What Is Ativan Prescribed For?

You may have heard about

Ativan and wondered, "What is it prescribed for?" As a type of benzodiazepine, Ativan^® (lorazepam) is approved to treat the following conditions in adults and children (as young as 12 years old):

Anxiety
Nervous tension and anxiety before a surgery (injectable form only)
Severe seizures, also called status epilepticus (injectable form only).

Ativan is specifically approved to treat anxiety disorders; it is not approved for "everyday anxiety" that most people get before a stressful event. It is also approved for the short-term relief of anxiety symptoms associated with depression. Ativan is recommended only for short-term use (two to four weeks or less).

It can also be prescribed for several "off-label" uses, such as:

Treating agitation
Treating alcohol withdrawal
Treating insomnia
Sedating people on a ventilator (as it can be disturbing to be awake with a breathing tube or a ventilator in place)
Preventing seizures
Treating restless legs syndrome
Treating myoclonus
Treating spastic disorders and other types of muscle spasms, such as those seen in people with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis.

(Click Ativan Uses for more information on what this drug is prescribed for. This article also describes how Ativan works and whether it is safe for children.)