Lorazepam for anxiety by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Lorazepam side effects

Lorazepam ( Ativan ) is an anti-anxiety drug used for the management of anxiety disorders and anxiety associated with depression. Lorazepam is a good option for the initial therapy of status epilepticus. Occasional lorazepam use as an anti-anxiety agent or for sleep is acceptable, but one should avoid frequent or habitual use of this drug. See this link for natural options to treat anxiety. Natural medicines have fewer side effects..

Lorazepam information - Lorazepam Effect
In addition to the treatment of anxiety, lorazepam is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy, insomnia, and nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment and to control agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal.

Lorazepam side effects
Side effects from lorazepam are likely to include drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, dry mouth, and perhaps upset stomach. Loss of short term memory may be another lorazepam side effect.

Lorazepam Questions
Q. I have been bedridden on and off over the last year and a half due to over prescribing of anti psychotic meds. they triggered horrible anxiety and I am unable to take most medications now for depression. I am currently on Lorazepam and have been for several years [I understand that over long periods of time it too can be a cause of anxiety and other health problems.] I want to get off of the Lorazepam and deal with my depression...Sam-e was suggested to me. I am desperately to get well and would appreciate any thing you can do to help guide me in the right direction. Could you please tell me if it is safe to take Sam-e with Lorazepam? 
   A. Lorazepam (Ativan) is an antianxiety drug used for the management of anxiety disorders and anxiety associated with depression. SAM-e is quite potent and could lead to anxiety if used in high doses. Your doctor should be aware you are using SAM-e.

Q. Is constipation a lorazepam side effect?
   A. Constipation is reported to be a possible lorazepam side effect.

Q. Is there any problem taking 5HTP with lorazepam?
   A. Unexpected reactions can sometimes occur with the use of a drug and a supplement. A good way to try to see how you react to such a combination is to use the 5-HTP on a day when you are not using lorazepam, or if you need to take lorazepam every day, then open a 50 mg capsule of 5-HTP and use only a third or so to determine your reaction. Discuss with your doctor further specifics and to see if your doctor approves.

Q. I live in Bangkok and my girlfriend was prescribed lorazepam drug as a sleeping pill. She quickly built up a tolerance for it and was taking 2 to 4 times her prescribed dosage which had been 0.5mg. I made her quit using it but it seems to stay in the system for awhile. Two days after she had taken the last pill some friends came over and we were drinking wine. She became very angry over nothing and when she started screaming at me they left whereupon she immediately attacked me. I was able to throw her out of my apartment suffering two bites, a black eye and a lot of scratches. That was the end of the relationship and she later remembered nothing of what happened. We had been living together for 9 months and it was a good relationship up until then. I talked to friends about this, one of them a doctor, and everyone had a horror story about lorazepam drug. One person who is not a heavy drinker and not a heavy drug user found himself in the middle of the street, nude, one night and the only thing that he was using was Lorazepam. Another was having post war problems and was prescribed the drug by the VA with dire warnings: They said not use this as a sleeping pill and do not drink alcohol while using it. Another's son was on it. One day he came home, got a hammer and smashed his CD player and stereo into small pieces. I understand that she abused the lorazepam drug by using alcohol and too much of the drug but she was not warned of the consequences or possibilities of what might occur. She thought that it was just a sleeping pill.