Ativan

Ativan (lorazepam) has been specially designed to treat anxiety. It is supposed to be taken only by people diagnosed with this condition. Ativan is not intended for long term treatment and is typically used for up to 4 months. If you think you need to take Ativan for longer – make sure you discuss this possibility with your health care provider. If you continue taking Ativan for longer than recommended, you may develop an addiction, which will make it more difficult for you to withdraw from the treatment. The following symptoms are possible if you stop taking Ativan suddenly without talking to your doctor (in case of having formed an addiction): sleeplessness, anxiousness, and irritability. Tell your health care provider if you are allergic to lorazepam, oxazepam, flurazepam, prazepam, estazolam, temazepam, clorazepate, chlordiazepoxide, triazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, or alprazolam, as an allergic reaction is likely to occur again if you take this drug. Withdrawal symptoms are possible if you decide to stop the treatment suddenly. The following withdrawal symptoms are possible: anxiousness, irritability, and sleeplessness. Make sure you tell your health care provider about any medicines you are taking at the moment, such as valproic acid, antihistamines, sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, theophylline, digoxin, drugs for seizures or pain, Parkinson's disease drugs, asthma and cold medications, oral contraceptives, medicines for allergies, rifampin, medications for depression, vitamins, or levodopa. Reporting any of the medications mentioned can be very important as they have been reported to interact with Ativan. By not taking them simultaneously you can benefit more from your treatment and avoid side effects. Some of Ativan serious side effects can include shuffling walk, changes in sex drive, difficulty urinating, difficulty breathing, severe skin rash, irregular heartbeat, constipation, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, restlessness, and blurred vision. However, in most cases you are likely to experience only mild side effects that are most likely to go away on thief own. The following mild side effects are most common: dizziness, diarrhea, weakness, tiredness, nausea, changes in appetite, dry mouth, and drowsiness. Avoid drinking alcohol as it can intensify some of the side effects mentioned.