Hi,I am Dr. Andrew Rynne (Family Physician). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
My dad (76)takes bupamorphine 9 mgs per day and he was just prescribed lorazapam for anxiety and agitation that may be caused by dementia. Can he get addicted to lorazapam? What would a person need to take in order for addiction to occur? Like how much and hiw frequent? He is on so many mother meds as well i am nervous to give him a benzodiazepam drug.
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Yes, Lorazepam causes addiction, despite of the dose, if it is used for more then 3 weeks in a row. There is no medicine that can prevent the addiction. But in your father's case, maybe he needs to use it for few days, and if it helps him then maybe addiction does not matter, as soon as it helps him to live a quality life. When it comes to using medicines there is always side effects, but we prescribe them if the benefit outweighs the risks.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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How Can Addiction To Lorazepam Be Prevented?
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Yes, Lorazepam causes addiction, despite of the dose, if it is used for more then 3 weeks in a row. There is no medicine that can prevent the addiction. But in your father s case, maybe he needs to use it for few days, and if it helps him then maybe addiction does not matter, as soon as it helps him to live a quality life. When it comes to using medicines there is always side effects, but we prescribe them if the benefit outweighs the risks. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.