DEAR DR. GOTT: My mother is 74 years old and has been taking lorazepam 0.5 milligrams nightly to help her sleep for almost two months. She would like to continue taking it but is concerned about the side effects. She prefers this medication over the other brand-name sleeping pills.
Should she try to go without for a few days to see if she has become dependent? She doesn’t want to skip it for fear she won’t be able to sleep. Please advise, and thank you in advance.
DEAR READER: Lorazepam is one in a group of drugs known as benzodiazepines and is commonly taken to treat anxiety and symptoms of depression. As with most drugs, it can also be used for other conditions, such as sleeplessness, as determined by a personal physician.
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