Q) What is Ativan?

A) Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety agent. Ativan is a benzodiazepine and mild tranquilizer, sedative, and central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Ativan is manufactured in pill form as well as liquid form for injection.

Q) How is Ativan used?

A) Ativan tablets are a nearly white powder and are almost insoluble in water. Each Ativan tablet intended for oral use contains .5mg, 1mg, or 2mg of lorazepam. In liquid form Ativan is intended for intramuscular or intravenous use. Each ml or Ativan injection contains either 2.0 or 4.0 mg of lorazepam, 0.18 ml polyethylene glycol 400 in propylene glycol with 2.0% benzyl alcohol as preservative.

Q) When are the effects of Ativan typically felt?

A) The effects of Ativan are usually felt one to five minutes after receiving it intravenously, 15 to 30 minutes after muscular injection, or 1 to 6 hours after oral administration.

Q) Is Ativan considered addictive?

A) Yes, Ativan is very addictive and can cause psychological and physical dependence.

Q) What are the side effects of Ativan?

A) There are many side effects that come with the use and abuse of Ativan, they included but are not limited to:

clumsiness, dizziness, sleepiness, unsteadiness, weakness, amnesia, insomnia, agitation, disorientation, depression, headache, visual problems, nausea, abdominal discomfort, drowsiness, blurred vision, tachycardia, weakness, disinhibition (where they act inappropriately grandiose or out-of-control), anterograde amnesia (decreased or lack of recall of events during period of drug action) has been reported after administration of Ativan and appears to be dose-related, injectable Ativan results in an increased incidence of sedation, hallucination, and irrational behavior, some patients on Ativan have developed leukopenia, both elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels have been reported.

Cognitive Side Effects

Memory functioning is markedly and measurably impaired, especially the ability to store acquired knowledge into long-term memory. This memory impairment is highly relevant to students. The risk of acute amnesia is more pronounced with short-acting drugs. Ativan (lorazepam), Halcion (triazolam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) are especially likely to induce such memory impairment.

Q) What are the symptoms of withdrawal?

A) Withdrawal symptoms, similar in character to those noted with barbiturates and alcohol (convulsions, tremor, abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, and sweating), have occurred following abrupt discontinuance of Ativan. The more severe withdrawal symptoms have usually been limited to those patients who received excessive doses over an extended period of time.

Q) What are the symptoms of Ativan overdose?

A) The symptoms of Ativan overdose are degrees of central nervous system depression ranging from drowsiness to coma. In mild cases, symptoms include drowsiness, mental confusion, and lethargy. In more serious cases, and especially when other drugs or alcohol were ingested, symptoms may include ataxia, hypotonia, hypotension, hypnotic state, stage one (1) to three (3) coma, and very rarely, death.

Q) What drug interactions occur with Ativan?

A) Drugs or substances that may interact with Ativan include:

1. Clozaril (clozapine) - when taken with Ativan can increase side effects such as sedation and loss of coordination
2. Heparin, Macrolide antibiotics, Depakene (valproic acid), and Benemid (probenecid) - when taken with Ativan can increase its effects
3. Birth control pills, caffeine/amphetamines/other stimulants, and Theo-Dur (theophylline) - these drugs can reduce Ativan's effects
4. Lithium - when taken with Ativan can lower body temperature
5. Perocet (oxycodone) and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants - can cause a slower rate of breathing when taken with Ativan
6. Dilantin (pheytoin) - can cause Dilatin or Ativan blood levels to change
7. Narcotics, marijuana, tobacco smoking - can increase sedation
8. Sedatives, sleeping pills, other benzodiazepines - combination with Ativan could cause death
9. Alcohol - when taken with Ativan can lower breathing rate and blood pressure resulting in unconsciousness