PharmaceuticalDepressantBenzodiazepineSedative

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Also known as Ativan · Temesta

Written by enwyReviewed 15 Jul 20262 sources0 comments

Lorazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine licensed for anxiety, status epilepticus, and sedation. It has no active metabolites and is metabolised by glucuronidation, making it useful in hepatic impairment, but shares the class dependence and withdrawal liability.

01 Overview

Lorazepam potentiates GABA at the GABA-A receptor and is widely used for acute anxiety, procedural sedation, alcohol withdrawal, and status epilepticus. Because it is cleared by glucuronidation without active metabolites, it is often preferred in the elderly and in liver disease.

Regular use produces tolerance and dependence, and its intermediate half-life can make withdrawal relatively brisk, including a seizure risk on abrupt cessation. It causes marked anterograde amnesia and, like the rest of the class, additive respiratory depression with opioids and alcohol.

02 Mechanism

Positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor; enhances GABAergic inhibition producing anxiolysis, sedation and anticonvulsant activity.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Light	0.5–1 mg	Oral	Low starting dose for anxiety.
Common	1–2 mg	Oral	Common per-dose range.
Therapeutic (daily)	1–6 mg/day	Oral	Divided daily total across licensed indications.

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
AnxiolysisReliable relief of acute anxiety and agitation.	Onset ~30-60 min oral	Clinical
AnticonvulsantFirst-line agent for terminating status epilepticus (parenteral).		Clinical
SedationDose-dependent drowsiness; used for procedural sedation.		Clinical

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
Dependence and withdrawalTolerance and dependence with regular use; abrupt cessation can cause rebound anxiety, insomnia and seizures.	Severe	Common with regular use	Clinical
Respiratory depressionAdditive respiratory and CNS depression with opioids or alcohol.	Life-threatening	Uncommon alone, higher with CNS depressants	Clinical
Anterograde amnesiaMarked impairment of new memory formation, exploited in procedural sedation.	Moderate	Common, prominent with lorazepam	Clinical

06 Legal status

United States

Schedule IV controlled substance

Prescription only. · as of Jan 2026

United Kingdom

Class C, Schedule 4 (Misuse of Drugs)

Prescription only medicine. · as of Jan 2026

07 References

LorazepamStatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf

Lorazepam label informationUS FDA / DailyMed

08 Discussion0 comments

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This page is reference information, not medical advice. Doses and protocols are documented as they appear in the clinical literature and in practice — describing them is not a recommendation to use them. Countermeasures listed here are not a substitute for a physician. Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes.