Ativan is the trade name for the prescription medication lorazepam, a member of the benzodiazepine class of drugs. Doctors commonly prescribe lorazepam as a sedative and short-term anti-anxiety agent. Lorazepam has depressant effects on the brain that produce a characteristic calming effect in most people. Ativan is generally effective and well tolerated when taken as directed. Side effects, however, may occur in some people who take this medication.
Drowsiness
Drowsiness is the most common side effect associated with the use of Ativan, occurring in up to 16 percent of patients, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved prescribing information. Drowsiness typically proves most prominent with the first several doses of lorazepam. Sleepiness is a predictable side effect of lorazepam, representing a more pronounced manifestation of the desired calming effect of the drug. The likelihood of experiencing drowsiness as a side effect of lorazepam increases with advancing age. Other central nervous system depressants, including alcohol, barbiturates, muscle relaxants and narcotic pain relievers, enhance the drowsiness associated with Ativan. Drowsiness and other side effects of lorazepam may adversely affect the ability to drive and operate potentially dangerous equipment. Caution is advised for all people taking lorazepam.
Dizziness
Approximately seven percent of those who take lorazepam experience dizziness, notes the FDA-approved prescribing information for the drug. Dizziness can increase the likelihood of falls and other accidental injuries.
Impaired Thinking
Lorazepam can interfere with the speed and clarity of normal thought processes. Patients taking lorazepam may feel mentally slow and experience memory disruptions, notes MayoClinic.com. Memory disruptions may manifest as poor recall of events that occurred while under the influence of lorazepam.
Unsteadiness
The FDA-approved prescribing information for Ativan notes that unsteadiness occurs in approximately three percent of patients taking the medication. The likelihood of experiencing this side effect increases with advancing age.
Aggression, Agitation and Anxiety
Lorazepam may cause aggression, agitation and anxiety in a small number of patients who take the medication, reports MayoClinic.com. This uncommon side effect is called a paradoxical drug reaction because the patient experiences the opposite of the therapeutic, calming effect expected. Insomnia often accompanies other symptoms of a paradoxical reaction to Ativan. This distressing side effect of lorazepam resolves as the medication is cleared from the body.
Drug Dependence
Ativan use can be habit-forming, reports the National Library of Medicine online encyclopedia MedlinePlus. Psychological and physical dependence most often develops with prolonged used of the drug. The FDA-approved prescribing information for lorazepam recommends limiting regular use of this medication to periods of two to four weeks. Symptoms of lorazepam withdrawal among people who have developed physical dependence include insomnia, irritability, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, hallucinations, light and sound sensitivity, numbness or tingling in the extremities and heart palpitations.
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