One of the lorazepam uses , is that the Lorazepam undergoes reliable absorption after oral and I.M. injection. After oral administration, maximal plasma concentrations of lorazepam occur in 2 to 4 hours and persist at therapeutic levels for up to 24 to 48 hours.
The recommended oral dose of lorazepam uses preoperative medication which is 50 micro-g/kg and should not exceed 4mg. The prolonged duration of action of lorazepam limits its usefulness for preoperative medication when rapid emergence from anesthesia is required specially in daycare surgeries.
After a single IV dose (1 to 4 mg), the onset of effect occurs within 1 to 2 minutes, with a peak effect by 20 to 30 minutes, and duration of sedative effects ranging from 6 to 10 hours.
Infusions of lorazepam to produce postoperative sedation result in significant delays in emergence from sedation compared with midazolam.
Obesity prolongs the sedative effects of lorazepam uses that reflect the larger volume of distribution and longer elimination half-time.
A slow onset limits the usefulness of lorazepam for IV induction of anaesthesia or IV sedation during regional anaesthesia.
It is commercially available with solvents such as polyethylene glycol or propylene glycol, to make it water soluble. It is less painful on injection and produces less venous thrombosis than diazepam.
Lorazepam uses include use of sedation in intubated patients.