Lorazepam Side Effects

In Summary

Commonly reported side effects of lorazepam include: agitation, sedation, and tremor. Other side effects include: dizziness, drowsiness, and hypersomnia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

For the Consumer

Applies to lorazepam: oral solution, oral tablet

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by lorazepam. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

Major Side Effects

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when 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

If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking lorazepam, get emergency help immediately:

Symptoms of overdose:

• Changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
• increased sweating
• loss of strength or energy
• nightmares
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• slurred speech
• trouble speaking
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
• unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
• unusual paleness
• unusual weak feeling

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with lorazepam may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

Incidence not known:

• Being forgetful
• clumsiness
• constipation
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• disturbed color perception
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• double vision
• drowsiness
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• halos around lights
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• increased interest in sexual intercourse
• lack or loss of self-control
• lethargy
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• muscle aches, twitching, or weakness
• night blindness
• overbright appearance of lights
• rapid weight gain
• sensation of spinning
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• shivering
• stupor
• trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
• tunnel vision
• weak or feeble pulse

Applies to lorazepam: injection solution

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by lorazepam. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

If any of the following side effects occur while taking lorazepam, check with your doctor or nurse immediately:

More common:

• Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• blurred vision
• confusion
• difficult or troubled breathing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• shortness of breath
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• sweating
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common:

• Decreased awareness or responsiveness
• not breathing
• severe sleepiness

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
• change in consciousness
• convulsions
• cough or hoarseness
• deep or fast breathing with dizziness
• delusions
• dementia
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• extremely shallow or slow breathing
• fever or chills
• frequent urge to urinate
• headache
• loss of consciousness
• lower back or side pain
• numbness of feet, hands and around mouth
• painful or difficult urination
• problems with movement, walking, or speech
• vomiting

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with lorazepam may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

Rare

• Nausea

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to lorazepam: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution, oral concentrate, oral tablet

General

The most commonly reported side effects were sedation, hypotension, somnolence, and respiratory failure.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Sedation (15.9%)
Common (1% to 10%): Nervousness, abnormal coordination, dysarthria, memory disturbance, somnolence, dizziness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Coma
Frequency not reported: Headache, hemiparesis, hypotonia, slurred speech, tremor, vertigo, taste loss, migraine, paresthesia, anterograde amnesia, unsteadiness, extrapyramidal symptoms
Postmarketing reports: Acute brain syndrome, brain edema, convulsion, neuroleptic malignant syndrome^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Depression, emotional lability, confusion
Frequency not reported: Hallucinations, insomnia, psychosis, excitability, irritability, aggressive behavior, agitation, hostility, anxiety, vivid dreams, hyperactivity, organic disinhibition, depersonalization, apathy, excitement, feeling mad, illusion, nightmares, sleep disorders, suicide ideation, rage^[Ref]

Respiratory

Rare (less than 0.1%): Worsening of sleep apnea, worsening of obstructive pulmonary disease
Frequency not reported: Respiratory depression, asthmatic attack, dyspnea, pneumonia
Postmarketing reports: Pneumothorax^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension
Frequency not reported: Palpitations, chest pain, heart rate/rhythm disorders
Postmarketing reports: Pericardial effusion^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Common (1% to 10%): Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, dermal bleeding, pancytopenia, agranulocytosis
Postmarketing reports: Coagulation disorder, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, lung hemorrhage^[Ref]

Endocrine

Frequency not reported: Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone (SIADH)
Postmarketing reports: Aggravation of pheochromocytoma^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Myalgia
Frequency not reported: Muscle weakness, muscle cramps, arthralgia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Skin rash, contact dermatitis, skin disorder, alopecia, localized inflammation^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Constipation
Frequency not reported: Diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea, increased salivation, tooth disorder, dyspepsia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%): Decreased libido, increased libido, impotence, delayed ejaculation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cystitis
Frequency not reported: Dysuria, urinary incontinence^[Ref]

Hepatic

Rare (less than 0.1%): Jaundice
Frequency not reported: Increase in bilirubin, transient elevations of serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase^[Ref]

Immunologic

Uncommon (0.1 to 1%): Infection^[Ref]

Metabolic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acidosis
Frequency not reported: Weight loss/gain, thirst, change in appetite^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision
Frequency not reported: Diplopia, eye irritation, visual disturbance, visual field defect^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, asthenia
Frequency not reported: Malaise, pain, earache, hypothermia^[Ref]

Not all side effects for lorazepam may be reported. You should always consult a doctor or healthcare professional for medical advice. Side effects can be reported to the FDA here.