All About Ativan

Introduction: Ativan

Ativan or Lorazepam is a common drug belonging to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. Typical Ativan tablets contain 1.5 or 1 or 2mg of Lorazapam. Ativan also has other ingredients i.e. lactose monohydrate, microcrysralline cellulose, magnesium stearate and polacriline potassium. It is important to note that these ingredients are inactive therefore they don't have much significance. Benzodiazepines like Ativan have many side effects. The most common side effects include; weakness, drowsiness, headaches, depression, clumsiness and light-headedness.

Overview: Important Ativan facts/information

It is important to note that Ativan shouldn't be used by individuals who are allergic to benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Librium, Tranxene, Valium, or Serax. Also, Ativan can cause birth defects therefore it should not be used by pregnant women. It is also important to note that Ativan can cause severe side effects when taken by individuals with the following conditions; breathing problems, liver disease, kidney disease, glaucoma and depression. In case you happen to have any of the above medical conditions currently or in the past, you should tell your doctor in advance to get alternative medicine. Ativan is also harmful to individuals with suicidal thoughts or those individuals that have a history of addiction to drugs such as alcohol.

Like many other drugs, Ativan shouldn't be taken alongside alcohol. This is because Ativan enhances or increases alcohol effects. You should also avoid Ativan if you are taking other medication with symptoms such as drowsiness. Lorazapam adds to sleepiness thus combining Ativan with other drugs that cause sleepiness can have serious consequences. It is also important to note that Ativan is an addictive drug therefore it should only be taken as a prescription drug. Ativan should also be kept in a cool dry place away from the reach of children and other adults to avoid addiction and encouraging abuse.

Ativan side effects

Ativan has a number of common side effects. These side effects can be divided into; respiratory side effects, central nervous system side effects, endocrine side effects, dermatological side effects and hematological side effects

a. Respiratory side effects

Ativan use is commonly associated with respiratory depression which is a common respiratory drug side effect. This side effect occurs mostly when a patient overdoses on Ativan. Respiratory depression is a treatable Ativan side effect thus patients suffering from this side effect should seek medical attention to get treatment.

b. Central nervous system side effects

Ativan also causes common Central nervous system (CNS) side effects. CNS side effects are the most common Ativan side effects experienced by Ativan patients. One common CNS side effect Of Ativan is drowsiness. Most patients experience drowsiness during the early stages of Ativan use. The side effect however subsides with prolonged use. Other common Ativan CNS side effects include; memory loss, confusion, loss of coordination and loss of balance.

It is important to note that most of these CNS side effects subside with time. For instance, most of these side effects subside when patients develop a resistance towards Ativan. In such cases, more severe symptoms are experienced i.e. fainting and extreme dizziness. Such severe effects are common among elderly Ativan patients.

c. Endocrine side effects

Ativan also causes endocrine side effects such as inappropriate ADH secretion. It is however important to note that this particular side effect is extremely rare and mostly occurs as a result of prolonged Ativan abuse. Inappropriate ADH secretion usually results in low serum sodium levels. This in turn makes Ativan patients very weak. In most cases, patients can even develop seizures or severe hyponatremia. Inappropriate ADH secretion is one of the serious Ativan side effects because it can easily cause death if a patient is not hospitalized immediately.

d. Dermatological side effects

Ativan also causes dermatological problems such as skin rashes which are usually mild reactions towards the drug. It is however important to note that some dermatological side effects can be severe i.e. those that result in hives e.t.c.

e. Hematological side effects

Lastly, Ativan can also cause Hematological effects. For instance, prolonged Ativan use has been proven to increase chances of bone marrow diseases such as blood dyscrasias. Other rare haematological side effects include hemolytic anaemia which causes red blood cells to attack the immune system.