Intramuscular Lorazepam in Catatonia in Patients with Acute Renal Failure: A Report of Two Cases

Cases of catatonia in patients with renal failure have been rarely reported. In this report,we describe two renal-insufficient patients with catatonia who had a good response to intramuscularlorazepam whereby the catatonic symptoms were relieved. Case 1 involved apatient with end-stage renal disease and severe pneumonia related respiratory failure. Heresponded well to intramuscular lorazepam (total dose, 4 mg) whereby the catatonia wasrelieved. Case 2 involved a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and rhabdomyolysis-relatedacute renal failure. He showed great improvement with intramuscular lorazepam (2 mg)whereby the catatonia was subsequently relieved. This report demonstrates that intramuscularlorazepam is safe, effective and rapid in relieving catatonia associated with renal functionimpairment. Neither of the patients had a recurrence of catatonia during a period of 6-months follow-up. In conclusion, intramuscular lorazepam may play an important role in thetreatment of catatonia associated with renal insufficiency.