Ativan vs. Baclofen

Are Ativan and Baclofen the Same Thing?

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.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Ativan?

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

What Are Possible Side Effects of Baclofen?

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).

What Is Ativan?

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.

What Is Baclofen?

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.

What Drugs Interact With Ativan?

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.

What Drugs Interact With Baclofen?

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

How Should Ativan Be Taken?

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

How Should Baclofen Be Taken?

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.

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References

FDA. Ativan Drug Information.
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/017794s044lbl.pdf
RxList. Baclofen Prescribing Information.
https://www.rxlist.com/baclofen-drug.htm#description

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