Caution should be taken if you have a history of certain medical conditions. Ativan depresses the central nervous system CNS. Make certain that your doctor is up to date on all of your current prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Feeling tired and lightheaded are common side effects of Ativan. It is possible for Ativan to be passed to a child during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The side effects of Ativan are often more noticeable in older adults. To limit these effects, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage. This information is intended to provide a general overview of the use of Ativan for panic disorder.
Any questions or concerns you may have about your prescription should be addressed with your doctor or pharmacist. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life.
Lorazepram Avitan. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Updated January National Library of Medicine. Revised May 15, Food and Drug Administration. Published January Mental Health Medications. Taking these medications together may cause you to feel even more tired or drowsy. Both medications are used to help promote sleep. If taken together, they can cause excessive sleepiness and sedation. Taking this combination of medications can also increase the risk of odd behaviors such as sleep-driving trying to drive while asleep.
Taking Ativan with herbs or supplements that have sedative effects can cause excessive drowsiness and breathing problems. Examples of sedative herbs and supplements that can cause these effects include:. Using marijuana with Ativan can cause excessive drowsiness or sedation. Some people can have bothersome withdrawal symptoms after stopping Ativan.
These can occur after taking Ativan for as little as one week. If Ativan is taken longer, withdrawal symptoms are more likely to occur. Talk with your doctor before stopping Ativan. Your doctor may recommend that you slowly reduce your dosage before stopping the drug completely.
If you think you or your child has taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or seek guidance from the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or through their online tool.
But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. There are other medications that are often used to treat the same conditions as Ativan. Some may be better suited for you than others. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label for treating conditions also treated by Ativan. Some people use certain herbs and dietary supplements to help manage their anxiety.
Examples include:. You may wonder how Ativan compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Below are comparisons between Ativan and several medications.
Ativan and Xanax both belong to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines. They work in the same way and are very similar medications. Ativan is available as an oral tablet and as an intravenous IV solution. The oral tablet is usually taken one to three times a day.
The IV solution is given by your healthcare provider. Xanax is available as an oral tablet, which is usually taken three times daily. Ativan and Xanax have some similar side effects, and some that differ. Below are examples of these side effects. Ativan and Xanax are both used to treat anxiety symptoms. Xanax is also FDA-approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks. Ativan is used off-label to treat those conditions, too.
They work about equally well to treat all three conditions. This is due to the risk of side effects and dependence. Ativan and Xanax are both brand-name medications. The generic version of a drug usually costs less than the brand-name version. The generic name of Xanax is called alprazolam. Brand-name Ativan usually costs much more than brand-name Xanax. The generic versions of Ativan and Xanax cost about the same. Whichever drug or version you use, the amount you pay will depend on your insurance.
Ativan and Klonopin work in the same way and are very similar medications. They both belong to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines.
Ativan and Klonopin have similar side effects. Both drugs can cause these more common side effects:. Ativan and Klonopin are both brand-name medications. The generic name of Klonopin is called clonazepam. Brand-name Ativan usually costs much more than brand-name Klonopin. The generic versions of Ativan and Klonopin cost about the same. Ativan and Valium both belong to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines.
Ativan and Valium have some similar side effects, and some that differ. Ativan and Valium have different FDA-approved uses, but they are both used to treat the following conditions:. Both Ativan and Valium work quickly. Valium may work longer than Ativan for some uses, but not as long for other uses:.
Ativan and Valium are both brand-name medications. Both are also available in generic form. The generic name of Valium is diazepam. Brand-name Ativan usually costs much more than brand-name Valium.
The generic versions of Ativan and Valium cost about the same. Ativan and Ambien have some similar effects in the body. Both are considered to work as sedative-hypnotic drugs. This means they both cause sleepiness and sedation relaxation. However, these medications belong to different drug classes.
Ativan is a benzodiazepine, while Ambien belongs to a class of drugs called non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. 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. 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. Do not stop using lorazepam suddenly , or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. 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. 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. 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. Lorazepam starts to work in about 20 to 30 minutes. If it does not, call the hospital to ask what to do next. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact for advice if:. Common side effects These common side effects happen to more than 1 in people.
If you get these side effects, keep taking the medicine and speak to a doctor: feeling sleepy or very tired in the daytime muscle weakness problems with your coordination or controlling your movements Serious side effects It happens rarely in less than 1 in people, but some people have serious side effects when taking lorazepam. Tell a doctor straightaway if: your breathing becomes very slow or shallow your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow; this could be a sign of liver problems you find it difficult to remember things amnesia you see or hear things that are not there hallucinations you think things that are not true delusions you keep falling over you notice mood changes such as talking too much, feeling overexcited, restless, irritable or aggressive Mood changes can become serious and are more likely in children or if you're over Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, lorazepam may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. What to do about: feeling sleepy, or unusually tired in the daytime — do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery until you feel better. Do not drink any alcohol as this will make you feel worse.
This side effect should get better as your body gets used to the medicine. If your symptoms do not improve after a week or get worse, speak to a doctor as you may need a lower dose. You may need a blood test to find the cause. If you become pregnant while taking lorazepam, speak to a doctor. Lorazepam and breastfeeding If a doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can use lorazepam during breastfeeding. Lorazepam passes into breast milk in small amounts. Non-urgent advice: Talk to a doctor if you're:.
Important For safety, tell a doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does lorazepam work? Lorazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. How will it make me feel? How long does it take to work?
How long will I take it for? How long you take lorazepam for depends on why you're taking it: anxiety and sleep problems — it's usually only recommended for up to 4 weeks. Your dose may be reduced gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Will I become addicted to lorazepam? What happens when I want to stop taking lorazepam? If you stop taking lorazepam suddenly, you may get side effects, such as: confusion having a seizure or fit depression feeling nervous or irritable sweating diarrhoea If you get any of these side effects, speak to a doctor. Important Do not stop taking lorazepam without talking to a doctor.
Are there other treatments I can try? Can I drink alcohol with it? Will recreational drugs affect it? Are there any foods and drink I need to avoid? Will it affect my contraception? Will it affect my fertility? Can I drive or ride a bike? Can lifestyle changes help with anxiety or insomnia?
0コメント