Ativan

Health Benefits and Risks of Using Ativan

Ativan is familiar to those patients who want to treat anxiety. It belongs to a class of meds called benzodiazepines, and it acts on the central nervous system and the brain to provide patients with a calming effect.

This medication works by improving the effects of GABA, and its use is also prescribed to eliminate the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, for trouble sleeping or insomnia and to prevent vomiting and nausea after chemotherapy.

Tips on How to Use Ativan

This medicine must be taken by mouth, either with or without your meals. The right dosage for all patients depends on a set of basic factors, including their response, age, health condition and others.

However, the use of Ativan is associated with certain withdrawal symptoms, especially if people take it in high doses and for a long time.

This risk is increased if they have a history of personality disorders, drug abuse and alcoholism. Some of the most common withdrawal reactions include:

• Trouble sleeping;
• Seizures;
• Vomiting and nausea;
• Mood and mental problems;
• Loss of appetite;
• Diarrhea and stomach pain;
• Hallucinations;
• Muscle pain and high fever;
• Tingling and numbness;
• Fast heartbeat;
• Memory loss.

To effectively prevent them, it’s necessary to reduce regular doses of Ativan gradually. This medication is also associated with developing an addiction, and this risk is increased in patients with alcohol and drug abuse.

List of Common and Rare Side Effects

Ativan also leads to specific mild and moderate side effects, such as the following:

• Dizziness and drowsiness;
• Nausea and headaches;
• Loss of coordination;
• Constipation and heartburn;
• Blurred vision;
• Changes in appetite and sexual drive.

Some rare and serious adverse effects include the following:

• Difficulty talking;
• Unusual weakness;
• Mood and mental changes;
• Slurred speech;
• Memory loss;
• Trouble walking;
• Signs of new infections;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Allergic reactions;
• Seizures;
• Yellow eyes and skin.

Patients always need to call their doctors once they notice any of the above-mentioned dangerous symptoms.

Other Precautions People Need to Mind

Before patients start using Ativan, it’s necessary to be examined by doctors and share any information about possible allergic reactions and other health problems.

For example, they need to tell physicians if they have glaucoma, kidney and liver diseases, mood and mental disorders, breathing and lung problems, alcohol or drug abuse, etc.

The intake of Ativan can make people feel dizzy and drowsy, so they should be careful when driving a car or doing other things that require attentiveness.

In addition, there are certain medications that should be avoided when using Ativan because they lead to increased side effects and changes in its effectiveness.

This medicine shouldn’t be taken together with kava, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, narcotic pain relievers, pills for anxiety or sleep, psychiatric meds and so on.