Consumer Drug Information

Ativan

Generic Name: lorazepam (injection) (lor A ze pam)
Brand Names: Ativan

What is lorazepam injection?

Lorazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Lorazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

Lorazepam injection is used to treat a seizure emergency called status epilepticus. This medication is also used as a sedative to help you relax before having surgery.

Lorazepam injection may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about lorazepam injection?

If possible, before you receive lorazepam injection, tell your doctor if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, sleep apnea, or severe breathing problems.

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax).

Lorazepam can cause birth defects in an unborn baby, and generally should not be used during pregnancy. However, status epilepticus is a life-threatening emergency and the benefit of receiving lorazepam to treat it may outweigh any risk to the unborn baby.

Before receiving lorazepam injection, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Do not drink alcohol shortly after receiving lorazepam injection.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by lorazepam injection.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you receive medication to tell your caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows that you did receive lorazepam injection.

After treatment with lorazepam injection, you will be watched to make sure the medication does not cause harmful side effects.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using lorazepam injection?

You should not receive lorazepam injection if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, sleep apnea, or severe breathing problems. You also should not receive this medication if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax).

If possible before you receive lorazepam injection, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

glaucoma;
sleep apnea or severe breathing problem;
asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;
kidney disease; or
liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive lorazepam injection, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category D. Lorazepam can cause birth defects in an unborn baby, and generally should not be used during pregnancy. However, status epilepticus is a life-threatening condition and the benefit of receiving lorazepam to treat it may outweigh any risk to the unborn baby. It is not known whether lorazepam injection passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are currently breast-feeding a baby.

How is lorazepam injection given?

Lorazepam is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in an emergency or surgical setting.

After treatment with lorazepam injection, you will be watched to make sure the medication is working and does not cause harmful side effects.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you in surgery.

Lorazepam can make you very drowsy, dizzy, or light-headed. These effects may last longer in older adults. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury after you have received lorazepam injection. You may need help getting out of bed for at least the first 8 hours.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since lorazepam injection is given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will be on a dosing schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, fainting, or coma.

What should I avoid after receiving lorazepam injection?

Lorazepam injection can cause extreme drowsiness that may last for 24 to 48 hours after you have received the medication. Older adults may feel sleepy for even longer.

Avoid driving or doing anything that requires you to be awake and alert until the effects of lorazepam have worn off completely.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by lorazepam. Tell your doctor if you will need to use any of these other medicines within 48 hours after you receive lorazepam injection. Do not drink alcohol within the first 1 or 2 days after you receive lorazepam injection. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.

Lorazepam injection side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

weak or shallow breathing;
seizure (convulsions);
hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;
hallucinations;
unusual thoughts or behavior; or
feeling like you might pass out.

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, dizziness;
headache;
blurred vision;
skin rash;
nausea, vomiting; or
pain or burning where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect lorazepam injection?

Before receiving lorazepam injection, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

birth control pills;
probenecid (Benemid);
valproate (Depakene);
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo), haloperidol (Haldol), loxapine (Loxitane), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
narcotic medications such as butorphanol (Stadol), codeine, hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), naloxone (Narcan), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Asendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with lorazepam injection. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about lorazepam injection.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.