Drowsiness is one of the most frequently reported side effects due to Ativan use. Other reported side effects include 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, respiratory disturbances.

Additional side effects that come with the use and abuse of Ativan, they included but are not limited to: clumsiness, dizziness, sleepiness, unsteadiness, insomnia, agitation, disorientation, depression, headache, visual problems, nausea, abdominal discomfort, drowsiness, tachycardia, disinhibition (where they act inappropriately grandiose or out-of-control), anterograde amnesia (decreased or lack of recall of events during period of drug action) has been reported after administration of Ativan and appears to be dose-related, injectable Ativan results in an increased incidence of sedation, hallucination, and irrational behavior, some patients on Ativan have developed leukopenia, both elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels have been reported.

Ativan side effects include but are not limited to:

• memory functioning is markedly and measurably impaired
• ability to store acquired knowledge into long-term memory
• acute amnesia

This memory impairment is highly relevant to students. The risk of acute amnesia is more pronounced with short-acting drugs. Ativan (Lorazepam), Halcion (triazolam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) are especially likely to induce such memory impairment.

Rare side effects due to Ativan use include: release of hostility and other paradoxical effects, such as irritability and excitability. In addition, hypotension, mental confusion, slurred speech, over-sedation and abnormal liver and kidney function tests and hematocrit values have been reported.

The most frequent side effects seen with injectable Ativan 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 post-injection period and redness at the 24 hour observation period also have been reported after i.v. Administration of injectable Lorazepam.