Ativan

Ativan is the name formerly used for Lorazepam, though in daily parlance Ativan is still a very common word and is probably used more than Lorazepam. The fact that the name still survives is testimony to the fact that how popular Ativan was from its very beginning and it continues to remain so.  However, people always knew that the benzodiazepine drug had its set of side effects and this awareness is increasingly growing. In fact, the very effects of Ativan as a sedative, anxiolytic, amnesic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant, can be termed as side effects if they are unwanted.

There is a whole range of long-term and short-term side effects from Ativan and the drug can even lead to addiction and can result in withdrawal symptoms if the person who is addicted does not have access to the drug. Here we are going to discuss some of the most common side effects of Ativan or Lorazepam.

Suicidality: In patients with depression, Ativan in high doses can lead to suicidal tendency in the patient. This is because a regular high dose of Ativan can wash away the inhibitions and the fear in a depressed patient and reveal his suicidal tendencies. So Ativan here acts as a facilitator. Although, strictly speaking , it is doing what it is supposed to do, that is reduce the anxiety in the patient,  a high dose can work the other way. So in patients suffering from depression, Ativan must be administered in conjunction with antidepressants.
 
Paradoxical effects: Ativan, at times, can show results that are exactly the opposite as what was meant to be the initial result. These paradoxical effects include aggression, hostility, angry outbursts and psychomotor agitation. Much of the paradoxical effects are due to high doses in patients who already have some kind of psychiatric illness. In these patients, instead of reducing stress and frustration, a high dose of Ativan can increase hostility and aggression. Since such effects are triggered by high dosage, they do drop or go away completely on reducing the dosage of the drug or withdrawing it completely.
 
Amnesic effects: Patients who were treated with Ativan have often complained about its amnesic effects, but these effects tend to go away with time. As the patient gets used to the drug his or her brain becomes tolerant of the drug and the amnesic effects are greatly reduced. Such effects can also be controlled by a regulating the dosage. One should not consume more than 2 mg of Ativan during the initial period.
 
There are various other side effects of Ativan. A patient would require emergency medical help if he or she has any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction: difficulty in  breathing, hives, swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat.
 
Other side effects include confusion, depressed mood, thoughts of causing hurt to yourself, hyperactivity, hallucinations, fainting. Any of these side effects need special medical care and you should call your doctor if you suffer from these.
 
Some of the minor side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, insomnia, blurred vision, weakness of muscles and lack of coordination between them, lack of balance, trouble to concentrate, nausea, vomiting, constipation, skin rash, etc.
 
Abuses of the Drug
 
Ativan has often been abused by people who were initially prescribed to take it as a drug to treat an ailment. There are generally two kinds of abuses. On the one hand some people use the drug to get a high that is a result of the drug’s sedative properties. On the other hand, some people continue to take the drug beyond the prescribed period.

Article Tags: Side Effects, High Dose, Effects Include

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