Lorazepam (Ativan)

Lorazepam belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is thought that lorazepam works by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders and seizure disorders.

It is dangerous to purchase lorazepam on the Internet or outside the United States. The sale and distribution of medicines outside the U.S. does not comply with safe-use regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These medications may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy.

Important Information

You should not use lorazepam if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, severe respiratory insufficiency, myasthenia gravis, or if you are allergic to Valium or a similar medicine.

Do not use lorazepam if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause birth defects or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn.

Lorazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Misuse of habit-forming medicine can cause addiction, overdose, or death. This medicine should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Fatal side effects can occur if you take lorazepam with alcohol, opioid medicine, or other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take lorazepam if you have:

• narrow-angle glaucoma; or
• a history of allergic reaction to any benzodiazepine (diazepam, alprazolam, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Tranxene, Valium, Versed, Xanax, and others).

To make sure lorazepam is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• breathing problems such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or sleep apnea (breathing that stops during sleep);
• drug or alcohol addiction;
• depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior;
• kidney or liver disease;
• seizures; or
• glaucoma.

If you use lorazepam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.

You should not breastfeed while using lorazepam.

Side effects requiring immediate medical attention

Along with its needed effects, lorazepam may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking lorazepam:

More common

• Drowsiness
• relaxed and calm
• sleepiness

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• aggressive, angry
• agitation
• attack, assault, or force
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• bluish lips or skin
• blurred vision
• change in consciousness
• chills
• coma
• confusion
• confusion about identity, place, and time
• convulsions
• cough or hoarseness
• dark urine
• decreased urine output
• difficulty with breathing or swallowing
• difficulty with speaking
• discouragement
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• drooling
• dry mouth
• excitation
• false or unusual sense of well-being
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• feeling sad or empty
• fever with or without chills
• general feeling of tiredness or weakness
• headache
• hives, itching, or rash
• hyperventilation
• increased thirst
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• irritability
• loss of appetite
• loss of balance control
• loss of consciousness
• loss of interest or pleasure
• loss of memory
• lower back or side pain
• muscle pain or cramps
• muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
• nausea or vomiting
• not breathing
• painful or difficult urination
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• problems with memory
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• reddening of the skin, especially around ears
• restlessness
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• seizures
• shaking
• shuffling walk
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• stiffness of the limbs
• sweating
• swelling of the eyes or inside of the nose
• swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
• swollen glands
• thoughts or attempts at killing oneself
• tightness in the chest
• trouble concentrating
• trouble sleeping
• twisting movements of body
• uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
• unexplained bleeding or bruising
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes or skin