Lorazepam Side Effects

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

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]

Frequently asked questions

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Further information

Lorazepam 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.

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