Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
Published on: October 17, 2013
Intravenous lorazepam as an amnestic and anxiolytic agent in the intensive care unit: a prospective study
S A Deppe1, M E Sipperly, A I Sargent
1Department of Medicine, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Objective:
To assess the efficacy and hemodynamic safety of intravenous lorazepam as an amnestic and anxiolytic agent in patients undergoing critical care procedures.
Design:
Prospective study.
Setting:
Trauma/intensive care unit and coronary care unit of a 524-bed, tertiary, teaching community hospital.
Subjects:
Ten patients undergoing critical care procedures.
Interventions:
Intravenous lorazepam was administered at an initial dose of 2 mg, 15 to 20 mins before the critical care procedure (procedures included both invasive and noninvasive techniques) was performed. Anxiety level and memory assessment were evaluated at baseline and at various points following lorazepam administration. Changes in hemodynamic status were evaluated regularly throughout the study.
Measurements And Main Results:
No significant changes in hemodynamic measurements were observed after administration of intravenous lorazepam. Significant differences were seen in anxiety scores and amnestic effects from preprocedure/pre-lorazepam to post-lorazepam evaluations (all p values were < .03).
Conclusions:
This study confirms the beneficial anxiolytic and amnestic effects of lorazepam in a subgroup of patients undergoing critical care procedures. The study also substantiates the safety of this drug in this patient population.
Related Concept Videos
01:14CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
01:26Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.
01:23Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
01:19Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...