Effects of Ativan

Ativan^® (lorazepam) is a prescription medication approved to treat anxiety and severe seizures. Ativan's effects on the body can include:

Reducing anxiety
Causing sleepiness
Relaxing muscles
Stopping seizures
Impairing short-term memory.

Ativan is a type of benzodiazepine, and all medications in this drug group can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific benzodiazepine that is being taken. These medications work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why Ativan and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).

(Click Ativan for a more in-depth look at the effects of this drug, including information on how it works and how it can help treat anxiety and seizures.)

List of references (click here)

Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD

Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD