Ativan vs. Baclofen

• Are Ativan and Baclofen the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Ativan?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Baclofen?
• What is Ativan?
• What is Baclofen?
• What Drugs Interact with Ativan?
• What Drugs Interact with Baclofen?
• How Should Ativan Be Taken?
• How Should Baclofen Be Taken?

Baclofen and Ativan (lorazepam) are muscle relaxants used for treating spasm of skeletal muscles.

A difference is baclofen is also used to treat muscle clonus, rigidity, and pain caused by multiple sclerosis. Baclofen is also injected into the spinal cord to treat severe spasticity, spinal cord injuries, and other spinal cord diseases.

Ativan is a different class of drug called a benzodiazepine, typically used for the management of anxiety disorders, insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal.

Brand names for baclofen include Gablofen and Lioresal.

Common side effects of Ativan include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Muscle weakness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Forgetfulness or amnesia
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Changes in appetite
• Skin rash

Common side effects of Baclofen include:

• drowsiness,
• weakness,
• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• seizures,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• low blood pressure,
• constipation,
• confusion,
• respiratory depression,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia), and
• increased urinary frequency or urinary retention.

Abrupt discontinuation of baclofen may cause seizures and hallucinations, high fever, rebound spasticity, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown and wasting).

Ativan (lorazepam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms.

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and antispastic used for treating spasm of skeletal muscles, muscle clonus, rigidity, and pain caused by multiple sclerosis. Baclofen is also injected into the spinal cord to treat severe spasticity, spinal cord injuries, and other spinal cord diseases. Baclofen is available in generic form.

Benzodiazepines like Ativan produce increased CNS (central nervous system) depressant effects when administered with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, antipsychotics, sedative/hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, sedative antihistamines, anticonvulsants, and anesthetics.

Baclofen may interact with alcohol, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medications, narcotics, antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and other muscle relaxers.

Ativan can be taken with or without food. Ativan tablets should be swallowed with water.

The lowest dose compatible with an optimal response is recommended. If benefits are not evident after a reasonable trial period, patients should be slowly withdrawn from the drug.