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Ativan

Taking Ativan or other benzodiazepines for a prolonged period depletes certain nutrients from the body that can cause depression or a numbness or tingling of the extremities. An inability to sleep soundly and daytime anxiety will also be part of the symptoms.

Ativan Withdrawal
Ativan Side Effects

Ativan withdrawal - Body

Ativan withdrawal - Dry Mouth - The usual amount to moisture in the mouth is noticeably less.

Ativan withdrawal - Sweating Increased - A large quantity of perspiration that is medically caused.

Ativan withdrawal - Cardiovascular (Involving the heart and the blood vessels)

Ativan withdrawal - Palpitation - Unusual and not normal heartbeat, that is sometimes irregular, but rapid and forceful thumping or fluttering. It can be brought on by shock, excitement, exertion, or medical stimulants. A person is normally unaware of his/her heartbeat.

Ativan withdrawal - Hypertension - is high blood pressure, which is a symptom of disease in the blood vessels leading away from the heart. Hypertension is known as the “silent killer”. The symptoms are usually not obvious, however it can lead to damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and eye, and even to stroke and kidney failure. Treatment includes dietary and lifestyle changes.

Ativan withdrawal - Bradycardia - The heart rate is slowed from 72 beats per minute, which is normal, to below 60 beats per minute in an adult.

Ativan withdrawal - Tachycardia - The heart rate is speeded up to above 100 beats per minute in an adult. Normal adult heart rate is 72 beats per minute.

Ativan withdrawal - ECG Abnormal - A test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) that records the activity of the heart. It measures heartbeats as will as the position and size of the heart’s four chambers. It also measures if there is damage to the heart and the effects of drugs or mechanical devices like a pacemaker on the heart. When the test is abnormal this means that one or more of the following are present: heart disease, defects, beating too fast or too slow, disease of the blood vessels leading from the heart or of the heart valves, and/or a past or about to occur heart attack.

Ativan withdrawal - Flushing - The skin all over the body turns red.

Ativan withdrawal - Varicose Vein - Unusually swollen veins near the surface of the skin that sometimes appear twisted and knotted, but always enlarged. They are called hemorrhoids when they appear around the rectum. The cause is attributed to hereditary weakness in the veins aggravated by obesity, pregnancy, pressure from standing, aging, etc. Severe cases may develop swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, eczema and/or ulcers in the affected areas.

Ativan withdrawal - Gastrointestinal (Involving the stomach and the intestines)

Ativan withdrawal - Abdominal Cramp/Pain - Sudden, severe, uncontrollable and painful shortening and thickening of the muscles in the belly. The belly includes the stomach as well as the intestines, liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, and urinary bladder.

Ativan withdrawal - Belching - Noisy release of gas from the stomach through the mouth; a burp.

Ativan withdrawal - Bloating - Swelling of the belly caused by excessive intestinal gas.

Ativan withdrawal - Constipation - Difficulty in having a bowel movement where the material in the bowels is hard due to a lack of exercise, fluid intake, and roughage in the diet, or due to certain drugs.

Ativan withdrawal - Diarrhea - Unusually frequent and excessive, runny bowel movements that may result in severe dehydration and shock.

Ativan withdrawal - Dyspepsia - Indigestion. This is the discomfort you experience after eating. It can be heartburn, gas, nausea, a bellyache or bloating.

Ativan withdrawal - Flatulence - More gas than normal in the digestive organs.

Ativan withdrawal - Gagging - Involuntary choking and/or involuntary throwing up.

Ativan withdrawal - Gastritis - A severe irritation of the mucus lining of the stomach either short in duration or lasting for a long period of time.

Ativan withdrawal - Gastroenteritis - A condition where the membranes of the stomach and intestines are irritated.

Ativan withdrawal - Gastroesophageal Reflux - A continuous state where stomach juices flow back into the throat causing acid indigestion and heartburn and possibly injury to the throat.

Ativan withdrawal - Heartburn - A burning pain in the area of the breastbone caused by stomach juices flowing back up into the throat.

Ativan withdrawal - Hemorrhoids - Small rounded purplish swollen veins that either bleed, itch or are painful and appear around the anus.

Ativan withdrawal - Increased Stool frequency - Diarrhea.

Ativan withdrawal - Indigestion - Unable to properly consume and absorb food in the digestive tract causing constipation, nausea, stomach ache, gas, swollen belly, pain and general discomfort or sickness.

Ativan withdrawal - Nausea - Stomach irritation with a queasy sensation similar to motion sickness and a feeling that one is going to vomit.

Ativan withdrawal - Polyposis Gastric - Tumors that grow on stems in the lining of the stomach, which usually become cancerous.

Ativan withdrawal - Swallowing Difficulty - A feeling that food is stuck in the throat or upper chest area and won’t go down, making it difficult to swallow.

Ativan withdrawal - Toothache - Pain in a tooth above and below the gum line.

Ativan withdrawal - Vomiting - Involuntarily throwing up the contents of the stomach and usually getting a nauseated, sick feeling just prior to doing so.

Ativan withdrawal - General

Ativan withdrawal - Allergy - The extreme sensitivity of body tissues triggered by substances in the air, drugs, or foods causing a reaction like sneezing, itching, asthma, hay fever, skin rashes, nausea and/or vomiting.

Ativan withdrawal - Anaphylaxis - A violent, sudden, and severe drop in blood pressure caused by a re-exposure to a foreign protein or a second dosage of a drug that may be fatal unless emergency treatment is given right away.

Ativan withdrawal - Asthenia - A physically weak condition.

Ativan withdrawal - Chest Pains - Severe discomfort in the chest caused by not enough oxygen going to the heart because of narrowing of the blood vessels or spasms.

Ativan withdrawal - Chills - Appearing pale while cold and shivering; sometimes with a fever.

Ativan withdrawal - Edema of Extremities - Abnormal swelling of the body’s tissue caused by the collection of fluid.

Ativan withdrawal - Fall - To suddenly lose your normal standing upright position as if you were shot.

Ativan withdrawal - Fatigue - Loss of normal strength so as to not be able to do the usual physical and mental activities.

Ativan withdrawal - Fever - Abnormally high body temperature, the normal being 98 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Centigrade in humans, which is a symptom of disease or disorder in the body. The body is affected by feeling hot, chilled, sweaty, weak and exhausted. If the fever goes too high, death can result.

Ativan withdrawal - Hot Flashes - Brief, abnormal enlargement of the blood vessels that causes a sudden heat sensation over the entire body. Women in menopause will sometimes experience this.

Ativan withdrawal - Influenza-like Symptoms - Demonstrating irritation of the respiratory tract (organs of breathing) such as a cold, sudden fever, aches and pains, as well as feeling weak and seeking bed rest, which is similar to having the flu.

Ativan withdrawal - Leg Pain - A hurtful sensation in the legs that is caused by excessive stimulation of the nerve endings in the legs and results in extreme discomfort.

Ativan withdrawal - Malaise - The somewhat unclear feeling of discomfort you get when you start to feel sick.

Ativan withdrawal - Pain in Limb - Sudden, sharp and uncontrolled leg discomfort.

Ativan withdrawal - Syncope - A short period of light headedness or unconsciousness (black-out) also know as fainting caused by lack of oxygen to the brain because of an interruption in blood flowing to the brain.

Ativan withdrawal - Tightness of Chest - Mild or sharp discomfort, tightness or pressure in the chest area (anywhere between the throat and belly). The causes can be mild or seriously life-threatening because they include the heart, lungs and surrounding muscles.

Ativan withdrawal - Hemic and Lymphatic Disorders (Involving the blood and the clear fluids in the tissues that contain white blood cells)

Ativan withdrawal - Bruise - Damage to the skin resulting in a purple-green-yellow skin coloration that’s caused by breaking the blood vessels in the area without breaking the surface of the skin.

Ativan withdrawal - Anemia - A condition where the blood is no longer carrying enough oxygen, so the person looks pale and easily gets dizzy, weak and tired. More severely, a person can end up with an abnormal heart, as well as breathing and digestive difficulties. The causes of anemia are not enough protein in the red blood cells, or missing and chemically destroyed red blood cells, as well as diseased or destroyed bone marrow.

Ativan withdrawal - Nosebleed - Blood lost from the part of the face that has the organs of smell and is where the body takes in oxygen.

Ativan withdrawal - Hematoma - Broken blood vessels that cause a swelling in an area on the body.

Ativan withdrawal - Lymphadenopathy Cervical - The lymph nodes in the neck, which are part of the body’s immune system get swollen and enlarge by reacting to the presence of a drug. The swelling is the result of the white blood cells multiplying in order to fight the invasion of the drug.

Ativan withdrawal - Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders (Energy and health)

Ativan withdrawal - Arthralgia - Sudden sharp nerve pain in one or more joints.

Ativan withdrawal - Arthropathy - Having joint disease or abnormal joints.

Ativan withdrawal - Arthritis - Painfully inflamed and swollen joints. The reddened and swollen condition is brought on by a serious injury or shock to the body either from physical or emotional causes.

Ativan withdrawal - Back Discomfort - Severe physical distress in the area from the neck to the pelvis along the backbone.

Ativan withdrawal - Bilirubin Increased - Bilirubin is a waste product of the breakdown of old blood cells. Bilirubin is sent to the liver to be made water-soluble so it can be eliminated from the body through emptying the bladder. A drug can interfere with or damage this normal liver function creating liver disease.

Ativan withdrawal - Decreased Weight - Uncontrolled and measured loss of heaviness or weight.

Ativan withdrawal - Gout - A severe arthritis condition that is caused by the dumping of a waste product called uric acid in the tissues and joints. It can become worse and cause the body to develop a deformity after going through stages of pain, inflammation, severe tenderness, and stiffness.

Ativan withdrawal - Hepatic Enzymes Increased - An increase in the amount of paired liver proteins that regulate liver processes causing a condition where the liver functions abnormally.

Ativan withdrawal - Hypercholesterolemia - Too much cholesterol in the blood cells.

Ativan withdrawal - Hyperglycemia - An unhealthy amount of sugar in the blood.

Ativan withdrawal - Increased Weight - A concentration and storage of fat in the body accumulating over a period of time caused by unhealthy eating patterns, that can predispose the body to many disorders and diseases.

Ativan withdrawal - Jaw Pain - The pain due to irritation and swelling of the nerves associated with the mouth area where it opens and closes just in front of the ear. Some of the symptoms are pain when chewing, head aches, losing your balance, stuffy ears or ringing in the ears, and teeth grinding.

Ativan withdrawal - Jaw Stiffness - The result of squeezing and grinding the teeth while asleep that can cause your teeth to deteriorate as well as the muscles and joints of the jaw.

Ativan withdrawal - Joint Stiffness - A loss of free motion and easy flexibility where any two bones come together.

Ativan withdrawal - Muscle Cramp - When muscles contract uncontrollably without warning and do not relax. The muscles of any of the body’s organs can cramp.

Ativan withdrawal - Muscle Stiffness - Tightening of muscles making it difficult to bend.

Ativan withdrawal - Muscle Weakness - Loss of physical strength.

Ativan withdrawal - Myalgia - A general widespread pain and tenderness of the muscles.

Ativan withdrawal - Thirst - A strong, unnatural craving for moisture/water in the mouth and throat.

Ativan withdrawal - Nervous System (Sensory channels)

Ativan withdrawal - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A pinched nerve in the wrist that causes pain, tingling, and numbing.

Ativan withdrawal - Coordination Abnormal - A lack of normal, harmonious interaction of the parts of the body when it is in motion.

Ativan withdrawal - Dizziness - Losing one’s balance while feeling unsteady and lightheaded which may lead to fainting.

Ativan withdrawal - Disequilibrium - Lack of mental and emotional balance.

Ativan withdrawal - Faintness - A temporary condition where one is likely to go unconscious and fall.

Ativan withdrawal - Headache - A sharp or dull persistent pain in the head

Ativan withdrawal - Hyperreflexia - A not normal and involuntary increased response in the tissues connecting the bones to the muscles.

Ativan withdrawal - Light-headed Feeling – Uncontrolled and usually brief loss of consciousness caused by lack of oxygen to the brain.

Ativan withdrawal - Migraine - Reoccurring severe head pain usually with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, flashes or spots before the eyes, and ringing in the ears

Ativan withdrawal - Muscle Contractions Involuntary - Spontaneous and uncontrollable tightening reaction of the muscles caused by electrical impulses from the nervous system.

Ativan withdrawal - Muscular Tone Increased - Uncontrolled and exaggeration muscle tension. Muscles are normally partially tensed and this is what gives us muscle tone.

Ativan withdrawal - Paresthesia - Burning, prickly, itchy, or tingling skin with no obvious or understood physical cause.

Ativan withdrawal - Restless Legs - A need to move the legs without any apparent reason. Sometimes there is pain, twitching, jerking, cramping, burning, or a creepy-crawly sensation associated with the movements. It worsens when a person is inactive and can interrupt one’s sleep so one feels the need to move to gain some relief.

Ativan withdrawal - Shaking - Uncontrolled quivering and trembling as if one is cold and chilled.

Ativan withdrawal - Sluggishness - Lack of alertness and energy, as well as being slow to respond or perform in life.

Ativan withdrawal - Tics - A contraction of a muscle causing a repeated movement not under the control of the person usually on the face or limbs.

Ativan withdrawal - Tremor - A nervous and involuntary vibrating or quivering of the body.

Ativan withdrawal - Twitching - Sharp, jerky and spastic motion sometimes with a sharp sudden pain.

Ativan withdrawal - Vertigo - A sensation of dizziness with disorientation and confusion.

Ativan withdrawal - Psychiatric Disorders (Mental and emotional)

Ativan withdrawal - Aggravated Nervousness - A progressively worsening, irritated and troubled state of mind.

Ativan withdrawal - Agitation - Suddenly violent and forceful, emotionally disturbed state of mind.

Ativan withdrawal - Amnesia - Long term or short term, partial or full memory loss created by emotional or physical shock, severe illness, or a blow to the head where the person was caused pain and became unconsciousness.

Ativan withdrawal - Anxiety Attack - Sudden and intense feelings of fear, terror, and dread physically creating shortness of breath, sweating, trembling and heart palpitations.

Ativan withdrawal - Apathy - Complete lack of concern or interest for things that ordinarily would be regarded as important or would normally cause concern.

Ativan withdrawal - Appetite Decreased - Having a lack of appetite despite the ordinary caloric demands of living with a resulting unintentional loss of weight.

Ativan withdrawal - Appetite Increased - An unusual hunger causing one to overeat.

Ativan withdrawal - Auditory Hallucination - Hearing things without the voices or noises being present.

Ativan withdrawal - Bruxism - Grinding and clenching of teeth while sleeping.

Ativan withdrawal - Carbohydrate Craving - A drive and craving to eat foods rich in sugar and starches (sweets, snacks and junk foods) that intensifies as the diet becomes more and more unbalanced due to the unbalancing of the proper nutritional requirements of the body.

Ativan withdrawal - Concentration Impaired - Unable to easily focus your attention for long periods of time.

Ativan withdrawal - Confusion - Not able to think clearly and understand in order to make a logical decision.

Ativan withdrawal - Crying Abnormal - Unusual and not normal fits of weeping for short or long periods of time for no apparent reason.

Ativan withdrawal - Depersonalization - A condition where one has lost a normal sense of personal identity.

Ativan withdrawal - Depression - A hopeless feeling of failure, loss and sadness that can deteriorate into thoughts of death.

Ativan withdrawal - Disorientation - A loss of sense of direction, place, time or surroundings as well as mental confusion on personal identity.

Ativan withdrawal - Dreaming Abnormal - Dreaming that leaves a very clear, detailed picture and impression when awake that can last for a long period of time and sometimes be unpleasant.

Ativan withdrawal - Emotional Lability - Suddenly breaking out in laughter or crying or doing both without being able to control the outburst of emotion. These episodes are unstable as they are caused by things that normally would not have this effect on an individual.

Ativan withdrawal - Excitability - Uncontrollably responding to stimuli.

Ativan withdrawal - Feeling Unreal - The awareness that one has an undesirable emotion like fear but can’t seem to shake off the irrational feeling. For example, feeling like one is going crazy but rationally knowing that it is not true. The quality of this side effect resembles being in a bad dream and not being able to wake up.

Ativan withdrawal - Forgetfulness - Unable to remember what one ordinarily would remember.

Ativan withdrawal - Insomnia - Sleeplessness caused by physical stress, mental stress or stimulants such as coffee or medications; it is a condition of being abnormally awake when one would ordinarily be able to fall and remain asleep.

Ativan withdrawal - Irritability - Abnormally annoyed in response to a stimulus.

Ativan withdrawal - Jitteriness - Nervous fidgeting without an apparent cause.

Ativan withdrawal - Lethargy - Mental and physical sluggishness and apathy that can deteriorate into an unconscious state resembling deep sleep. A numbed state of mind.

Ativan withdrawal - Libido Decreased - An abnormal loss of sexual energy or desire.

Ativan withdrawal - Panic Reaction - A sudden, overpowering, chaotic and confused mental state of terror resulting in being doubt ridden often accompanied with hyperventilation, and extreme anxiety.

Ativan withdrawal - Restlessness Aggravated - A constantly worsening troubled state of mind characterized by the person being increasingly nervous, unable to relax, and easily angered.

Ativan withdrawal - Somnolence - Feeling sleepy all the time or having a condition of semi-consciousness.

Ativan withdrawal - Suicide Attempt - An unsuccessful deliberate attack on one’s own life with the intention of ending it.

Ativan withdrawal - Suicidal Tendency - Most likely will attempt to kill oneself.

Ativan withdrawal - Tremulousness Nervous - Very jumpy, shaky, and uneasy while feeling fearful and timid. The condition is characterized by thoughts of dreading the future, involuntary quivering, trembling, and feeling distressed and suddenly upset.

Ativan withdrawal - Yawning - involuntary opening of the mouth with deep inhalation of air.

Ativan withdrawal - Reproductive Disorder Female

Ativan withdrawal - Breast Neoplasm - A tumor or cancer, of either of the two milk-secreting organs on the chest of a woman.

Ativan withdrawal - Menorrhagia - Abnormally heavy menstrual period or a menstrual flow that has continued for an unusually long period of time.

Ativan withdrawal - Menstrual Cramps - Painful, involuntary uterus contractions that women experience around the time of their menstrual period, sometimes causing pain in the lower back and thighs.

Ativan withdrawal - Menstrual Disorder - A disturbance or derangement in the normal function of a woman’s menstrual period.

Ativan withdrawal - Pelvic Inflammation - The reaction of the body to infectious, allergic, or chemical irritation, which in turn causes tissue irritation, injury, or bacterial infection characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes loss of function. The reaction usually begins in the uterus and spreads to the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other areas in the hipbone region of the body.

Ativan withdrawal - Premenstrual Syndrome - Various physical and mental symptoms commonly experienced by women of childbearing age usually 2 to 7 days before the start of their monthly period. There are over 150 symptoms including eating binges, behavioral changes, moodiness, irritability, fatigue, fluid retention, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, anxiety, and depression. The symptoms cease shortly after the period begins, and disappear with menopause.

Ativan withdrawal - Spotting Between Menses - Abnormal bleeding between periods. Unusual spotting between menstrual cycles.

Ativan withdrawal - RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (Organs involved in breathing)

Ativan withdrawal - Asthma - A disease of the breathing system initiated by and allergic reaction or a chemical with repeated attacks of coughing, sticky mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in the chest. The disease can reach a state where it stops a person from exhaling, leading to unconsciousness and death.

Ativan withdrawal - Breath Shortness - Unnatural breathing using a lot off effort resulting in not enough air taken in by the body.

Ativan withdrawal - Bronchitis - Inflammation of the two main breathing tubes leading from the windpipe to the lungs. The disease is marked with coughing, a low-grade fever, chest pains, and hoarseness, caused by an allergic reaction.

Ativan withdrawal - Coughing - A cough is the response to an irritation, such as mucus, that causes the muscles controlling the breathing process to expel air from the lungs suddenly and noisily to keep the air passages free from the irritating material.

Ativan withdrawal - Laryngitis - Inflammation of the voice box characterized by hoarseness, sore throat, and coughing. It can be cause by straining the voice or exposure to infectious, allergic or chemical irritation.

Ativan withdrawal - Nasal Congestion - The presence of an abnormal amount of fluid in the nose.

Ativan withdrawal - Pneumonia Tracheitis - Bacterial infection of the air passageways and lungs that causes redness, swelling and pain in the windpipe. Other symptoms are high fever, chills, pain in the chest, difficulty in breathing, and coughing with mucus discharge.

Ativan withdrawal - Rhinitis - Chemical irritation causing pain, redness and swelling in the mucus membranes of the nose.

Ativan withdrawal - Sinus Congestion - The mucus-lined areas of the bones in the face that are thought to help warm and moisten air to the nose. These areas become clogged with excess fluid or infected.

Ativan withdrawal - Sinus Headache - The abnormal amount of fluid in the hollows of the face bone area especially around the nose. This excess fluid creates pressure, causing pain in the head.

Ativan withdrawal - Sinusitis - The body reacting to chemical irritation causing redness, swelling and pain in the area of the hollows in the facial bones especially around the nose.

Ativan withdrawal - SKELETAL

Ativan withdrawal - Neck/Shoulder Pain - Hurtful sensations of the nerve endings caused by damage to the tissues in the neck and shoulder signaling danger of disease.

Ativan withdrawal - SKIN and APPENDAGES DISORDERS (Skin, legs and arms)

Ativan withdrawal - Acne - Eruptions of the oils glands of the skin, especially on the face, marked by pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, bumps, and more severely, by cysts and scarring.

Ativan withdrawal - Alopecia - The loss of hair or baldness.

Ativan withdrawal - Eczema - A severe or continuing skin disease marked by redness, crusting and scaling with watery blisters and itching. It is often difficult to treat and will sometimes go away only to reappear again.

Ativan withdrawal - Dermatitis - Generally irritated skin that can be caused by any of a number of irritating things such as parasites, fungus, bacteria, or foreign substances causing an allergic reaction. It is a general inflammation of the skin.

Ativan withdrawal - Dry Lips - The lack of normal moisture in the fleshy folds that surround the mouth.

Ativan withdrawal - Dry Skin - The lack of normal moisture/oils in the surface layer of the body. The skin is the body’s largest organ.

Ativan withdrawal - Folliculitis - Inflammation of a follicle (small body sac) especially a hair follicle. A hair follicle contains the root of a hair.

Ativan withdrawal - Furunculosis - Skin boils that show up repeatedly.

Ativan withdrawal - Lipoma - A tumor of mostly fat cells that is not health endangering.

Ativan withdrawal - Pruritus - Extreme itching of often-undamaged skin.

Ativan withdrawal - Rash - A skin eruption or discoloration that may or may not be itching, tingling, burning, or painful. It may be caused by an allergy, an skin irritation, a skin disease.

Ativan withdrawal - Skin Nodule - A bulge, knob, swelling or outgrowth in the skin that is a mass of tissue or cells.

Ativan withdrawal - SPECIAL SENSES

Ativan withdrawal - Conjunctivitis - Infection of the membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid, caused by a virus, allergic reaction, or an irritating chemical. It is characterized by redness, a discharge of fluid and itching.

Ativan withdrawal - Dry Eyes - Not enough moisture in the eyes.

Ativan withdrawal - Earache - Pain in the ear.

Ativan withdrawal - Eye Infection - The invasion of the eye tissue by a bacteria, virus, fungus, etc, causing damage to the tissue, with toxicity. Infection spreading in the body progresses into disease.

Ativan withdrawal - Eye Irritation - An inflammation of the eye.

Ativan withdrawal - Metallic Taste - A range of taste impairment from distorted taste to a complete loss of taste.

Ativan withdrawal - Pupils Dilated - Abnormal expansion of the blace circular opening in the center of the eye.

Ativan withdrawal - Taste alteration - Abnormal flavor detection in food.

Ativan withdrawal - Tinnitus - A buzzing, ringing, or whistling sound in one or both ears occurring from the internal use of certain drugs.

Ativan withdrawal - Vision Abnormal - Normal images are seen differently by the viewer.

Ativan withdrawal - Vision Blurred - Eyesight is dim or indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance.

Ativan withdrawal - Visual Disturbance - Eyesight is interfered with or interrupted. Some disturbances are light sensitivity and the inability to easily distinguish colors.

Ativan withdrawal - URINARY SYSTEM DISORDER

Ativan withdrawal - Blood in Urine - Blood is present when one empties liquid waste product of the kidneys through the bladder by urinating in the toilet turning the water pink to bright red. Or you could see pots of blood in the water after urinating.

Ativan withdrawal - Dysuria - Difficult or painful urination.

Ativan withdrawal - Kidney Stone - Small hard masses of salt deposits that the kidney forms.

Ativan withdrawal - Urinary Frequency - Having to urinate more often than usual or between unusually short time periods.

Ativan withdrawal - Urinary Tract Infection - An invasion of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., of the system in the body that starts with the kidneys and eliminates urine from the body. If the invasion goes unchecked it can injure tissue and progress into disease.

Ativan withdrawal - Urinary Urgency - A sudden compelling urge to urinate, accompanied by discomfort in the bladder.

Ativan withdrawal - UROGENITAL (Urinary tract and genital structures or functions)

Ativan withdrawal - Anorgasmia - Failure to experience an orgasm.

Ativan withdrawal - Ejaculation Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge of semen during orgasm.

Ativan withdrawal - Menstrual Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge during the monthly menstrual cycle.

Ativan withdrawal - Acute Renal Failure - The kidneys stop functioning properly to excrete wastes.

Ativan withdrawal - Angioedema - Intensely itching and swelling welts on the skin called hives caused by an allergic reaction to internal or external agents. The reaction is common to a food or a drug. Chronic cases can last for a long period of time.

Ativan withdrawal - Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis - An abnormal condition where a large portion of skin becomes intensely red and peels off like a second-degree burn. Often the symptoms include blistering.

Ativan withdrawal - Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - Stomach and intestinal excessive internal bleeding.

Ativan withdrawal - Grand Mal Seizures (or Convulsions) - A recurring sudden violent and involuntary attack of muscle spasms with a loss of consciousness.

Ativan withdrawal - Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - A life threatening, rare reaction to an anti-psychotic drug marked by fever, muscular rigidity, changed mental status, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

Ativan withdrawal - Pancreatitis - Chemical irritation with redness, swelling, and pain in the pancreas where digestive enzymes and hormones are secreted.

Ativan withdrawal - QT Prolongation - A very fast heart rhythm disturbance that is too fast for the heart to beat effectively so the blood to the brain falls causing a sudden loss of consciousness and may cause sudden cardiac death.

Ativan withdrawal - Rhabdomyolysis - The breakdown of muscle fibers that releases the fibers into the circulatory system. Some of the fibers are poisonous to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage.

Ativan withdrawal - Serotonin Syndrome - A disorder brought on by excessive levels of serotonin caused by drugs and can be fatal as death from this side effect can come very rapidly.

Ativan withdrawal - Thrombocytopenia - An abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets in the circulatory system. A decrease in platelets would cause a decrease in the ability of the blood to clot when necessary.

Ativan withdrawal - Torsades de Pointes - Unusual rapid heart rhythm starting in the lower heart chambers. If the short bursts of rapid heart rhythm continue for a prolonged period it can degenerate into a more rapid rhythm and can be fatal.

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Pharmacology

Anxiolytic - Sedative

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine with CNS depressant, anxiolytic and sedative properties. Peak serum concentrations of free lorazepam after oral administration are reached in 1 to 6 hours. Peak concentrations are reached in 60 to 90 minutes after i.m. administration and in 60 minutes after sublingual administration. Lorazepam is 85% bound to plasma proteins. Lorazepam is rapidly conjugated to an inactive glucuronide. Very small amounts of other metabolites have also been isolated in man. The serum half-life of lorazepam is approximately 12 to 15 hours while the half-life of the conjugate is 16 to 20 hours. Ninety-five percent of the drug was excreted within 120 hours, 88% in the urine and 6.6% in the stool.

Anterograde amnesia, decreased or lack of recall of events during period of drug action, has been reported after administration of lorazepam and appears to be dose-related.

Indications

The short-term relief of manifestations of excessive anxiety in patients with anxiety neurosis. Adjunct for the relief of excessive anxiety that might be present prior to surgical procedures.

Anxiety and tension associated with the stresses of everyday life usually do not require treatment with anxiolytic drugs.

Injectable lorazepam is useful as an initial anticonvulsant medication for the control of status epilepticus.

Contraindications

Myasthenia gravis, acute narrow angle glaucoma, known hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines. Lorazepam injectable is also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol or benzyl alcohol.

Lorazepam should not be injected intra-arterially and care should be taken to prevent its extravasation into tissue adjacent to an artery because of the danger of producing arteriospasm resulting in gangrene which may require amputation.

Warnings

Lorazepam is not recommended for use in depressive neurosis or in psychotic reactions. Because of the lack of sufficient clinical experience, lorazepam is not recommended for use in patients less than 18 years of age. Since lorazepam has a CNS depressant effect, patients should be advised against the simultaneous use of other CNS depressant drugs. Patients should also be cautioned not to take alcohol during the administration of lorazepam because of the potentiation of effects that may occur.

Occupational Hazards:
Excessive sedation has been observed with lorazepam at standard therapeutic doses. Therefore, patients should be warned against engaging in hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination, such as operating dangerous machinery or driving motor vehicles.

Prior to i.v. use, lorazepam injection should be diluted with an equal amount of compatible diluent (see Dosage). I.V. injection should be made slowly and with repeated aspiration. Care should be taken to determine that any injection will not be intraarterial and that perivascular extravasation will not take place. Partial airway obstruction may occur in heavily sedated patients. I.V. lorazepam, when given alone in greater than the recommended dose, or at the recommended dose and accompanied by other drugs used during the administration of anesthesia, may produce heavy sedation; therefore, equipment necessary to maintain a patent airway and to support respiration/ventilation should be available.

As with any premedicant, extreme care must be used in administering lorazepam injection to elderly or very ill patients and to those with limited pulmonary reserve, because of the possibility that apnea and/or cardiac arrest may occur. Because of the lack of sufficient clinical experience lorazepam injection is not recommended for use in patients less than 18 years of age.

Clinical trials have shown that patients over the age of 50 years may have a more profound and prolonged sedation with i.v. lorazepam. Ordinarily an initial dose of 2 mg may be adequate, unless a greater degree of lack of recall is desired.

There is no evidence to support the use of lorazepam injection in coma, shock or acute alcohol intoxication at this time. When lorazepam injection is used in patients with mild to moderate hepatic or renal disease, the lowest effective dose should be considered since drug effect may be prolonged.

As is true of other similar CNS acting drugs, patients receiving injectable lorazepam should not operate machinery or engage in hazardous occupations or drive a motor vehicle for a period of 24 to 48 hours. Impairment of performance may persist for greater intervals because of extremes of age, concomitant use of other drugs, stress of surgery or the general condition of the patient.

The addition of scopolamine to injectable lorazepam is not recommended, since their combined effect may result in increased incidence of sedation, hallucination and irrational behaviour.

Care should be exercised when administering lorazepam to patients with status epilepticus, especially when the patient has received other CNS depressants or is severely ill. The possibility that respiratory arrest may occur or that the patient may have partial airway obstruction should be considered. Proper resuscitation equipment should be available.

Pregnancy:
The safety of the use of lorazepam in pregnancy has not been established. Therefore, it is not recommended for use during pregnancy or lactation. Several studies have suggested an increased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of the benzodiazepines, chlordiazepoxide and diazepam, and meprobamate, during the first trimester of pregnancy. Since lorazepam is also a benzodiazepine derivative, its administration is rarely justified in women of childbearing potential. If the drug is prescribed to a woman of childbearing potential, she should be warned to contact her physician regarding discontinuation of the drug if she intends to become or suspects that she is pregnant.

In women, blood levels obtained from umbilical cord blood indicate placental transfer of lorazepam and lorazepam glucuronide. Lorazepam injection should not be used during pregnancy. There are insufficient data regarding obstetrical safety of parenteral lorazepam, including use in cesarean section. Such use, therefore, is not recommended.

Precautions

Elderly and debilitated patients, or those with organic brain syndrome, have been found to be prone to CNS depression after even low doses of benzodiazepines. Therefore, medication should be initiated in these patients with very low initial doses, and increments should be made gradually, depending on the patient's response, in order to avoid oversedation or neurological impairment. Extreme care must be used in administering lorazepam injection to elderly patients, very ill patients, and to patients with limited pulmonary reserve, because of the possibility that underventilation and/or hypoxic cardiac arrest may occur. Resuscitative equipment for ventilatory support should be readily available.

Lorazepam should not be administered to individuals prone to drug abuse.

Observe caution in patients who are considered to have potential for psychological dependence. Lorazepam should be withdrawn gradually if it has been used in high dosage.

As with other benzodiazepines, lorazepam injection has a low potential for abuse and may lead to limited dependence. Although there are no clinical data available for injectable lorazepam in this respect, physicians should be aware that repeated doses over a prolonged period of time may result in limited physical and psychological dependence.

Lorazepam is not recommended for the treatment of psychotic or depressed patients. Since excitement and other paradoxical reactions can result from the use of these drugs in psychotic patients, they should not be used in ambulatory patients suspected of having psychotic tendencies.

As with other anxiolytic-sedative drugs, lorazepam should not be used in patients with nonpathological anxiety. These drugs are also not effective in patients with characterological and personality disorders or those with obsessive-compulsive neurosis.

When using lorazepam, it should be recognized that suicidal tendencies may be present and that protective measures may be required.

Since the liver is the most likely site of conjugation of lorazepam and since excretion of conjugated lorazepam is a renal function, the usual precautions should be taken if lorazepam is used in patients who may have some impairment of renal or hepatic function. In such cases, the dose should be very carefully titrated.

In patients for whom prolonged lorazepam therapy is indicated, periodic blood counts and liver function tests should be carried out.

When injectable lorazepam is used in patients with mild to moderate hepatic or renal disease, the lowest effective dose should be considered since drug effect may be prolonged.

While lorazepam has been shown to control status epilepticus promptly, it is not recommended for maintenance treatment of epilepsy. After seizures are controlled, agents useful in the prevention of further seizures should be administered. In the treatment of status epilepticus due to acute reversible metabolic derangement (e.g., hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia) immediate efforts should be made to correct the specific defect.

Drug Interactions:
If lorazepam is to be combined with other drugs acting on the CNS, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents to be employed because of the possible potentiation of drug effects. The benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, produce CNS depressant effects when administered with such medications as barbiturates or alcohol.

Lorazepam injection, like other injectable benzodiazepines, also produces depression of the CNS when administered with ethyl alcohol, phenothiazines, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors and other antidepressants. When scopolamine is used concomitantly with injectable lorazepam, an increased incidence of sedation, hallucinations and irrational behaviour has been observed.

When lorazepam injection is used i.v. as the premedicant prior to regional or local anesthesia, the possibility of excessive sleepiness or drowsiness may interfere with patient cooperation to determine levels of anesthesia. This is most likely to occur when a dose greater than 0.05 mg/kg is given and when narcotic analgesics are used concomitantly with the recommended dose.

Adverse Effects

Drowsiness is the most frequently reported adverse effect. Other reported adverse effects are dizziness, weakness, fatigue and lethargy, disorientation, ataxia, anterograde amnesia, nausea, change in appetite, change in weight, depression, blurred vision and diplopia, psychomotor agitation, sleep disturbance, vomiting, sexual disturbance, headache, skin rashes, gastrointestinal, ear, nose and throat, musculoskeletal and respiratory disturbances.

Release of hostility and other paradoxical effects, such as irritability and excitability have occurred with benzodiazepines. In addition, hypotension, mental confusion, slurred speech, oversedation and abnormal liver and kidney function tests and hematocrit values have been reported with these drugs.

The most frequent adverse effects seen with injectable lorazepam are an extension of the CNS depressant effects of the drug. Excessive sleepiness and drowsiness are the main side effects: the incidences reported depended on the dosage, route of administration, concomitant use of other CNS depressants and the investigators' expectations concerning the degree and duration of sedation.

When injectable lorazepam was given i.v., patients over 50 years of age had a higher incidence of excessive sedation than patients under 50 years of age. Restlessness, confusion, depression, crying, sobbing, delerium, hallucinations, dizziness, diplopia have been reported. Hypertension and hypotension have occasionally been observed after injectable lorazepam.

Respiratory depression and partial airway obstruction have been observed after injectable lorazepam. Skin rash, nausea and vomiting have been noted occasionally in patients who have received injectable lorazepam combined with other drugs during anesthesia and surgery.

Pain at the injection site, a sensation of burning, and redness in the same area have been reported after i.m. administration of injectable lorazepam. Pain in the immediate postinjection period and redness at the 24 hour observation period also have been reported after i.v. administration of injectable lorazepam.

Overdose

Symptoms:
With benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, symptoms of mild overdosage include drowsiness, mental confusion and lethargy. In more serious overdosage, symptoms may include ataxia, hypotonia, hypotension, hypnosis, stages I to III coma and, very rarely, death.

Treatment:
In the case of an oral overdose, if vomiting has not occurred spontaneously and the patient is fully awake, it may be induced with 20 to 30 mL of ipecac syrup USP. Institute gastric lavage as soon as possible, and introduce 50 to 100 g of activated charcoal to the stomach and allow it to remain there. Institute general supportive therapy as indicated. Vital signs and fluid balance should be carefully monitored. An adequate airway should be maintained and assisted respiration used as needed. With normally functioning kidneys, forced diuresis with i.v. fluids and electrolytes may accelerate elimination of benzodiazepines from the body. In addition, osmotic diuretics such as mannitol may be effective as adjunctive measures. In more critical situations, renal dialysis and exchange blood transfusions may be indicated. Published reports indicate that i.v. infusion of 0.5 to 4 mg of physostigmine at the rate of 1 mg/minute may reverse symptoms and signs suggestive of central anticholinergic overdose (confusion, memory disturbance, visual disturbances, hallucinations, delirium); however, hazards associated with the use of physostigmine (i.e., induction of seizures) should be weighed against its possible clinical benefit.

Dosage

Dosage must be individualized and carefully titrated in order to avoid excessive sedation or mental and motor impairment. As with other anxiolytic sedatives, short courses of treatment should usually be the rule for the symptomatic relief of disabling anxiety in psychoneurotic patients and the initial course of treatment should not last longer than 1 week without reassessment of the need for a limited extension. Initially, not more than 1 week's supply of the drug should be provided and automatic prescription renewals should not be allowed. Subsequent prescriptions, when required, should be limited to short courses of therapy.

Generalized anxiety disorder:
The recommended initial adult daily oral dosage is 2 mg in divided doses of 0.5 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg, or of 1 mg and 1 mg. The daily dosage should be carefully increased or decreased by 0.5 mg depending upon tolerance and response. The usual daily dosage is 2 to 3 mg. However, the optimal dosage may range from 1 to 4 mg daily in individual patients. Usually, a daily dosage of 6 mg should not be exceeded.

The initial daily dose in elderly and debilitated patients should not exceed 0.5 mg and should be very carefully and gradually adjusted, depending upon tolerance and response.

Excessive anxiety prior to surgical procedures:
Adults:
Usually 50 mcg/kg to a maximum of 4 mg given sublingually (1 to 2 hours before surgery) or i.m. (2 to 3 hours before surgery). As with all premedicant drugs, the dose should be individualized. Doses of other CNS depressant drugs should ordinarily be reduced.

When a rapid onset of action is required, lorazepam may be given i.v., 15 to 20 minutes before surgery. The usual i.v. dose is 44 mcg/kg or 2.0 mg total, whichever is smaller.

I.V. doses in excess of 2 mg should be restricted to patients of unusual size. A dose of 2 mg should not ordinarily be exceeded in patients over 50 years of age. Doses of other CNS depressants should ordinarily be reduced.

Equipment necessary to maintain a patent airway should be immediately available prior to i.v. administration of lorazepam.

Status Epilepticus:
Adults:
The usual recommended initial dose of lorazepam is 0.05 mg/kg up to a maximum of 4 mg given by slow i.v. injection. If seizures are terminated, no additional lorazepam is required. If seizures continue or recur after a 10 to 15 minute observation period, an additional i.v. dose of 0.05 mg/kg may be administered. If the second dose does not result in seizure control after another 10 to 15 minute observation period, other measures to control status epilepticus should be employed. A maximum of 8 mg only, of lorazepam, should be administered during a 12 hour period.

Administration:
The sublingual tablet, when placed under the tongue, will dissolve in approximately 20 seconds. The patients should not swallow for at least 2 minutes to allow sufficient time for absorption.

When given i.m., lorazepam injection, undiluted, should be injected deep into a muscle mass.

Lorazepam injectable can be used with atropine sulfate, narcotic analgesics, other parenterally used analgesics, commonly used anesthetics and muscle relaxants. The use of scopolamine with lorazepam injection is not recommended since this combination has been associated with a higher incidence of adverse reactions.

Immediately prior to i.v. use, lorazepam injection must be diluted with an equal volume of compatible solution. When properly diluted the drug may be injected directly into the vein or into the tubing of an existing i.v. infusion. The rate of injection should not exceed 2 mg/minute. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. Do not use if solution is discolored or contains a precipitate.

Lorazepam injection is compatible for dilution purposes with the following solutions: Sterile Water for Injection, USP, Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 5% Dextrose Injection, USP, Bacteriostatic Sodium Chloride Injection, USP with benzyl alcohol, Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP with parabens, Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP with benzyl alcohol.

Directions for dilution for i.v. use:
Aspirate the desired amount of lorazepam injection into the syringe, then slowly aspirate the desired volume of diluent. Pull back slightly on the plunger to provide additional mixing space. Immediately mix contents thoroughly by gently inverting the syringe repeatedly until a homogenous solution results. Do not shake vigorously since this will result in air entrapment.