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February 10, 2012

Ativan

Prescription Anxiety Medications »

What are anxiety medications and how do they work?

Anxiety is both a normal and useful response to potentially stressful or dangerous situations. It helps by increasing our awareness of what's going on around us and in other ways. For most people, the anxiety is short lived and normally goes away once the situation has passed. But that is not the case for an estimated 40 million adults in the United States who have some type of anxiety disorder and experience ongoing and unwarranted psychological distress. That distress may also manifest itself in physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, or chest pain.

Anxiety medications include multiple types of drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The three most commonly prescribed types of anxiety medication are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications -- also known as anxiolytics -- and beta-blockers. The first two types of anxiety medications work primarily by affecting the ba...

Read the Prescription Anxiety Medications article »

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Ativan Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Ativan

Generic Name: lorazepam (oral) (Pronunciation: lor A ze pam)

What is lorazepam (Ativan)?

Lorazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Lorazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders.

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

Ativan 0.5 mg

pentagonal, white, imprinted with A, WYETH81

Ativan 1mg

pentagonal, white, imprinted with A, 64 WYETH

Ativan 2 mg

pentagonal, white, imprinted with A, 65 WYETH

Lorazepam 0.5 mg-GG

round, white, imprinted with 91, GG

Lorazepam 0.5 mg-MYL

round, white, imprinted with M, 321

Lorazepam 0.5 mg-TEV

round, white, imprinted with I, L

Lorazepam 0.5 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with WATSON, 240 0.5

Lorazepam 1 mg-MYL

round, white, imprinted with MYLAN457

Lorazepam 1 mg-TEV

round, white, imprinted with I 1, 4821

Lorazepam 1 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with 241 1, WATSON

Lorazepam 2 mg-GG

round, white, imprinted with GG 93

Lorazepam 2 mg-MUT

round, white, imprinted with MP 96

Lorazepam 2 mg-MYL

round, white, imprinted with MYLAN 777

Lorazepam 2 mg-TEV

round, white, imprinted with I 2, 4822

Lorazepam 2 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with 242 2, WATSON

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

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

confusion, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;
hallucinations; or
feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness;
blurred vision;
sleep problems (insomnia);
muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;
amnesia or forgetfulness, trouble concentrating;
nausea, vomiting, constipation;
appetite changes; or
skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax).

This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use lorazepam if you are pregnant.

Before taking lorazepam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Do not drink alcohol while taking lorazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by lorazepam.

Lorazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Lorazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

It is dangerous to try and purchase lorazepam on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of lorazepam purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects. For more information, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or visit www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide.

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