help relieve the symptoms caused by anxiety and depression and works by stabilizing the unbalanced chemicals in the brain thought to be responsible for these conditions. Its benefits are accompanied with side effects, some of which are more severe than others.
Common Side Effects
According to eMedTV.com, the most common side effects of lorazepam include drowsiness (sedation), feeling weak or unsteady, dizziness, fatigue, loss of memory, changes in your vision, hair loss and confusion. You may also experience headaches, feel disoriented, suffer from slurred speech, experience a change in your sex drive, become nauseous or suffer from constipation. Impotence in men is also common, as are problems achieving an orgasm.
Serious Side Effects
More serious side effects may also occur with this medication. If you experience any of these, notify your doctor immediately, Drugs.com recommends. They include a worsening of your depression or anxiety, thoughts of suicide, finding it difficult to breathe, convulsing (having seizures), find it hard to sleep, find yourself suffering from hallucinations and experiencing feelings of hostility and rage.
Sign of Allergic Reaction
You may discover that you are allergic to lorazepam. If so, you may experience the following: swelling of your lips, throat or tongue, tightening of your chest, an onset of hives or an inexplicable rash and finding it difficult to breathe. Seek emergency medical treatment if any of these apply to you, Drugs.com urges.
Signs of Overdose
It is possible to overdose on this medication. You may have taken too much if you become extremely confused or drowsy, suffer from muscle weakness, faint or lose consciousness. Make others aware that you are taking this medication and alert them to these signs as well.
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