Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Long Before ECT Should Lorazepam Intake Be Stopped?
Question: I am on citalopram, Lorazepam and Olanzapine and starting ECT this week, for best results from ECT how many hours before having this treatment should I stop taking Lorazepam
Brief Answer:
At least 12 hours before ECT
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for direct question to me.
In general we give ECTs in the morning around 9 am.Patient remains nill by mouth(not allowed water or food) from previous night after 10 pm.We allow the patient to take night dose of any drug before 10 pm.
In your case considering half life of lorazepam 12 hours, you can take last dose before 12 hours of ECT schedule.It is not going to do any effect during ECT after that time. You can restart medicine as per schedule when your doctor allow oral intake.
For you information and knowledge: In past Normally if any anti epileptic like valproate sodium or carbamezapine is there, we used to omit the night dose to see convulsion during ECT but current evidence suggests that convulsion duration during ECT is not related to improvement, so we have stopped the practice of omitting the dose. So now a days to omit or shifting the dose of medication is not needed much when ECT is given in some patient.
I will be happy to answer any remaining query.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
At least 12 hours before ECT
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for direct question to me.
In general we give ECTs in the morning around 9 am.Patient remains nill by mouth(not allowed water or food) from previous night after 10 pm.We allow the patient to take night dose of any drug before 10 pm.
In your case considering half life of lorazepam 12 hours, you can take last dose before 12 hours of ECT schedule.It is not going to do any effect during ECT after that time. You can restart medicine as per schedule when your doctor allow oral intake.
For you information and knowledge: In past Normally if any anti epileptic like valproate sodium or carbamezapine is there, we used to omit the night dose to see convulsion during ECT but current evidence suggests that convulsion duration during ECT is not related to improvement, so we have stopped the practice of omitting the dose. So now a days to omit or shifting the dose of medication is not needed much when ECT is given in some patient.
I will be happy to answer any remaining query.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
