ATIVAN (LORAZEPAM) 2MG 10 TABLETS FROM WYETH ATIVAN (LORAZEPAM) 2MG 10 TABLETS FROM WYETH

Ativan is used in the treatment of anxiety disorders and for short-term relief of the anxiety. Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The usual range is 2 to 6 mg/day given in divided doses. The most common side effects are dizziness, weakness, unsteadiness. If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Drug and mechanism: Ativan is used in the treatment of anxiety disorders and for short-term (up to 4 months) relief of the symptoms of anxiety. The short-term relief of manifestations of excessive anxiety in patients with anxiety neurosis. Adjunct for the relief of excessive anxiety that might be present prior to surgical procedures. Anxiety and tension associated with the stresses of everyday life usually do not require treatment with anxiolytic drugs. It belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Tolerance and dependence can develop with the use of Ativan. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it abruptly. Only your doctor should advise you to discontinue or change your dose. This drug works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA). DOSAGE FOR ATIVAN: Ativan (lorazepam) is administered orally. For optimal results, dose, frequency of administration, and duration of therapy should be individualized according to patient response. To facilitate this, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg tablets are available. The usual range is 2 to 6 mg/day given in divided doses, the largest dose being taken before bedtime, but the daily dosage may vary from 1 to 10 mg/day. For anxiety, most patients require an initial dose of 2 to 3 mg/day given b.i.d. or t.i.d. For insomnia due to anxiety or transient situational stress, a single daily dose of 2 to 4 mg may be given, usually at bedtime. For elderly or debilitated patients, an initial dosage of 1 to 2 mg/day in divided doses is recommended, to be adjusted as needed and tolerated. OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include confusion, slow reflexes, clumsiness, deep sleep, and loss of consciousness. MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose and are taking more than 1 dose daily, do not take it if it is almost time for the next dose. Instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. If you take it once daily at bedtime and miss a dose, do not take it the following morning. Call your doctor to find out what to do. SIDE EFFECTS OF ATIVAN: Most adverse reactions to benzodiazepines, including CNS effects and respiratory depression, are dose dependent, with more severe effects occurring with high doses. In a sample of about 3500 patients treated for anxiety, the most frequent adverse reaction to Ativan (lorazepam) was sedation (15.9%), followed by dizziness (6.9%), weakness (4.2%), and unsteadiness (3.4%). The incidence of sedation and unsteadiness increased with age. Other adverse reactions to benzodiazepines, including lorazepam are fatigue, drowsiness, amnesia, memory impairment, confusion, disorientation, depression, unmasking of depression, disinhibition, euphoria, suicidal ideation/attempt, ataxia, asthenia, extra pyramidal symptoms, convulsions/seizures tremor, vertigo, eye-function/visual disturbance (including diplopia and blurred vision), dysarthria/slurred speech, change in libido, impotence, decreased orgasm; headache, coma; respiratory depression, apnea, worsening of sleep apnea, worsening of obstructive pulmonary disease; gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, change in appetite, constipation, jaundice, increase in bilirubin, increase in liver transaminases, increase in alkaline phosphates; hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylactic/oid reactions; dermatological symptoms, allergic skin reactions, alopecia; SIADH, hyponatremia; thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia; hypothermia; and autonomic manifestations. Precautions: Before taking lorazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: narrow-angle glaucoma. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, severe lung/breathing problems (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder-COPD, sleep apnea), mental/mood disorders (e.g., depression, psychosis), another type of glaucoma (open-angle type), muscle weakness, drug/alcohol abuse. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. The elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially drowsiness and unsteadiness. Also, the elderly may not experience relief of anxiety with lorazepam. It may have the opposite effect on