Wednesday, February 20, 2013

How Lengthy Does Lorazapam Remain In The Body

Lorazepam is a medication that can produce life threatening side effects if it is not taken as directed. Therefore, when you are taking lorazepam or any other prescription medication, it is a good idea to understand its side effects, drug interactions and the amount of time that it actually stays in your system, in order to avoid the potential health risks.


What is Lorazepam?


Lorazaepam is the generic form of the drug Ativan. According to Drugs.com, lorazepam is a member of the class of drugs known as benzos (benzodiazepines) that are designed to treat anxiety and depression.


Half-Life


Lorazepam has a rather short half-life compared to other benzodiazepine medications. A half life is described as the amount of time that the body needs to excrete at least half of a drug. The maximum results of lorazepam peak within 60 to 90 minutes after ingestion and begin to wane within the following 16 to 20 hours. RxMed reports that the serum half-life of lorazepam is between 12 and 15 total hours.


Withdrawal


A half life of 12 to 15 hours suggests that lorazepam is completely excreted by the body within a 30 hour time frame. However, completely ridding the body of lorazepam all at once can lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including seizure. T.R.A.P (The Tranquilizer Recovery and Awareness Place) reveals that the risk of seizure can be reduced by slowly tapering the daily dosage.


Liver Disease


EMedTV warns that patients who have been diagnosed with liver disease may notice that the effects of lorazepam last longer than normal. Lorazepem is a drug that is completely metabolized by the liver before being excreted by the kidneys. Unfortunately, liver disease interferes with the excretion process and prolongs half life. The continued ingestion of timely dosages can result in a buildup in the body that can lead to dangerous toxicity.


Dependency


There is a high risk of dependency while taking lorazepam. The more the drug is taken, the more the body craves it. In fact, in as little as four weeks lorazepam dependency can begin develop. Withdrawal symptoms may begin to set in after approximately 30 hours if the drug is completely excreted from the body and the next dosage is not ingested. Therefore, Home Health (UK) recommends that lorazepam only be used as a short term medication.









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