Benzodiazepines for Alcohol Withdrawal. One of the hardest parts of getting sober for many individuals is going through alcohol withdrawal, which can be incredibly painful and in some cases fatal. 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. 1. How it works. Lorazepam calms and sedates and may be used in the treatment of anxiety, as an anticonvulsant, or for its sedative effects. Experts aren't exactly sure how lorazepam works, but believe its effects are due to its ability to strongly bind to the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex, which enhances the affinity for GABA (a. Addiction Risk. Lorazepam (Ativan) belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. These drugs are useful medications when taken for their intended purpose; however, they should be taken with caution due to their potential for physical dependence and addiction. Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, side-effects, and cautions: Dr. Pappas on valium vs lorazepam: Klonopin (clonazepam) is longer acting but takes just slightly longer to start working. Ativan works quicker but clears from your system quicker then Klonopin (clonazepam) although it can stay in your system for a while. 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. User Reviews for Ativan. The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. Ativan (lorazepam) taper schedules have two competitive advantages to other detox programs. The first of which revolves around acclimation. The human body has the remarkable ability to regenerate — healing itself from physical and psychological trauma of all kinds. It’s often said that the physical side effects of using Ativan are somewhat similar to what alcohol intoxication looks like. Some of the ways Ativan can impact the brain and body include drowsiness, dizziness and a general loss of coordination. …from minor withdrawal symptoms to major ones. Diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium) are used most frequently to treat or prevent alcohol withdrawal, but other benzodiazepines ….