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Loprazolam för sömnproblem

Loprazolam will help you to sleep. You will be prescribed a short course of treatment only.

Take the tablet just before you go to bed.

The effects of loprazolam can last into the following day; it is likely to impair your reactions and your ability to drive. Do not drive and do not use tools or machines while affected.

Överblick

  • Loprazolam is a benzodiazepine medicine for adults with sleeping problems called insomnia.

  • It is usually prescribed for short periods, often one to three weeks.

  • Take one tablet just before bed, exactly as your doctor tells you.

  • Do not drink alcohol or drive while taking loprazolam.

  • Taking loprazolam for too long can lead to dependence and addiction.

  • Side-effects can include daytime sleepiness, unsteadiness, or confusion.

  • Always tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking.

About loprazolam

Typ av medicin

A benzodiazepine

Används för

Sleeping problems (insomnia) in adults

Tillgänglig som

Tabletter

Poor sleep (insomnia) is fairly common but does not usually last for long. If you have problems sleeping, it may mean that you have difficulty getting off to sleep, or you may wake up for long periods during the night, or you may wake up too early in the morning. 'Sleeping tablets' like loprazolam are considered a last resort, but are sometimes prescribed for a short period of time to help with a particularly bad spell of insomnia.

Loprazolam works by affecting the way certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) transmit messages. This has a calming effect which helps you to sleep. It works well in the short term, with one week's treatment normally being sufficient, although up to three weeks of treatment are sometimes required. If you take it for longer, the medicine may lose its effect (you may become tolerant to the effect) and when you stop taking it you may develop withdrawal symptoms. You may need to keep taking the medicine to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. This is known as drug dependence.

In addition, you may become addicted to loprazolam. Addiction is different from dependence. You have an overwhelming craving for a drug, so that you feel compelled to take it even though it is harming you physically or affecting your life and relationships.

Before taking loprazolam

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 loprazolam it is important that your doctor knows:

  • Om du är gravid eller ammar.

  • If you have any breathing problems.

  • Om du har några problem med hur din lever fungerar, eller om du har några problem med hur dina njurar fungerar.

  • If you have a mental health problem. This includes conditions such as psychosis, depression, 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.

  • Om du har en sällsynt ärftlig blodsjukdom som kallas porfyri.

  • Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

  • Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel som kan köpas utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

How to take loprazolam

  • Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about loprazolam, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

  • The usual dose is one tablet (1 mg) taken just before going to bed. Your doctor may recommend that you take a dose for just a few days, or only on certain days of the week. It is important that you take loprazolam exactly as your doctor tells you to.

Få ut det mesta av din behandling

  • Try to keep any appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check how you are feeling.

  • The effects of loprazolam can last into the following day; please be aware that it is likely to impair your judgement and reactions, and so affect your ability to drive. It is an offence to drive while your reactions are impaired, so do not drive until you know how you react, especially when you first start treatment. Even if your driving ability is not impaired, should you drive, you are advised to carry with you some evidence that the medicine has been prescribed for you - a repeat prescription form or a patient information leaflet from the pack is generally considered suitable.

  • Do not drink alcohol while you are on loprazolam. It will increase the risk of sedative side-effects.

  • If you are due to have an operation or any dental treatment, please tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking a benzodiazepine. This is because loprazolam increases the effects of some anaesthetics.

  • Your doctor may recommend that you reduce your dose gradually when it is time to stop taking it. This is to reduce the risk of you experiencing withdrawal effects. Follow carefully any instructions your doctor gives to you.

Can loprazolam cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the more common ones associated with loprazolam. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer's information leaflet in the reference section below. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Common

loprazolam side-effects

Vad kan jag göra om jag upplever detta?

Feeling sleepy or light-headed during the day

Kör inte och använd inte verktyg eller maskiner. Drick inte alkohol

Feeling unsteady, weak, forgetful, confused, or aggressive

If any become troublesome, speak with your doctor

Headache, feeling sick (nausea), blurred vision

These should soon pass, but if any are troublesome or you are concerned about them, please speak with your doctor

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på tabletterna, tala med din läkare eller apotekare för vidare råd.

How to store loprazolam

  • Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.

  • Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Om du köper några mediciner, kontrollera med en apotekare att de är säkra att ta tillsammans med dina andra mediciner.

Ta aldrig mer än den föreskrivna dosen. Om du misstänker att du eller någon annan kan ha tagit en överdos av denna medicin, gå till akutmottagningen på ditt lokala sjukhus. Ta med behållaren, även om den är tom.

Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

Denna medicin är för dig. Ge den aldrig till andra människor även om deras tillstånd verkar vara detsamma som ditt.

Behåll inte föråldrade eller oönskade mediciner. Ta dem till ditt lokala apotek som kommer att ta hand om dem åt dig.

Om du har några frågor om denna medicin, fråga din apotekare.

Rapportera biverkningar av ett läkemedel eller vaccin

Om du upplever biverkningar kan du rapportera dem online via Yellow Card webbplats.

symptomkontroll

Osäker på att blanda mediciner?

Kontrollera möjliga interaktioner mellan läkemedel, kosttillskott och livsmedel innan du tar dem tillsammans.

Vanliga frågor

What is the typical starting dose of loprazolam?

The usual dose of loprazolam is one tablet, which is 1 mg, taken just before going to bed. Your doctor might suggest taking it for only a few days, or only on specific days of the week, depending on your needs. It's important to follow your doctor's instructions precisely.

What should I do if I forget to tell a healthcare professional I'm taking loprazolam before an operation or dental work?

If you are due to have an operation or any dental treatment, it is important to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking a benzodiazepine like loprazolam. This is because loprazolam can increase the effects of some anaesthetics. If you forget, try to inform them as soon as possible.

Where can I find a complete list of all possible side effects of loprazolam?

A full list of all possible side effects associated with loprazolam can be found in the manufacturer's printed information leaflet that comes inside the medicine pack. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for this information.

What is the difference between drug dependence and addiction when taking loprazolam?

Drug dependence means that the medicine may lose its effect over time, and when you stop taking it, you might experience withdrawal symptoms. To avoid these symptoms, you may feel the need to keep taking the medicine. Addiction, on the other hand, is an overwhelming craving for the drug, where you feel compelled to take it even if it causes physical harm or negatively impacts your life and relationships.

Why is it important for my doctor to know if I have mental health conditions before prescribing loprazolam?

It's important your doctor knows if you have a mental health problem, such as psychosis, depression, or personality disorders, because certain medicines are not suitable for people with specific conditions, or may require extra care during use. This information helps your doctor determine if loprazolam is safe and appropriate for you.

Vidare läsning och referenser

Om författarenVisa fullständig biografi

Författarbild

Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

Ansvarig för granskning av medicinbroschyrer – Konsult, Apotekare

BPharm (Hons), MRPharmS

Michael är en apotekare som arbetar i Midlands och South Yorkshire med mer än 20 års erfarenhet av att ge råd om läkemedel och medicinska tillstånd. Han har en stark bakgrund inom vårdutbildning och har producerat och levererat utbildningskurser för apoteksteam och personal inom vårdboenden, inklusive sjuksköterskor. Han har också bidragit till apoteksrådgivande styrelser för hantering av mindre allvarliga tillstånd i samhället.

Om recensenten

Författarbild

Sid Dajani

Sultan Dajani tog examen vid London School of Pharmacy 1994 och blev den yngsta valda medlemmen i Royal Pharmaceutical Society-rådet sedan dess grundande 1842.

Artikelhistorik

Informationen på denna sida är skriven och granskad av kvalificerade kliniker.

  • Nästa granskning: 18 jun 2027
  • 19 dec 2022 | Senaste versionen

    Senast uppdaterad av

    Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

    Granskad av

    Sid Dajani
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