Key takeaways

  • Ativan (lorazepam) is a benzodiazepine approved by the FDA to treat anxiety, status epilepticus, and insomnia due to anxiety or stress, and to help induce sedation before surgery.
  • Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and loss of balance, while serious side effects can include respiratory depression, low blood pressure, and loss of memory.
  • Ativan carries boxed warnings for the risks of misuse and addiction, physical dependence and withdrawal, and serious injury or death if taken with opioids. Talk with a healthcare professional if side effects become bothersome or if you have concerns about stopping treatment.

Ativan (lorazepam) is a prescription drug used to:

  • treat anxiety in adults and some children
  • treat status epilepticus (a type of seizure) in adults
  • help produce sedation (a state of calmness or sleepiness) in adults before receiving anesthesia for surgery
  • treat insomnia due to anxiety or stress

Ativan comes as a tablet that you swallow and a liquid that a healthcare professional injects into a vein or muscle. It’s typically used as a short-term treatment.

While taking Ativan, you may experience side effects ranging from mild to serious. Most mild side effects are temporary and easily managed, but you should consult your doctor if symptoms persist.

Commonly reported side effects of Ativan tablets and injections include:

Injection site reactions

If you’re receiving Ativan via injection, you may experience injection site reactions such as pain, stinging, burning, redness or other skin discoloration.

For a complete list of all possible side effects, refer to the full prescribing information for Ativan tablets and injections.

Experiencing side effects? After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking this drug and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Rare but serious side effects can occur with Ativan.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Ativan tablets and injections include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Ativan, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Side effects in children who take Ativan are generally similar to those in adults. One difference is that Ativan may cause certain unexpected reactions more often in children. An example is anxiety, which is unexpected because Ativan is used to treat this condition.

Note: Ativan is not approved for use in children under the age of 12 years.

Most of Ativan’s side effects in older adults (65 years and older) are expected to be the same as the side effects for younger adults.

But older adults may have an increased risk of certain side effects from Ativan, including:

To lower the risk of these side effects, older adults may be prescribed lower doses of Ativan than are typical.

If you have questions about your risk of side effects from Ativan based on your age, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Weight changes weren’t side effects reported in studies of Ativan tablets and injections, but you could still experience weight changes while taking the drug. This may happen because weight changes are a possible symptom of anxiety, which Ativan is used to treat. As the drug eases your symptoms of anxiety, you may gain or lose weight, but Ativan itself might not be the direct cause of these weight changes.

Although it’s rare, it’s possible to have anger as a side effect of Ativan. Behavior and mood changes have been reported in studies of Ativan tablets and injections. Examples include rage, agitation, aggressive behavior, and irritability.

It’s possible that Ativan may cause dry mouth. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies of Ativan tablets and injections, but benzodiazepines (the group of drugs Ativan belongs to) are known to cause dry mouth. So it’s possible Ativan could also cause dry mouth.

Learn more about some of the side effects Ativan may cause.

Boxed warning: Risk of serious injury or death if used with opioids

Ativan has a boxed warning for the risk of serious injury or death if used with opioids. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Opioid drugs are used to treat pain. Examples include hydrocodone (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER), morphine (MS Contin), and oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone).

Using Ativan with opioids can cause severe side effects. These include extreme drowsiness and respiratory depression (shallow, slow, or weak breathing). In rare cases, coma or death can also occur. These side effects weren’t seen in studies of Ativan tablets and injections, but there have been reports of these side effects in people using benzodiazepines (the group of drugs Ativan belongs to).

What might help

Before starting Ativan treatment, tell your doctor about all the drugs you take. If your doctor prescribes an opioid with Ativan, they’ll discuss the risks with you. They may also prescribe a lower dose of Ativan to reduce your risk of side effects as much as possible.

Boxed warning: Risk of physical dependence and withdrawal

Ativan tablets and injections have a boxed warning for physical dependence and withdrawal.

Physical dependence happens when your body gets used to a drug and needs it to feel as it usually does. And if you stop using Ativan suddenly, physical dependence can lead to withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, Ativan withdrawal can be life threatening.

Symptoms of withdrawal from Ativan can happen within hours of stopping the drug and could last for several weeks. In rare cases, withdrawal symptoms from Ativan may last for many months.

Symptoms of Ativan withdrawal can include:

Physical dependence and withdrawal weren’t seen in the drug’s studies, but there have been reports of these side effects in people using benzodiazepines (the group of drugs Ativan belongs to).

What might help

Do not stop Ativan treatment without talking with your doctor first. If they determine it’s safe for you to stop taking the drug, they’ll slowly lower your dosage over time in order to help lower your risk of withdrawal symptoms. If you do have withdrawal symptoms, tell them right away. They’ll monitor you closely and may prescribe certain other drugs to help ease your symptoms.

Respiratory depression

Respiratory depression (shallow, slow, or weak breathing) is a rare but serious side effect of Ativan. In some cases, this side effect may lead to respiratory failure (a lack of oxygen flowing to your brain or the rest of your body).

Your risk of respiratory depression with Ativan may be higher if you:

What might help

Before taking Ativan, tell your doctor about any health conditions you may have and all the medications you take. This will help them determine your risk of respiratory depression with Ativan.

If you have difficulty breathing, tell your doctor right away. They may lower your dosage or prescribe a different treatment for you.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Ativan tablets and injections can cause an allergic reaction in some people, but this side effect wasn’t reported in studies of Ativan injections.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin — typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. To manage your symptoms, they may suggest an oral over-the-counter antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Or they may recommend a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream. If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Ativan, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care. If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Ativan, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

This drug comes with several warnings.

Boxed warnings

Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the FDA. Ativan has three boxed warnings, including the risk of:

Other warnings

Ativan may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Ativan. Factors to consider include:

Ativan has a boxed warning for the risk of misuse and addiction. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. Misuse refers to taking a drug differently from how your doctor instructed you take it. Addiction refers to the continuous use of a drug despite any harm it may be causing you.

Possible side effects of misuse and addiction can include:

Misuse and addiction can also lead to overdose and, in some cases, death. Risk of these events is higher when Ativan is used with opioids and alcohol.

If you’re concerned about your risk of misuse and addiction with Ativan, talk with your doctor. They’ll monitor you for signs of these conditions before and during your treatment with this medication.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.