What side effects should I be expecting from taking lorazepam?

Signs of lorazepam allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, hives (rash on your body), swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat—If you experience any of these symptoms, please call 911 or seek emergency medical care at the nearest emergency room (ER). 

Lorazepam can cause respiratory depression, meaning this medication can slow or stop your breathing. The risk of respiratory depression increases if you use opioid pain medication or drink alcohol. 

If you take lorazepam or any other medications with sedative effects, your family member or caregiver should learn to recognize the adverse signs. Some include tiredness, slow and shallow breathing with long pauses, shortness of breath, blue-colored lips, and difficulty being woken up.

Older adults and those who are weak or frail may have more severe and long-lasting dizziness or drowsiness. Use lorazepam with caution to avoid falls leading to injury and fractures. 

After you discontinue lorazepam, you should get emergency medical care if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Being more talkative or active
• Unusual changes in mood or behavior such as a sudden feeling of restlessness
• Unusual muscle movements
• Hallucinations
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts and ideation

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following signs:

• Unusual changes in mood or behavior, including being more talkative or agitated
• Unusual restlessness, aggression
• Severe drowsiness
• Suicidal or self-harm thoughts or ideations
• Vision changes
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• ark urine

Common side effects of lorazepam: 

• Dizziness, drowsiness
• Weakness, unsteadiness

Withdrawal symptoms may happen up to 12 months or longer after the sudden discontinuation of lorazepam. Let your doctor know if you have continued anxiety; problems with your memory or thinking, sleep problems; ringing in your ears, or a crawling sensation under the skin. You should also be aware of developing depression.

Lorazepam Overdose: Go to the nearest emergency room or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. You can find more information at your local poison control center or www.poisonhelp.org/help.

Lorazepam overdose symptoms:

Overdosage of lorazepam can cause CNS (central nervous system) or respiratory depression Symptoms include drowsiness, confusion, agitation, slurred speech, and lethargy in mild cases. In more severe cases, symptoms such as impaired coordination, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, cardiovascular depression, coma, and death (this is more common when other drugs or alcohol have been ingested).

The benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil may be used in hospitalized patients to treat a benzodiazepine overdose.. 

The above list on this site may not include all the possible side effects of lorazepam. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist at your local pharmacy if you have persistent side effects or any side effects that are not listed above. You can also report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Source: FDA