Lorazepam Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety

Tablets:
Initial dose: 2 to 3 mg orally per day administered 2 to 3 times per day
Maintenance dose: 1 to 2 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day
Parenteral:
IV: 2 mg total, or 0.044 mg/kg, whichever is smaller

Comments:
-The daily dosage may vary from 1 to 10 mg per day.
-The dosage should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects.
-When higher dosage is indicated, the evening dose should be increased before the daytime doses.

Use: Management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms

Usual Adult Dose for Light Anesthesia

IM: 0.05 mg/kg up to a maximum of 4 mg
IV: 2 mg total, or 0.044 mg/kg, whichever is smaller

Comments:
-Doses of other injectable central-nervous-system depressant drugs should be reduced.
-For optimum effect, intramuscular drug should be administered at least 2 hours before the anticipated operative procedure.
-Narcotic analgesics should be administered at their usual preoperative time.
-IV: This dose should not ordinarily be exceeded in patients over 50 years of age.
-IV: Larger doses as high as 0.05 mg/kg up to a total of 4 mg may be administered.
-For optimum effect, intravenous drug should be administered 15 to 20 minutes before the anticipated operative procedure.

Use:
-Preanesthetic medication for adult patients, producing sedation (sleepiness or drowsiness), relief of anxiety, and a decreased ability to recall events related to the day of surgery

Usual Adult Dose for Status Epilepticus

0.1 mg/kg IV up to 4 mg per dose; may repeat in 5 to 10 minutes
Maximum dose: 8 mg

Comments:
-Vital signs should be monitored, an unobstructed airway should be maintained, and artificial ventilation equipment should be available.
-When an intravenous port is not available, the IM route may prove useful.

Use: Treatment of status epilepticus

Usual Adult Dose for Insomnia

2 to 4 mg orally administered at bedtime

Comments:
-The dosage should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects.

Use: Management of insomnia

Usual Geriatric Dose for Anxiety

Elderly or debilitated patients:
1 to 2 mg orally per day in divided doses

Comments:
-The dosage should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects.

Use: Management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety

12 years or older:
Initial dose: 2 to 3 mg orally per day administered 2 to 3 times per day
Maintenance dose: 1 to 2 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day

Comments:
-The daily dosage may vary from 1 to 10 mg per day.
-The dosage should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects.
-When higher dosage is indicated, the evening dose should be increased before the daytime doses.

Use: Management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms

Usual Pediatric Dose for Insomnia

12 years or older:
2 to 4 mg orally administered at bedtime

Comments:
-For elderly or debilitated patients, an initial dosage of 1 to 2 mg/day in divided doses is recommended.
-The dosage should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects.

Use: Management of insomnia

Renal Dose Adjustments

Renal impairment: Use with caution

Liver Dose Adjustments

Hepatic impairment: Use with caution

Dose Adjustments

-The dose of injection should be reduced by 50% when coadministered with probenecid or valproate.
-It may be necessary to increase the dose in female patients who are concomitantly taking oral contraceptives.

Precautions

Oral solution/tablet: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 12 years.
Injection: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

-About 8% of the administered intravenous dose was removed as intact drug during the 6-hour dialysis session.
-About 40% of the administered intravenous dose was removed as glucuronide conjugate during the 6-hour dialysis session.

Other Comments

Administration advice:
-The manufacturer product information should be consulted.

Storage requirements:
-Injection: Protect from light; store in a refrigerator at 2 to 8 C (36 to 46 F)
-Tablets: Store in a cool, dry place

Reconstitution/preparation techniques:
-The manufacturer product information should be consulted.