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Suggest Dosage For Lorazepam

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Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2016
Question: My dr. changed my meds-5 mg alprazolam twice a day to 5m lorazepam twice a day, the dosage does not seem to work as well??
Thanks
XXXX

Does drinking coffee remove the lorazepam from system more quickly or perhaps a 5 mg 0f ambien at nite-don't sleep well! Husband snores!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Pankaj Borade (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Do not consume Caffeine,

Detailed Answer:
welcome to HCM
I can see that you have been on benzodiazepine medications for your insomnia(I presume), currently having 5 mg lorazepam twice a day and not able to sleep well.
There are important things to consider
1) You have been already consuming adequate dosage of lorazepam and further increment of it is not recommended..
2) changing over to lorazepam from alprazolam can improve quality of sleep as it acts for longer duration than the alprazolam. However, 10 mg lorazepam at your age of 75 years is a high dosage unless you have been on benzodiazepines for long and have developed tolerance to it.
3) It is highly suggestible that you do not consume caffeine or any kind of stimulant such as tea, etc late in the day as it
prevents you from sleeping, and also reduces the effect of these medications.
4) addition of ambien is not advisable from my side as there are already two medications currently on. Caffeine does not eliminate lorazepam but makes one more aroused and active, which prevents one from falling asleep.
5) lastly, it would be great if you can provide me details of the condition for which you have been prescribed these medications and duration since you have been on these medications.

The problem of lack of sleep that you happen to suffer could be due to tolerance to drugs, exacerbation of underlying psychological problem if any, faulty sleep hygeine, etc. However, it is important for me to know the details of your condition for which you have been prescribed meds.
regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Pankaj Borade

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 571 Questions

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Suggest Dosage For Lorazepam

Brief Answer: Do not consume Caffeine, Detailed Answer: welcome to HCM I can see that you have been on benzodiazepine medications for your insomnia(I presume), currently having 5 mg lorazepam twice a day and not able to sleep well. There are important things to consider 1) You have been already consuming adequate dosage of lorazepam and further increment of it is not recommended.. 2) changing over to lorazepam from alprazolam can improve quality of sleep as it acts for longer duration than the alprazolam. However, 10 mg lorazepam at your age of 75 years is a high dosage unless you have been on benzodiazepines for long and have developed tolerance to it. 3) It is highly suggestible that you do not consume caffeine or any kind of stimulant such as tea, etc late in the day as it prevents you from sleeping, and also reduces the effect of these medications. 4) addition of ambien is not advisable from my side as there are already two medications currently on. Caffeine does not eliminate lorazepam but makes one more aroused and active, which prevents one from falling asleep. 5) lastly, it would be great if you can provide me details of the condition for which you have been prescribed these medications and duration since you have been on these medications. The problem of lack of sleep that you happen to suffer could be due to tolerance to drugs, exacerbation of underlying psychological problem if any, faulty sleep hygeine, etc. However, it is important for me to know the details of your condition for which you have been prescribed meds. regards