Ativan
Lorazepam
Treats anxiety disorders, symptoms of anxiety, anxiety-induced insomnia, and severe seizures; used as an injection to provide sedation before medical procedures or surgery
Anxiolytic, benzodiazepine, anticonvulsant, sedative, skeletal muscle relaxant
Tablet, injection
By mouth or as an injection
Ativan tablets are used to treat anxiety disorders, relieve the temporary symptoms of anxiety, or relieve insomnia due to anxiety or stress. Ativan injections are used to sedate people prior to medical procedures or to treat long-lasting seizures (status epilepticus). Doctors may prescribe it to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea, alcohol withdrawal, or severe reactions to antipsychotic drugs, but none of these are FDA-approved uses.
Tablet
0.5 mg
1 mg
2 mg
Injection
2 mg/mL
4 mg/mL
For anxiety in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older: 2–6 mg per day divided into two or three daily doses
For anxiety-associated insomnia in adults and adolescents: 2–4 mg tablets taken by mouth at bedtime
For preliminary medication before anesthesia in adults: 0.05 mg/kg (up to 4 mg) intramuscular injection
For sedation or anxiety relief before a medical procedure in adults: 2 mg or 0.02 mg/kg (whichever is smaller) intravenous injection
For rescue treatment of status epilepticus in adults: 4 mg intravenous injection administered every 10-15 minutes as necessary
RELATED: Ativan dosage, forms, and strengths
Ativan
3 tablets bottle
Ativan
0.5mg tablet
Ativan
1mg tablet
Ativan
2mg tablet
Ativan
1ml of 2mg/ml vial
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read it carefully before taking Ativan.
Ativan tablets can be taken with or without food.
Ativan injections are administered by a healthcare professional in a hospital or outpatient clinic.
Store Ativan tablets at room temperature in a tightly closed container that is out of the reach of children.
Take a missed dose as soon as you remember. If the dose is more than 1 hour late, skip the missed dose and wait until it is time for your next dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
This medicine is not right for everyone.
Do not use Ativan if you have had an allergic reaction to lorazepam.
Do not use Ativan if you are experiencing narrow-angle glaucoma.
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.
Your doctor will need to talk to you and perform lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Take the prescribed dose. Taking too much Ativan can cause extreme dizziness, weakness, trouble breathing, slow heartbeat, seizures, and cold, clammy skin.
Ativan can cause physical dependency and be habit-forming. Ativan abuse can result in overdose and death. Do not use more than your prescribed dose or take Ativan for longer than prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
Ativan may not be safe to take for longer than four months. Long-term use can lead to physical dependency and result in protracted withdrawal symptoms when discontinued.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. To prevent withdrawal, the prescriber will need to slowly decrease your dose before it’s stopped.
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have:
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Lung or breathing problems such as COPD or sleep apnea
Glaucoma
A history of drug or alcohol abuse, depression, mental health problems, or seizures
This medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell the doctor right away if you start to feel depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourself.
It may not be safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant.
Tell the doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Lorazepam can make a nursing infant sleepy or less willing to feed.
Ativan may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that’s risky until you know how this medicine affects you.
Ativan is a federally controlled substance. Giving or selling this drug to anyone else is dangerous and against the law.
Because of the risk of overdose, death, or misuse, keep Ativan securely out of the reach of children.
To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements you are using before taking diazepam.
Tell other healthcare providers you are using this medicine before they prescribe new medications.
Taking Ativan along with narcotic pain relievers (opioids) can cause serious problems including slowed breathing, coma, and death.
Ativan is a sedative, so it can cause excessive sleepiness, impairment, and even slowed breathing when combined with other drugs that slow down the nervous system. These include other benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, antidepressants, antihistamines, or alcohol.
Do not drink alcohol when taking lorazepam.
Tell the prescribing doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
Drugs that treat mental health conditions
Valproate, clozapine, probenecid, theophylline, aminophylline
Serious side effects
Talk to a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of a possible serious side effect including:
Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
Extreme drowsiness or weakness, slow heartbeat, trouble breathing
Seizures
Confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, problems with muscle control or coordination
Unusual mood or behavior, worsening depression, thoughts about hurting yourself, trouble sleeping
Worsening of anxiety or insomnia
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Less serious side effects
Drowsiness or sleepiness
Dizziness
Weakness
Find more detailed information about Ativan side effects here.
Ativan lorazepam tablet prescribing information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
Ativan lorazepam injection prescribing information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
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