Ativan Side Effects
Generic name: lorazepam
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 20, 2024.
Note: This document contains side effect information about lorazepam. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Ativan.
Applies to lorazepam: injection solution. Other dosage forms:
Warning
Injection route (Solution)
Risks From Concomitant Use With Opioids; Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction; and Dependence and Withdrawal Reactions:Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required. Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.The use of benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, exposes users to risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose or death. Abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines commonly involve concomitant use of other medications, alcohol, and/or illicit substances, which is associated with an increased frequency of serious adverse outcomes. Before prescribing lorazepam and throughout treatment, assess each patient’s risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction.The continued use of benzodiazepines for several days to weeks may lead to clinically significant physical dependence. The risks of dependence and withdrawal increase with longer treatment duration and higher daily dose. Although lorazepam injection is indicated only for intermittent use, if used more frequently than recommended, abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction of lorazepam injection may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening. For patients using lorazepam injection more frequently than recommended, to reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions, use a gradual taper to discontinue lorazepam injection.
Serious side effects of Ativan
Along with its needed effects, lorazepam (the active ingredient contained in Ativan) 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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking lorazepam:
More common
- Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- blurred vision
- confusion
- difficult or trouble breathing
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
- sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
- sweating
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
- Decreased awareness or responsiveness
- not breathing
Rare
- Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
- bloody or cloudy urine
- blurred vision
- change in consciousness
- cough or hoarseness
- deep or fast breathing with dizziness
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- dizziness
- extremely shallow or slow breathing
- false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
- fever or chills
- frequent urge to urinate
- headache
- loss of consciousness
- lower back or side pain
- nervousness
- numbness of feet, hands and around mouth
- painful or difficult urination
- poor insight and judgement
- pounding in the ears
- problems with memory or speech
- problems with movement, walking, or speech
- seizures
- slow or fast heartbeat
- trouble thinking and planning
- vomiting
Incidence not known
- Black, tarry stools
- bleeding gums
- chest pain or discomfort
- dark urine
- fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
- high fever
- light-colored stools
- loss of bladder control
- loss of memory
- paralysis
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- sever muscle stiffness
- stomach pain or bloating
- sudden onset of severe breathing difficulty
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusually pale skin
- yellow eyes or skin
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking lorazepam:
Symptoms of overdose
- Agitation
- changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
- confusion
- excitement
- irritability
- loss of strength or energy
- muscle pain or weakness
- restlessness
- shakiness and unsteady walk
- slurred speech
- talkativeness
- trouble speaking
- unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
- unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
- unusual weak feeling
Other side effects of Ativan
Some side effects of lorazepam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Rare
- Nausea
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to lorazepam: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution, oral capsule extended release, oral concentrate, oral tablet.
General
Oral: The most commonly reported side effects included sedation, dizziness, weakness, and unsteadiness.
Parenteral: The most commonly reported side effects included somnolence, respiratory failure, hypotension, and injection site reactions (pain and burning).[Ref]
Local
Parenteral:
Very common (10% or more): Burning (up to 17%), pain (up to 17%)
Common (1% to 10%): Painful response, redness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Injection site reaction
Frequency not reported: Arteriospasm, gangrene, injection site tolerance[Ref]
Nervous system
Dose-dependent central nervous system depression, increased sedation, and unsteadiness were associated with increased age.[Ref]
Oral:
Very common (10% or more): Sedation (up to 15.9%)
Common (1% to 10%): Anterograde amnesia, ataxia, daytime drowsiness, dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Dysarthria, headache, memory impairment, reduced alertness, slurred speech, transient anterograde amnesia
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Coma, extrapyramidal reactions/extrapyramidal symptoms, tremor
Frequency not reported: Amnesia, autonomic manifestations, balance disorders, convulsions/seizures, extremity numbness/tingling, hyperreflexia, hypersensitivity to light/noise/sound, impaired perception, involuntary movements, prolonged response times, short-term memory loss, vertigo
Parenteral:
Common (1% to 10%): Ataxia, coma, dizziness, drowsiness, excessive drowsiness/sleepiness, headache, sedation, somnolence, stupor
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Brain edema, convulsion, myoclonus, tremor
Frequency not reported: Amnesia, balance disorder, central nervous system effects, decreased ability to perform complex mental functions, dysarthria, extrapyramidal symptoms, memory impairment, seizures, slurred speech, transient anterograde amnesia, unsteady gait, vertigo
Postmarketing reports: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, paralysis[Ref]
Psychiatric
Oral:
Common (1% to 10%): Confusion, depression, unmasking of depression
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Change in libido, impotence, less intense orgasm/decreased orgasm
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Change in libido, confusion, decreased orgasm, depression, disinhibition, euphoria, numbed emotions, sleep disturbances, unmasking of depression
Frequency not reported: Aggression, aggressive behavior, aggressiveness, agitation/states of agitation, anxiety, behavioral disorder, catatonia, delirium, delusion, dependence, depersonalization, derealization, disorientation, drug withdrawal symptoms, dysphoria, excitement/excitation, hallucinations, hostility, impaired attention/concentration, impotence, inappropriate behavior, increased dreaming, inner restlessness, insomnia, irritability, loss of reality, nightmares, panic attacks, psychoses, rage, restlessness, sexual arousal, sleep disorders, stimulation, suicidal attempt/ideation, tension/states of tension,, withdrawal phenomena
Parenteral:
Common (1% to 10%): Confusion, delirium, depression, restlessness, unmasking of depression, visual hallucinations
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal thinking, agitation, ataxia, change in libido, decreased orgasm, hallucinations
Frequency not reported: Aggression, agitation, anxiety, disinhibition, excitation, euphoria, hostility, impaired attention/concentration, inappropriate behavior, insomnia, irritability, mania, psychosis, rage, sexual arousal, sleep disturbances, stimulation, suicidal attempt/ideation
Postmarketing reports: Acute brain syndrome, nervousness[Ref]
Other
Oral:
Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, fatigue, lassitude, weakness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hypothermia
Frequency not reported: Hyperacusis, hyperthermia, paradoxical reactions, rebound phenomena
Parenteral:
Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, crying, fatigue, sobbing
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills
Frequency not reported: Depressed hearing, enhanced sensitivity to alcoholic beverages, falls, hypothermia, paradoxical reactions, tinnitus
Postmarketing reports: Fatalities[Ref]
Respiratory
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Apnea, respiratory depression, worsening of obstructive pulmonary disease, worsening of sleep apnea
Parenteral:
Common (1% to 10%): Apnea, hypoventilation, respiratory disorder, respiratory failure
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperventilation
Frequency not reported: Airway obstruction, worsening of obstructive pulmonary disease, worsening of sleep apnea
Postmarketing reports: Lung edema, lung hemorrhage, pneumothorax, pulmonary hypertension, respiratory arrest[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypotension
Frequency not reported: Palpitations, small decreases in blood pressure, tachycardia
Parenteral:
Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension
Frequency not reported: Decreased blood pressure
Postmarketing reports: Arrhythmia, bradycardia, heart arrest/failure, heart block, pericardial effusion, tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmia[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Oral:
Frequency not reported: Muscle pain, myalgia
Parenteral:
Common (1% to 10%): Muscle weakness[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Oral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Constipation, salivation changes
Frequency not reported: Abdominal cramps, abdominal spasms, diarrhea, dry mouth, gastrointestinal symptoms, hypersalivation, vomiting
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased salivation, nausea, vomiting
Frequency not reported: Constipation
Postmarketing reports: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage[Ref]
Metabolic
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Change in appetite, increase in alkaline phosphatase
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyponatremia
Frequency not reported: Loss of appetite
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acidosis, increased alkaline phosphatase
Frequency not reported: Hyponatremia[Ref]
Dermatologic
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Allergic dermatitis, rash
Frequency not reported: Allergic skin reactions, alopecia, dermatological symptoms, sweating
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension, hypotension
Frequency not reported: Allergic skin reactions, alopecia, skin rash[Ref]
Hepatic
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Abnormal liver function test values, increase in bilirubin, increase in liver transaminases, jaundice
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal liver function tests
Frequency not reported: Increased bilirubin, increased liver transaminases, jaundice
Postmarketing reports: Liver damage[Ref]
Genitourinary
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Impotence
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Impotence
Postmarketing reports: Urinary incontinence[Ref]
Immunologic
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Infection[Ref]
Renal
Parenteral:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cystitis[Ref]
Ocular
Oral:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blurred vision, diplopia, eye function/visual disturbance
Parenteral:
Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, diplopia, visual disturbances[Ref]
Hematologic
Oral:
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Agranulocytosis, leukopenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia
Parenteral:
Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, hypochromic anemia, leukocytosis, pancytopenia, thrombocythemia, thrombocytopenia
Postmarketing reports: Coagulation disorder[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Oral:
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylactoid reactions, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Angioedema, hypersensitivity reactions
Parenteral:
Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reactions, anaphylactoid reactions, angioedema, hypersensitivity reactions[Ref]
Endocrine
Oral:
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
Parenteral:
Frequency not reported: SIADH
Postmarketing reports: Aggravation of pheochromocytoma[Ref]
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take for Ativan to work?
- Ativan vs Xanax - What is the difference?
- Lorazepam vs Xanax: What is the difference?
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Other brands
Lorazepam Intensol, Ativan Injection, Loreev XR
Related treatment guides
References
1. (2002) "Product Information. Ativan (lorazepam)." Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.