Lorazepam

Abstract

Lorazepam is used for the short‐term treatment of anxiety, insomnia, acute seizures, including status epilepticus and sedation of hospitalized and aggressive patients. Metabolism of lorazepam was studied in eight healthy male subjects receiving a single oral dose of 2 mg [ 14 C]‐lorazepam. A mean of 88% and 7% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in urine and feces, respectively. Major metabolite was lorazepam glucuronide, which comprised 86% of the urinary reactivity. Quinazoline carboxylic acid product was also identified. Following oral administration of 2 mg lorazepam to six volunteers, further metabolites detected in urine were a quinazoline derivative, glucuronide conjugate of the phenylhydroxylated lorazepam, and a chlorobenzodiazepine ring hydroxylated product.