Lactopam 3 mg Tablet

Lactopam 3 mg Tablet contains bromazepam, a benzodiazepine anxiolytic from Silva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. It is used for the short-term medical management of anxiety symptoms, and should be taken only as prescribed because it can cause sedation and dependence.

Lactopam 3 mg tablet is manufactured by Silva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and contains Bromazepam, a benzodiazepine medicine used for the short-term relief of severe anxiety and related sleep disturbance. It calms the mind quickly, but it is meant only as a temporary support — usually for 2–4 weeks — while the underlying problem is treated. Benzodiazepines are among the most misused medicines in Bangladesh, so Lactopam must be used exactly as prescribed and never shared with others.

Bromazepam works by enhancing the action of GABA, the brain's natural calming chemical messenger. This slows down excessive nerve activity, which reduces anxiety, relaxes muscles and makes you drowsy — usually within an hour of taking a dose.

Doctors prescribe Lactopam for short-term use only in:

• Severe, disabling anxiety that needs rapid relief while longer-term treatment (such as an antidepressant or counselling) starts working
• Anxiety with tension, restlessness and palpitations
• Sleep disturbance caused by anxiety
• Sometimes before minor procedures, to reduce anxiety, at the doctor's discretion

Lactopam does not cure anxiety disorders — it only relieves symptoms temporarily. Lasting recovery usually needs psychiatric treatment and lifestyle measures, which your doctor will plan with you.

ChamberBD shows dosing only from the approved product label, with its source named, and no label is on file for Lactopam 3 mg Tablet. Use the dose your doctor prescribed and the instructions in the pack leaflet.

Common side effects of Lactopam include:

• Drowsiness, sedation and daytime sleepiness
• Dizziness, unsteadiness and slowed reactions — a fall risk in the elderly
• Muscle weakness, fatigue
• Poor concentration and forgetfulness
• Occasionally confusion or, paradoxically, agitation (more common in children and the elderly)

The most serious risk is dependence (addiction): with regular use beyond a few weeks the body adapts, higher doses feel necessary, and stopping becomes difficult. Seek medical help promptly for severe drowsiness, breathing difficulty, or if you notice you are craving the medicine or increasing the dose yourself.

Essential precautions with Lactopam:

• Dependence warning: benzodiazepines are the most misused medicine class in Bangladesh. Use the lowest dose for the shortest time, never increase the dose yourself, and never take it without a current prescription.
• Never stop abruptly after regular use — taper under medical guidance to avoid withdrawal, including rare seizures.
• Do not drink alcohol — the combination can dangerously depress breathing.
• Do not drive or operate machinery while taking Lactopam; reactions are slowed even when you feel normal.
• Extra caution in the elderly, and in people with breathing problems (COPD, sleep apnoea), liver disease, depression or a history of substance misuse.
• Never share this medicine with anyone.

Tell your doctor about every medicine you take. Important interactions with Lactopam:

• Alcohol — dangerous sedation and breathing suppression; strictly avoid.
• Opioid painkillers (tramadol, morphine, codeine) — combined use can severely depress breathing and is potentially fatal.
• Other sedatives — sleeping pills, sedating antihistamines, antipsychotics and some antidepressants add to drowsiness.
• Anti-epileptic and muscle-relaxant medicines — increased sedation.
• Some antifungals, certain antibiotics and cimetidine can raise Bromazepam levels and prolong its effect.

Lactopam must not be used in:

• Allergy to Bromazepam or other benzodiazepines
• Severe breathing problems, including severe respiratory failure and sleep apnoea syndrome
• Myasthenia gravis (a muscle-weakness disease)
• Severe liver failure
• Known current alcohol or drug dependence, except as part of a supervised treatment programme

It is not recommended for children, and should be avoided as a long-term solution for anxiety or insomnia in anyone.

Pregnancy: Lactopam should be avoided in pregnancy unless the doctor considers it absolutely necessary. Benzodiazepines used late in pregnancy can make the newborn floppy, drowsy and slow to feed, and regular use may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby. If you discover you are pregnant while taking it, do not stop abruptly — contact your doctor for a safe tapering plan.

Breastfeeding: Bromazepam passes into breast milk and can sedate the infant. Breastfeeding is generally not advised while taking Lactopam; discuss alternatives with your doctor.

Store Lactopam below 30°C in a dry place away from light and moisture, in its original pack. Because this medicine carries a risk of misuse, keep it securely out of the reach of children and of anyone it was not prescribed for. Do not use it after the expiry date, and return leftover tablets to a pharmacy — do not keep them at home for later self-use.