In 2019, it was the 69th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 10 million prescriptions. Medical uses
Anxiety
Lorazepam is used in the short-term management of severe anxiety. In the US, the FDA advises against use of benzodiazepines such as lorazepam for longer than four weeks. It is fast acting, and useful in treating fast onset panic anxiety.Lorazepam can effectively reduce agitation and induce sleep, and the duration of effects from a single dose makes it an appropriate choice for the short-term treatment of insomnia, especially in the presence of severe anxiety or night terrors. It has a fairly short duration of action.Withdrawal symptoms, including rebound insomnia and rebound anxiety, may occur after seven days use of lorazepam. Seizures
Intravenous diazepam or lorazepam are first-line treatments for convulsive status epilepticus. Lorazepam is more effective than diazepam and intravenous phenytoin in the treatment of status epilepticus and has a lower risk of continuing seizures that might require additional medication. However, phenobarbital has a superior success rate compared to lorazepam and other drugs, at least in the elderly.Lorazepams anticonvulsant properties and pharmacokinetic profile make intravenous use reliable for terminating acute seizures, but induce prolonged sedation. Oral benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, are occasionally used as long-term prophylactic treatment of resistant absence seizures; because of gradual tolerance to their anti-seizure effects, benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are not considered first-line therapies.Lorazepams anticonvulsant and CNS depressant properties are useful for the treatment and prevention of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Ectromelia is a congenital condition where long bones are missing or underdeveloped. Examples include:

Amelia
Hemimelia
Phocomelia
Sirenomelia

References


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