ABSTRACT
Lorazepam (LZP) has been available as a sedative and anxiolytic agent since the early 1970s. Given orally or parenterally, it has also been used as premedication for anesthesia. The volume of distribution of LZP has been found to be in the range of 0.7 to 1.3 1/kg and the clearance 0.04 to 0.06 1/kg/hr. LZP has little if any effect on the biotransformation of other drugs; its own elimination half-life is prolonged by probenecid. The dose of LZP was increased biweekly over 8 weeks until either the seizures stopped or unacceptable adverse effects occurred. The greatest potential danger in the use of intravenous LZP is respiratory depression or arrest, most likely to occur with too rapid administration. Sublingual LZP at a dose ranging from 0.05 to 0.15 mg/kg produced no adverse effects when administered acutely to 10 children, and a rectal solution at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg was tolerated acutely without adverse effects in eight children.
