Indications

Tavor® expidet® is used in the short term for the symptomatic treatment of anxiety, excitement and tension, such as those associated with depression or psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia). It can also be used for a short period of time to treat sleep disorders (difficulty in falling asleep or sleeping through the night) caused by anxiety, restlessness or worry. Furthermore, Tavor® expidet® is given prior to surgery or diagnostic procedures to relieve the patient’s fear of the intervention. Tavor® expidet® is also used as an emergency medication in case of epilepticus status (acute, prolonged epileptic seizure).

Epilepsy

Tavor® expidet® is not recommended as the drug of choice for the permanent treatment of epilepsy because it is rapidly becoming addictive. It is administered with drugs such as valproate (for generalized epilepsy) or lamotrigine (for focal epilepsy). Tavor® expidet® is mainly used when a series of epileptic seizures occurs with longer pauses between seizures – so-called seizure series.

It is also sometimes administered by laypersons as an emergency medication in the case of the so-called status epilepticus – a complication of epilepsy. The status epilepticus can manifest itself in various ways: On the one hand, a seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes can occur. On the other hand, seizures can occur repeatedly without the person affected having reached a normal state between seizures. Tavor® expidet® is designed to break the status epilepticus in order to prevent life-threatening consequences such as brain edema or cardiovascular arrest. However, other medications, such as those administered to the nose, have proven more effective in this regard, as it can take up to 40 minutes for an effective amount of Tavor® expidet® to reach the bloodstream.

Effect

The active ingredient contained in Tavor® expidet® is called lorazepam.Like all benzodiazepines, lorazepam binds to specific receptors in the brain. These specific receptors are called GABA-A receptors and are so-called ligand-directed ion channels. The body’s own transmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) normally binds to these channels.

GABA inhibits (inhibits) the nerve cells in the brain by reducing the excitation of the cells through receptor binding. Lorazepam, like GABA, can bind to GABA-A receptors and thus mimic the effect of GABA. When Lorazepam (or GABA) binds to the receptors, the ion channel opens and negatively charged chloride ions flow into the cell. As a result, the potential in the cell becomes more negative and the nerve cell can no longer be excited for a certain time. This inhibitory effect of the receptors ultimately resolves the anxiety, tension or cramping states, as the nerve cell can no longer transmit impulses.