Lormetazepam EG 2mg

General information

Lormetazepam is considered a hypnotic benzodiazepine and is officially indicated for moderate to severe insomnia. Lormetazepam is a short-acting benzodiazepine and is sometimes used in patients who have difficulty in maintaining sleep or falling asleep. Hypnotics should only be used on a short-term basis or, in those with chronic insomnia, on an occasional basis.

Before taking Lormetazepam

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking lormetazepam it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have any breathing problems.
• If you have any problems with the way your liver works, or if you have any problems with the way your kidneys work.
• If you have a mental health problem. This includes conditions such as psychosis, depression, obsessive conditions, phobias and personality disorders.
• If you have ever had a drug or alcohol addiction.
• If you have a condition causing severe muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.
• If you have a rare inherited blood disorder called porphyria.
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.
• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

Directions

HOW TO TAKE LORMETAZEPAM

Always take Lormetazepam exactly as your doctor has told you. The label on your medicine should also tell you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.The usual adult dose of Lormetazepam is 0.5mg to 1.5mg. For patients with mild to moderate difficulties in breathing or patients with liver impairment a dose reduction should be considered.You should swallow your tablets with water just before you go to bed at night. Make sure you can have 7 or 8 hours of un interrupted sleep before taking Lormetazepam. Elderly patients may respond to half the usual adult dose or less.

The label on your medicine will tell you how many tablets to take and how often. If it does not, or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Treatment usually lasts from a few days to 2 weeks. It should not usually last longer than4weeksincluding a dose reduction at the end. This reduces the risk of becoming dependant onLormetazepam Tablets, or suffering unpleasantside-effects when you stop taking them. The beneficial effect of Lormetazepam may be less apparent after several weeks of use. If you are given lormetazepam for more than 4 weeks, your doctor might want to take blood samples occasionally to check your blood and liver, since drugs like lormetazepam have occasionally affected liver function.

Possible side effect

Like all medicines, Lormetazepam Tablets can cause side-effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you experience any of the following serious unwanted effects, you should tell your doctor immediately:

Confusion, depression, numbedemotions,difficulty controlling urgesand impulses tospeak, act orshow emotions, a feeling of well-being for no reason, allergic reaction, changes in appetite, sleepproblems,changes in sex drive, sexual problems, headaches,reduced alertness,speech problems,memory lossor forgetfulness,problemswith vision, worsening of sleep apnoea, difficulty breathing, feelingsick, stomach upsets, changes in the amount of saliva in the mouth, yellowing of the skin and eyes, skin problems such as a rash, dependence to Lormetazepam Tablets, suicidalthoughts orplans,hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis, twitching or shaking, feeling worriedor stressed, slow thoughts, coma, feeling very cold, worsening of original sleeplessness and related symptoms such as:restlessness, agitation, irritability,aggressiveness,loss of the sense of reality,intense anger, nightmares, hallucinations and inappropriate behaviour.

Other side effects include:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): Daytime drowsiness, feeling calm and sleepy.
Common (may affect around 1 in 100 people): Dizziness, muscle weakness, poor muscle control and unsteady movements, general weakness,feeling tired.
Rare (may affect around 1 in 1,000 people): Blood or liver function changes, low blood pressure.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data: Increased risk of falling.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Pharmacology

Lormetazepam and other benzodiazepine drugs act as positive modulators at the GABAA benzodiazepine receptor complex. Lormetazepam binds to the benzodiazepine receptor which in turn enhances the effect of the GABAA receptor producing its therapeutic effects as well as adverse effects. When lormetazepam binds to the benzodiazepine receptor sites in sufficient quantities it produces sedation which is used clinically as a therapeutic treatment for insomnia. Lormetazepam alters the brain electrical activity which has been studied via EEG readings. Lormetazepam appears to be more selective in the type of benzodiazepine receptor it binds to showing a higher affinity for the omega 1 receptor which is responsible for sedation. Changes in EEG can therefore be used to measure the sedative sleep promoting properties of lormetazepam.

Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking lormetazepam before taking any other medicine or if you enter hospital for treatment, or if you are taking any other medicines, including those which have not been prescribed by a doctor, since they may affect the way Lormetazepam work.

Lormetazepam may also affect the way other drugs work. In particular, you should tell your doctor:

• if you are taking any other sedative, anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives,strong pain killers(e.g. methadone),
• drugs for epilepsy,
• drugs to help breathing,
• drugs which stop liver enzymes working,
• antihistamines or drugs for mood or mental disorders (e.g.chlorpromazine).

The dose of these drugs may need to be reduced before you can take lormetazepam. Concomitant use of this product and opioids (strong pain killers, medicines for substitution therapy and some cough medicines) increases the risk of drowsiness, difficulties in breathing (respiratory depression), coma and may be life-threatening.

Because of this, concomitant use should only beconsidered when other treatment options are not possible. However if your doctor does prescribe this product together with opioids the dose and duration of concomitant treatment should be limited by your doctor.

Please tell your doctor about all opioid medicines you are taking, and follow your doctor’s dose recommendation closely. It could be helpful to inform friends or relatives to be aware of the signs and symptoms stated above. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms.

Precautions

Talk to your doctor before using Lormetazepam:

• if you have severe breathing or chest problems;
• if you are allergic to benzodiazepines or any of the other ingredients in Lormetazepam;
• if you have myasthenia gravis (very weak or tired muscles);
• if you have serious liver problems;
• if you suffer from sleep apnoea(breathing problems when you are asleep);
• if you are breast-feeding,since the drug may pass into breast milk.

Take special care with Lormetazepam:

• if you are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant;
• if you abuse or have in the pastabused drugs or alcohol;
• if you have a personality disorder. If so, you have a greater chance of becoming dependent on lormetazepam;
• if you have any kidney or liver problems;
• if you are suffering from depression, since lormetazepam may increase any suicidal feelings which you may have;
• if you have suffered from depression before, since it could re-occur during treatment with lormetazepam;
• if you suffer frombreathing problems;
• if you are suffering from an eye problem called glaucoma. Lormetazepam may cause muscle relaxation and caution is advised as you may be at a greater risk of falling.

Storage

Store Lormetazepam EG 2mg at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.