Loprazolam

If the product is prescribed to a woman of childbearing potential, she should be warned to contact her physician regarding discontinuance of the product if she intends to become or suspects that she is pregnant.

If, for compelling medical reasons, the product is administered during the late phase of pregnancy, or during labour at high doses, effects on the neonate, such as hypothermia, hypotonia and moderate respiratory depression can be expected due to the pharmacological action of the compound.

Moreover, infants born to mothers who took benzodiazepines chronically during the latter stages of pregnancy may have developed physical dependency and may be at some risk for developing withdrawal symptoms in the postnatal period.

Since benzodiazepines are found in the breast milk, they should not be given to breast feeding mothers.

Attention should be drawn to the risk of drowsiness, sedation, amnesia, impaired concentration and muscular weakness, especially in drivers of vehicles and operators of machines, when taking the product.

This medicine can impair cognitive function and can affect a patient’s ability to drive safely. This class of medicine is in the list of drugs included in regulations under 5a of the Road Traffic Act 1988. When prescribing this medicine, patients should be told:

• The medicine is likely to affect your ability to drive.
• Do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you.
• It is an offence to drive while under the influence of this medicine.
• However, you would not be committing an offence (called ‘statutory defence’) if:
  • The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and
  • You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided with the medicine and
  • It was not affecting your ability to drive safely.

In general, loprazolam is very well tolerated. However, the common side effects of benzodiazepines, including headaches, nausea, drowsiness, hypotonia, blurring of vision, dizziness and ataxia may occur on the following day, particularly in unusually sensitive patients or when dosage has been excessive.

Rare behavioural adverse effects of benzodiazepines include paradoxical aggressive outbursts, excitement, confusion and the uncovering of depression with suicidal tendencies. If these reactions should occur, use of the drug should be discontinued. Even more rare side effects reported with some benzodiazepines have been hypotension, gastro-intestinal and visual disturbances, skin rashes, urinary retention, changes in libido, blood dyscrasias and jaundice.

Frequency not known: speech disorders

Benzodiazepines may induce cognitive disorders (anterograde amnesia). In cases of loss or bereavement, psychological adjustment may be inhibited by benzodiazepines.

Injury poisoning and procedural complications: Fall