Ativan Side Effects

Generic name: lorazepam

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 20, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Ativan Side Effects associated with lorazepam. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Ativan.

Applies to lorazepam: oral capsule extended release, oral solution, oral tablet.

Other dosage forms:

• injection solution

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to see if this medicine is working and allow for changes in the dose. Blood tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Using this medicine during the later part of a pregnancy may cause problems in your newborn baby (eg, sedation or withdrawal symptoms). Tell your doctor right away if your baby has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, feeding problems, a high-pitched cry, irritability, low muscle tone, restlessness, shakiness or tremors, sluggishness, trouble breathing, weight loss, vomiting, or fails to gain weight. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.

If you develop any unusual and strange thoughts or behavior while you are taking lorazepam (the active ingredient contained in Ativan) be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Some changes that have occurred in people taking this medicine are like those seen in people who drink alcohol and then act in a manner that is not normal. Other changes may be more unusual and extreme, such as confusion, worsening of depression, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), thoughts of killing oneself, and unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability.

This medicine may cause drowsiness, trouble with thinking, trouble with controlling movements, or trouble with seeing clearly. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or able to think or see well.

Symptoms of an overdose include: blurred vision, change in consciousness, confusion, dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, hallucinations, increased sweating, loss of consciousness, loss of strength or energy, muscle pain or weakness, nightmares, shakiness and unsteady walk, slow or irregular heartbeat, sweating, trouble in speaking, unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination, trouble sleeping, unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.

This medicine may cause respiratory depression (serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening), especially when used with narcotic pain medicines. Tell your doctor if you are using any narcotic medicine.

Do not stop taking it without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent a worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, including hallucinations, headache, seizures, stomach or muscle cramps, tremors, trouble sleeping, or unusual behavior.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. CNS depressants are medicines that slow down the nervous system, which may cause drowsiness or make you less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, barbiturates or medicine for seizures, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics (numbing medicines), including some dental anesthetics. This effect may last for a few days after you Stop taking lorazepam. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Ativan

Along with its needed effects, lorazepam 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking lorazepam:

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
• increased sweating
• irritability
• loss of strength or energy
• nightmares
• 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 excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
• unusual paleness
• 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to lorazepam: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution, oral capsule extended release, oral concentrate, oral tablet.

General adverse events

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

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]

Dose-dependent central nervous system depression, increased sedation, and unsteadiness were associated with increased age.^[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]

See also:

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?

Further information

Ativan side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer