Ativan is an oral tablet prescribed for anxiety, insomnia caused by anxiety, and other conditions in adults. Ativan is a controlled substance, which means it has certain regulations in place around how it can be prescribed and dispensed.
Note: Ativan also comes as an injection that’s given by a doctor or other healthcare professional. Although both forms of the drug are controlled substances, this article covers the oral tablet form only. To learn about the injection form, see this in-depth Ativan article.
A controlled substance is a drug regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). These regulations exist to help prevent misuse. (“Misuse” refers to a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it.)
Controlled substances are divided into five classes, known as Schedules. They’re categorized depending on their medical use and their potential for misuse. For example, Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for misuse and no recognized medical use. Drugs in this group include heroin and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).
Ativan is a controlled substance because although it has accepted medical uses, it also:
- has the potential to be misused
- may cause psychological or physical dependence
With dependence, your body needs a drug in order to function as usual.
If you have questions or concerns about taking Ativan because it’s a controlled substance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
Boxed warnings
Ativan has three
Risk of serious injury or death if used with opioids: Using Ativan with an opioid medication raises the risk of respiratory depression (severe trouble breathing). This can lead to severe drowsiness, coma, or, in rare cases, death. Because of this risk, doctors typically only prescribe opioids with Ativan if there are no other suitable treatment options. They also typically prescribe lower doses for a short amount of time.
As a precaution, your doctor may recommend keeping naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray on hand if you take Ativan with opioids. Narcan is used as an emergency treatment for a known or suspected opioid overdose. It works to reverse the effects of opioids. Your doctor can write you a prescription for Narcan, or you can request it at your local pharmacy. For more information about Narcan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Risk of misuse and addiction: Ativan is part of a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. All drugs in this group have a risk of misuse and addiction. (With addiction, a drug is used even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.) Due to this risk, doctors will usually evaluate someone’s risk of misuse and addiction before prescribing Ativan.
Risk of physical dependence and withdrawal: All benzodiazepines, including Ativan, have a risk of physical dependence. If a person stops taking the drug suddenly, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.) To learn more about this risk, check the “Ativan and withdrawal and dependence” section in the Ativan Dosage article.
It’s important to understand the potential risks of taking Ativan before you start treatment. To learn more, talk with your doctor.
Ativan is approved for several uses and is an effective treatment option for many people. However, it does carry some risks. Ativan is a controlled substance and has boxed warnings about some serious possible outcomes of taking it.
If you have questions or concerns about taking Ativan, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether the benefits of treatment outweigh the potential risks. They can also discuss other treatment options with you.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.