Ativan

Ativan (lorazepam) is a benzodiazepine drug intended for the treatment of anxiety disorder symptoms. The effects of this drug are based on affecting the chemicals in the brain that may get imbalanced. Ativan comes it tablets containing 0,5, 1 and 2 mg of the active ingredient. Take the tablet you have been prescribed whole, without crushing or breaking it, as the medicine is supposed to dissolve only once inside your stomach. Let your doctor know about any factors that can make your treatment unsafe. The following health conditions can be these factors and require a dose adjustment or additional tests: liver disease, depression, kidney disease, glaucoma, addiction to drugs or alcohol, breathing problems, and suicidal thoughts. Make sure you tell your doctor about any other health problems, as all that is very important in determining the dose you are prescribed. Such disease as narrow-angle glaucoma is a direct contraindication for taking this medication. You are also not supposed to take this drug if you are using itraconazole or ketoconazole to avoid dangerous drug interactions that are possible. Ativan is FDA pregnancy category D. This category is used for drugs that have been reported to cause birth defects in unborn babies. It can also pass into breast milk and affect the health of a nursing baby, therefore the risks of the treatment are rarely justified and in case you are pregnant your doctor will probably recommend some alternative treatment method. Since Ativan has been reported to cause addiction, you will have to observe very carefully the dose you have been prescribed. If you still develop an addiction to Ativan, make sure you talk to your doctor before withdrawing from the treatment. Your addiction can make it more difficult for you to stop taking Ativan, as you will most likely get the following withdrawal symptoms: seizure, muscle cramps, stomach pain, sweating, vomiting, unusual thoughts, and tremor. An overdose of Ativan can be lethal, which is another reason why you should take this medication exactly as prescribed. An overdose can display any of the following symptoms: confusion, lightheadedness, loss of balance, fainting, extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, and coma. You must make sure these symptoms are reported to your local emergency center, as you need urgent help. Take the missed dose of Ativan as soon as you remember. If you need to take another one soon, however, you can skip the dose missed.