Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Of drugs used in attempted suicide, benzodiazepines are the most commonly used pharmaceutical drug, with 26% of attempted suicides involving benzodiazepines. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild anxiety and insomnia to more severe symptoms such as seizures and psychosis. The sedative-hypnotic and anterograde amnesia properties of lorazepam are sometimes used for criminal purposes. The combination with alcohol increases these impairments. 9%), weakness (4. Because of its relative long duration of residual effects (sedation, ataxia, hypotension, and amnesia), lorazepam premedication is best suited for hospital inpatient use. Some antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs such as phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine, sedative antihistamines, opiates, antipsychotics and alcohol when taken with lorazepam may result in enhanced sedative effects. Amnesic effects cannot be estimated from the degree of sedation present, since the two effects are unrelated. Children and the elderly are more sensitive to the adverse effects of benzodiazepines. Ativan is used to treat anxiety disorders.