Navigation

Ativan Injection

  • Generic Name: lorazepam injection
  • Brand Name: Ativan Injection

side effects drug center ativan injection (lorazepam injection) drug - patient side effects and images

 

PROFESSIONAL

CONSUMER

SIDE EFFECTS

Ativan Injection Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol

Generic Name: lorazepam (oral)

What is lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen) that is used to treat anxiety disorders.

It is dangerous to purchase lorazepam on the Internet or outside the United States. The sale and distribution of medicines outside the U.S. does not comply with safe-use regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These medications may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy.

Lorazepam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Lorazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have weak or shallow breathing, if you are hard to wake up, or if you stop breathing.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

The sedative effects of lorazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness;
  • weakness; or
  • feeling unsteady.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Lorazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing.

MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

Ativan Injection Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

You should not take lorazepam if you have:

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lorazepam may harm an unborn baby. Avoid taking this medicine during the first trimester of pregnancy.

If you use lorazepam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice drowsiness or fussiness in the nursing baby.

Lorazepam is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old.

How should I take lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use lorazepam in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.

Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Do not take lorazepam for longer than 4 months unless your doctor tells you to. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.

Do not stop using lorazepam suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Store the liquid form of lorazepam in the refrigerator. Throw away any liquid not used within 90 days.

Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

Ativan Injection Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of lorazepam can be fatal if you take it with alcohol, opioid medicine, or other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, feeling restless, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeats, weak or shallow breathing, or coma.

What should I avoid while taking lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Avoid drinking alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

What other drugs will affect lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Taking lorazepam with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, prescription cough medicine, or medicine for depression or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

  • probenecid, aminophylline, or theophylline;
  • any other medicines to treat anxiety;
  • medicine to treat mental illness;
  • seizure medicine; or
  • medicine that contains an antihistamine (such as sleep medicine, cold or allergy medicine).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect lorazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about lorazepam.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2021 Cerner Multum, Inc.