Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Ativan as follows:
Tolerance
- Individuals develop tolerance to the dose of Ativan with diminished therapeutic response over time. Report to your physician regarding any blunting of therapeutic response, with diminishing control or reverting of anxiety episodes, seizures, muscle cramps, nervousness, irritability, restlessness, and insomnia, based on your health history for which Ativan is prescribed. Your physician could consider a change in the plan of care to provide the desired therapeutic relief.
- Increasing the dose of Ativan to derive the same therapeutic benefit can increase the risk for addiction.
- The risk for addiction is even more in individuals with history of substance/drug abuse, as the craving for the desired effect in these individuals will be high.
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Ativan use can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea and vomiting. Ativan use can also result in compromised appetite occasionally. Taking Ativan after having a meal or a snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Ativan can also induce extreme dry mouth and constipation. Sucking on a sugar free hard candy can help with symptomatic relief of dry mouth. Proper hydration measures and compliance with daily fluid intake recommendations can help with relief from constipation. If you experience any further bothersome constipation, report it to your physician for a recommendation on laxative/stool softener use. Observing compliance with fiber intake recommendations in the diet can also help with preventing episodes of constipation with the medication.
