2%), and unsteadiness (3.

A similar lorazepam dose given intravenously will result in an earlier and higher peak serum level, with a higher relative proportion of unmetabolised (active) lorazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Important information about AtivanDo not use Ativan if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax). Catatonia with inability to speak is responsive and sometimes controlled with a single 2 mg oral, or slow intravenous dose of lorazepam. * Surgical premedication – Informed consent that was given only after receiving lorazepam premedication could have its validity challenged later. government study of pharmaceutical-related ED visits by SAMHSA found that sedative-hypnotics in the United States are the pharmaceuticals most frequently used outside of their prescribed medical purpose, with 35% of drug-related emergency room visits involving sedative-hypnotics. But its poor lipid solubility and high degree of protein binding (85-90% ) mean that lorazepam's volume of distribution is mainly the vascular compartment, causing relatively prolonged peak effects. However, if mechanical ventilation becomes necessary, lorazepam may be used to facilitate deep sedation. The ease of addiction to Lorazepam, (the Ativan brand was particularly cited), and its withdrawal were brought to the attention of the British public during the early 1980s in Esther Rantzen's BBC TV series "That's Life!", in a feature on the drug over a number of episodes. The half life of lorazepam is 10–20 hours.