This article describes possible side effects of lorazepam oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for lorazepam. You can explore this overview article to learn more about lorazepam oral tablet, including the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Lorazepam oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Ativan. Lorazepam also comes in other forms, including an injectable form and other forms that you swallow. But these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about them, talk with your doctor.
Boxed warnings
Lorazepam has boxed warnings about a risk of misuse and addiction and a risk of withdrawal and dependence. There is also a risk of serious harm if lorazepam is taken with opioids. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For more information about the risks of serious harm if taken with opioids, see the “Side effects of lorazepam in detail” section below. For details about the other risks, see the “Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and lorazepam” section below.
More common side effects of lorazepam
Lorazepam oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of lorazepam oral tablet include:
- sleepiness
- dizziness
- weakness
- problems with coordination or balance
Mild side effects of lorazepam
Lorazepam may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of lorazepam oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- confusion
- dizziness
- fatigue (low energy)
- euphoria
- lowered inhibitions
- memory problems and forgetfulness
- problems with coordination or balance
- sleepiness
- weakness
- mild allergic reaction*
Lorazepam oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of lorazepam in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of lorazepam
Lorazepam may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from lorazepam oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with lorazepam.
Serious side effects of lorazepam oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- aggressive or hostile behavior
- acting very energetic or excited shortly after taking a dose
- feeling extremely anxious
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that’s not really there)
- problems with sleep
- breathing problems*
- mental health side effects*
- risk of misuse and addiction†
- risk of withdrawal and dependence†
- risk of serious harm if taken with opioids‡
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of lorazepam in detail” section below.
† Lorazepam oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and lorazepam” section below.
‡ Lorazepam oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of lorazepam in detail” section below.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Textline at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Side effects of lorazepam in children
For children, doctors prescribe lorazepam oral tablet to treat anxiety and symptoms caused by it. The drug is used for this purpose in children ages 12 years and older.
In studies, the following side effects were more common in children than in adults:
- aggressive or hostile behavior
- acting very energetic or excited shortly after taking a dose
If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking lorazepam oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Common questions about side effects of lorazepam
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of lorazepam oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do side effects of lorazepam typically last?
It depends. In many cases, side effects caused by lorazepam are mild and last only a few hours or days. However, in rare cases, side effects caused by the drug may last longer.
Check out the “Does lorazepam cause long-term side effects?” question in this section to learn more about possible long-term side effects of lorazepam. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more.
Will lorazepam 1 mg cause fewer side effects than lorazepam 2 mg?
Possibly. In general, a lower dose of a drug is less likely to cause side effects compared to a higher dose. But different side effects aren’t expected based on the strength of lorazepam oral tablets.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how your lorazepam dose affects your risk of side effects from taking the drug.
Does lorazepam cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases lorazepam oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These include adverse reactions that occur after you’ve taken the drug for a long time and those that may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with lorazepam oral tablet include:
- risk of misuse and addiction*
- risk of withdrawal and dependence*
The risk of these side effects continues throughout treatment with lorazepam oral tablet and possibly after stopping treatment.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects of lorazepam.
* Lorazepam oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and lorazepam” section below.
Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and lorazepam
Lorazepam has a boxed warning regarding a risk of misuse and addiction, as well as for a risk of withdrawal and dependence. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Risk of misuse and addiction
Like other benzodiazepine drugs, lorazepam may be misused. With misuse, a drug is used in a manner other than how it’s prescribed. An example of misuse is taking a prescription drug to feel “high.”
You may experience serious central nervous system (CNS) depression if you misuse lorazepam. (Your CNS is made up of your brain and spinal cord, and it controls many activities throughout your body.) Serious CNS depression can lead to other severe effects, including coma. In extreme cases, it can even be fatal. This risk is further increased if you take other medications that depress your CNS together with lorazepam, or if you consume alcohol while taking the drug.
Lorazepam misuse can also lead to addiction. With addiction, you continue using a drug despite it causing harm, such as affecting your school or work activities. It’s important to note that drug addiction is different from drug dependence.
Due to these risks, lorazepam is a controlled substance in the United States. Healthcare providers must follow strict laws from federal and state governments when prescribing and dispensing lorazepam to help prevent misuse.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about lorazepam misuse. If you experience symptoms of CNS depression that are serious or feel life threatening, immediately call 911 or seek emergency medical services.
Risk of dependence and withdrawal
Treatment with lorazepam can cause drug dependence. Drug dependence occurs when your body needs a drug to be present in your system in order to function like usual. It’s possible to be dependent on a drug but not be addicted to it. Your risk of drug dependence increases the longer you take lorazepam, and if you take a higher dose.
Because lorazepam can cause dependence, stopping treatment with lorazepam oral tablet may cause withdrawal symptoms. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that happen when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.) This is more likely if lorazepam treatment is stopped suddenly.
Withdrawal symptoms from stopping lorazepam oral tablet may be mild or serious. In extreme cases, they can even be life threatening.
Examples of mild and serious withdrawal symptoms reported with lorazepam oral tablet include:
- blurred vision
- diarrhea
- problems with concentration
- insomnia
- seizures
Because of these risks, you should not stop taking lorazepam oral tablet without speaking with your doctor first. You also should not change your lorazepam dose or take lorazepam in a way that differs from your doctor’s instructions. Missing doses of lorazepam can also trigger withdrawal symptoms in some cases.
If you and your doctor agree you’ll stop taking lorazepam, your doctor will develop a plan to slowly lower your dose over time. This is called a drug taper, and following this plan helps reduce your risk of withdrawal symptoms.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about lorazepam dependence or withdrawal.
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Side effects of lorazepam in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of lorazepam oral tablet.
Risk of serious harm if taken with opioids
Lorazepam has a boxed warning about the risk of serious harm if taken with opioids. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Opioids are medications prescribed to treat severe pain. Examples include fentanyl (Actiq, Fentora, others) and buprenorphine (BuTrans, Belbuca, others).
Because both lorazepam and opioid drugs cause central nervous system (CNS) depression, taking these drugs together can cause serious harm. Possible effects include serious trouble breathing, seizures, and coma. Side effects caused by this drug combination can be life threatening in some cases.
Ways to manage
Due to these risks, doctors avoid prescribing lorazepam with an opioid, unless there are no other suitable treatment plans. If they feel taking lorazepam and an opioid together is the only available treatment option, they’ll generally prescribe the lowest possible dose of both medications needed to treat your condition. They will also closely monitor you for potential side effects.
If you experience symptoms of CNS depression while taking lorazepam that are serious or feel life threatening, immediately call 911 or seek emergency medical services.
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Get free cardBreathing problems
In studies, breathing problems were rare in people taking lorazepam oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
Specifically, respiratory depression may occur as a side effect of lorazepam. With respiratory depression, you experience slow, ineffective breathing. Symptoms may include:
- difficulty breathing
- shallow breathing
- stopped breathing
Certain factors can increase the risk of respiratory depression with lorazepam oral tablet. These include:
- taking certain medications, including opioids
- drinking alcohol with lorazepam
- taking a high dosage of lorazepam
Ways to manage
Without treatment, respiratory depression can lead to serious conditions such as coma. It can even be life threatening in some cases.
If you experience symptoms of respiratory depression, seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.
If you experience respiratory depression as a side effect from taking lorazepam oral tablet, your doctor will likely recommend stopping treatment with the drug.
Mental health side effects
In studies, mental health side effects were rare in people taking lorazepam oral tablet. These side effects may be serious.
Mental health side effects reported with lorazepam include depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Symptoms may include:
- feeling sad or “empty”
- losing interest in hobbies or activities you used to enjoy
- thoughts of death or self-harm
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of mental health side effects, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with lorazepam. They can also recommend an appropriate treatment for your side effects, which may include counseling or medications.
If your symptoms are severe, or you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 or seek immediate medical care. You can also call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Allergic reaction
For some people, lorazepam oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. These reactions were rare in studies of lorazepam but may still occur.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to lorazepam oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for lorazepam
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking lorazepam oral tablet.
Boxed warnings
Lorazepam oral tablet has boxed warnings about the risk of misuse and addiction and risks of withdrawal and dependence. It also has a boxed warning about the risk of serious harm if taken with opioids. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For more information about the risks of serious harm if taken with opioids, see the “Side effects of lorazepam in detail” section above. For details about the other risks, see the “Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and lorazepam” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take lorazepam oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether lorazepam oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking lorazepam oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- breathing or lung problems
- bipolar disorder or mania
- depression
- kidney conditions
- liver conditions
- past allergic reaction to lorazepam
Lorazepam and pregnancy
In general,lorazepam oral tablet should not be taken during pregnancy. But there are rare cases where the benefits may outweigh the risks.
If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking lorazepam oral tablet. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to consider during treatment with lorazepam.
If you and your doctor agree you’ll take lorazepam while pregnant, consider joining the drug’s pregnancy registry. Pregnancy registries collect information that doctors and patients use to make safe treatment decisions during pregnancy. You can learn more or join the registry by calling 866-961-2388 or visiting this site.
Lorazepam and breastfeeding
Lorazepam oral tablet should not be taken while breastfeeding, unless you and your doctor agree that the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks.
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with lorazepam.
Lorazepam and alcohol
Lorazepam oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol. You should avoid consuming alcohol while you’re taking lorazepam.
Both alcohol and lorazepam cause central nervous system (CNS) depression. Taking the two together raises the risk of serious CNS depression. Serious CNS depression can lead to coma or life threatening respiratory depression (slow, shallow or stopped breathing).
Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about how alcohol and lorazepam interact.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of lorazepam oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How do side effects of lorazepam compare with those of other treatments for my condition?
- Are there alternatives to lorazepam that are safer to take if I regularly consume alcohol?
- Does my health history raise my risk of side effects if I take lorazepam?
- Is my risk of breathing problems higher when I first begin treatment?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.