Ativan can be helpful for some people who struggle with acute episodes of anxiety. It carries too many risks to be used over a long period of time, though. Ativan and other benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants, causing heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration to all slow down. This has the effect of relaxation, but it also makes the drug a type of sedative.
Using Ativan can cause drowsiness and dizziness, which makes operating equipment or driving a vehicle very risky. Even trying to do something like go up the stairs can be riskier when on one of these drugs. The risks are even higher when Ativan is combined with another depressant or sedative, specifically alcohol and opioids. The combination of any of these two, or three, can cause serious impairment but also raise the risk of suffering a fatal overdose. The effect of slowing respiration can be multiplied to the point of causing breathing to stop altogether.
Common and less serious side effects of Ativan include dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and poor coordination. More serious and less common potential side effects include difficulty speaking, shortness of breath, impaired memory, irritability, fainting, depression, apathy, and even engaging in activities while asleep. The signs of an overdose include lack of responsiveness, slowed or stopped breathing, clammy skin, cold skin, weak muscles, blue fingers and lips, and pinpoint pupils.
