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Nuestra sugerencia en estos casos es que le transmita su inquietud al médico
que le indicó la medicación y le pida toda la información que Ud. considere
necesaria. Por ejemplo, le mando la información (en inglés) que se considera
indispensable en Estados Unidos dar a un paciente al indicar lorazepan (Trapax).
Y le traduzco la frase relacionada con si puede producir adicción: "Este
medicamento puede producir adicción (habit-forming)". Si UD siente que el
medicamento no está actuando bien, no tome más la dosis prescripta y llame a su
doctor para pedirle instrucciones.
PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS
LORAZEPAM (lor-A-ze-pam):
Treats anxiety,
anxiety with depression, and insomnia (trouble sleeping). This medicine is a
benzodiazepine.
BRAND NAME(S): Ativan(R), Alzapam(R), Lorazepam Intensol(R)
WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT USE THIS MEDICINE:
You should not use this medicine
if you have had an allergic reaction to lorazepam or to other medicines that are
like lorazepam (such as Valium(R), Xanax(R), or Dalmane(R)).
HOW TO USE AND
STORE THIS MEDICINE
Tablets, Oral Liquid:
– Your doctor will tell you
how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or
take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
– You may take this
medicine with or without food.
– Measure the oral liquid medicine with a
marked measuring spoon or medicine cup.
– Store the medicine at room
temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not freeze.
–
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and never share your medicine
with anyone.
If you miss a dose:
– If you miss a dose or forget to use
your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If you are more than 1 hour late, skip
the missed dose and wait until it is time for your next dose.
– Do not use
extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
DRUGS AND FOODS TO AVOID:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including
over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
– Make sure your
doctor knows if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy (such as
sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain killers, or sedatives).
– Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine. Avoid drinking
coffee, tea, or soft drinks that contain caffeine.
WARNINGS:
– Make sure
your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have glaucoma,
liver disease, or lung problems.
– This medicine may be habit-forming. If
you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not take more than your
prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.
– Do not stop using this
medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease
your dose before stopping it completely.
– This medicine may make you
drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be
dangerous if you are not alert.
SIDE EFFECTS
Call your doctor right away
if any of these side effects occur:
– Depression or severe confusion
–
Severe drowsiness and weakness
– Slow heartbeat
– Trouble breathing
– Unsteadiness (having a hard time standing up)
If you have problems
with these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor.
– Blurred
vision or headache
– Dizziness, clumsiness, or trouble concentrating
–
Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation
– Feeling "hungover"
in the morning after taking this medicine at bedtime
IF YOU HAVE OTHER SIDE
EFFECTS THAT YOU THINK ARE CAUSED BY THIS MEDICINE, TELL YOUR DOCTOR.
LORAZEPAM (lo-RAZE-eh-pam) (INJECTION):
Treats anxiety and is sometimes
used to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting. Belongs to a class of drugs called
benzodiazepines.
BRAND NAME(S): Ativan(R)
WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS
MEDICINE:
Do not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction
to lorazepam.
HOW TO TAKE AND STORE THIS MEDICINE INTRAMUSCULAR (IM)
INJECTION, INTRAVENOUS (IV) INJECTION:
– Your doctor will prescribe your
exact dose and tell you how often it should be given.
– An IM injection is a
shot given in your muscle (upper arm, thigh, buttocks). An IV injection is
medicine that is put directly into your body through one of your veins.
–
This medicine should be given by a person trained to give IV or IM medicine.
Sometimes you, someone in your family, or a friend can be taught to give your
medicine.
– Store in a refrigerator, away from light. Do not freeze.
– Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.
IF YOU MISS A DOSE:
– If you take this medicine regularly, take the missed dose as soon as
possible.
– Do not take two doses at the same time.
DRUGS AND FOODS TO
AVOID:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicine,
including over-the-counter products.
– Do not drink alcohol while taking
this medicine.
– Make sure your doctor knows if you are also taking
cimetidine (Tagamet(R)), phenobarbital, antidepressants, an MAO inhibitor (such
as Nardil(R), Parnate(R), or Marplan(R)), a phenothiazine (such as Mellaril(R),
Thorazine(R), or Stelazine(R)), or medicines that make you sleepy such as
antihistamines,
sleeping pills, or narcotic pain-killers.
WARNINGS:
– Make sure your doctor knows if you have myasthenia gravis, liver disease,
lung disease, or glaucoma.
– If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to
your doctor before taking this medicine.
– This medicine may make you
sleepy. Avoid driving a car or using machinery.
SIDE EFFECTS
Call your
doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:
– Trouble breathing
– Severe muscle weakness or trouble standing
– Slurred speech or severe
drowsiness
If you have problems with these less serious side effects, talk
with your doctor.
– Irritability or agitation
– Trouble concentrating or
memory loss
– "Hangover" effects
– Drowsiness, dizziness, clumsiness
– Blurred vision
– Pain where the injection was given
IF YOU HAVE
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS THAT YOU THINK ARE CAUSED BY
THIS MEDICINE, TELL YOUR
DOCTOR. |
