Ativan is often prescribed by a physician to treat those who have either an acute case of anxiety or panic rather than someone who has suffered from long-term depression or anxiety. Lorazepam, sold under the brand name Ativan among others, is a benzodiazepine medication. It is used to treat anxiety disorders, trouble sleeping, active seizures including status epilepticus, alcohol withdrawal, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It is also used during surgery to interfere with memory formation and to sedate those. Note: This document contains side effect information about lorazepam. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Ativan. INDICATIONS. Ativan (lorazepam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms. Ativan is a benzodiazepine used for the management of anxiety disorders, insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal. Ativan is available in generic form. How to use Ativan. Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking lorazepam and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. As with other benzodiazepines, lorazepam should be used with extreme caution in patients with pulmonary disease and in patients with respiratory insufficiency resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), status asthmaticus, abnormal airway anatomy, cyanotic congenital heart disease, or pulmonary hypertension. Yes, these doses are right. You will do the patient more harm if you underscore and underdose. Remember that these patients have empty neuroreceptors that used to be filled with alcohol. Ativan official prescribing information for healthcare professionals. Includes: indications, dosage, adverse reactions, pharmacology and more. What is Ativan? Ativan (lorazepam) is a sedative medication that is most generally used to treat anxiety. Other accepted uses include treating insomnia, symptoms of severe alcohol withdrawal, relieving serial seizures in children (sublingual form), as a muscle relaxant, and reducing the suffering of chemotherapy patients who.