Key takeaways

  • Lorazepam can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, weakness, feeling unsteady, and confusion.
  • Older adults who take lorazepam may have an increased risk of side effects, such as sleepiness or confusion, from the drug.
  • If lorazepam side effects become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Lorazepam is used for the short-term treatment of different types of anxiety, including:

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects lorazepam can cause. To learn more about lorazepam, including its uses, dosage, and cost, see this lorazepam overview.

Lorazepam has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Boxed warnings for lorazepam” section.

Note: This article covers the oral tablet and oral concentrate form of lorazepam. For more information about other forms of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their lorazepam treatment. Examples of more commonly reported side effects of lorazepam oral tablet and lorazepam oral concentrate include:

Keep reading to learn other side effects lorazepam may cause, which can be mild or serious.

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You may develop mild side effects from taking lorazepam. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with lorazepam include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking lorazepam unless your doctor recommends it.

Lorazepam may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. For details, see the prescribing information for lorazepam oral tablet and lorazepam oral concentrate.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

It’s possible to experience serious side effects from taking lorazepam, although these are less common than the drug’s mild side effects. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for lorazepam oral tablet and lorazepam oral concentrate.

If you develop serious side effects while taking lorazepam, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Boxed warnings for lorazepam” section.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking lorazepam and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, lorazepam can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue lorazepam treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to lorazepam, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

People ages 65 years and older who take lorazepam may have an increased risk of side effects from the drug. Side effects of lorazepam that older people may have a higher risk of include:

If you’re an older adult, your doctor may have you take a lower dose of lorazepam at the start of treatment to get your body used to the medication. They may then increase the dose as needed until you’re taking the right dose for your condition.

Learn more about some of the side effects lorazepam may cause.

Lorazepam has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of serious side effects when taken with opioid medications

Lorazepam has a boxed warning about the risk of serious side effects when taken with opioid medications such as Roxicodone (oxycodone) and Hysingla ER (hydrocodone).

Taking opioids together with lorazepam increases your risk of dangerous side effects, such as respiratory depression and coma. It can even be fatal.

What might help

If you’re taking an opioid, tell your doctor before you start lorazepam treatment. They can determine whether it’s safe for you to take the drugs together.

Your doctor may recommend taking both lorazepam and an opioid for your treatment. In this case, they’ll have you take the lowest possible doses of the drugs for the shortest amount of time necessary.

Risk of misuse and addiction

Lorazepam has a boxed warning about the risk of misuse and addiction. Misuse of a drug means using it in a way that’s different from how your doctor prescribed it. And addiction can happen when you feel you need to take a drug, even if it’s causing harm to you.

Misusing lorazepam can increase your risk of serious side effects, which may be life threatening. To help prevent serious side effects, it’s important to always take lorazepam as prescribed by your doctor.

What might help

Taking lorazepam for a long period of time or in high doses may increase your risk of misuse or addiction. Your doctor will likely recommend short-term treatment with this medication to help prevent these side effects.

Risk of dependence and withdrawal

Lorazepam has a boxed warning about the risk of dependence and withdrawal. Drug dependence can occur when you become used to a medication and need to take it to feel as you usually would. You can develop dependence on a drug such as lorazepam even if you’re taking it as prescribed.

Lorazepam may cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication. Withdrawal symptoms can happen when your body becomes used to a medication, and then you suddenly stop taking it. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms may be long term, lasting anywhere from weeks to up to 12 months.

Examples of withdrawal symptoms that may occur include:

What might help

If you would like to stop treatment with lorazepam, talk with your doctor. Do not stop treatment with this medication without first discussing a plan with them.

Your doctor will likely recommend that you slowly reduce your dose of lorazepam so that your body can adjust to less medication.

If you develop severe symptoms of withdrawal, contact your doctor or emergency services immediately.

There may be things you can do to help make certain lorazepam side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Nausea

Lorazepam can cause nausea. But this wasn’t one of the more common side effects reported in studies of lorazepam oral tablet and lorazepam oral concentrate.

What might help

If you develop nausea from taking lorazepam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest ways to ease this side effect, such as taking your dose of the drug with food.

For a few remedies you can try at home that may lessen nausea, check out this article.

Constipation

Lorazepam may cause constipation, although this wasn’t a common side effect of lorazepam in studies of lorazepam oral tablet and lorazepam oral concentrate.

What might help

If you develop constipation that’s bothersome to you while taking lorazepam, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to recommend ways to decrease this side effect. For example, taking an over-the-counter medication, such as MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol), might ease your constipation.

For at-home treatments that may also relieve constipation, see this article.

Agitation

It’s possible for lorazepam to cause agitation. But this side effect was not commonly reported in studies of people taking lorazepam oral tablet or lorazepam oral concentrate.

What might help

If you feel agitated during treatment with lorazepam, talk with your doctor. You may be having a paradoxical reaction. (This refers to experiencing effects that are the opposite of what is expected from the drug.) Such reactions are more likely to occur in children and older people (ages 65 years and over).

If you think you’re having a paradoxical reaction to lorazepam, talk with your doctor. They may recommend stopping lorazepam treatment or prescribe a different medication to treat your anxiety.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about lorazepam’s side effects.

Are side effects of lorazepam seen in females different than those seen in males?

It’s not likely. In the studies of lorazepam oral tablet and lorazepam oral concentrate, there was no indication of any side effects being more frequently reported in females or males.

If you have questions about what side effects to expect while taking lorazepam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.

Is it possible to have long-term side effects from taking lorazepam?

Yes, it’s possible to have long-term side effects from taking lorazepam. Examples include memory loss and mood changes, such as depression. But long-term side effects weren’t commonly reported in studies of lorazepam oral tablet or lorazepam oral concentrate.

People who suddenly stop taking lorazepam can develop withdrawal symptoms. These may be long term, lasting anywhere from weeks to up to 12 months. Examples include mood changes, tremors, and insomnia (trouble sleeping).

If you have concerns about long-term side effects from taking this medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is weight gain a side effect of lorazepam?

No, you shouldn’t have weight gain from taking lorazepam. Weight changes weren’t reported in studies of people taking lorazepam oral tablet or lorazepam oral concentrate.

It’s possible for the conditions lorazepam treats, anxiety and anxiety associated with depression, to increase the risk of weight gain or obesity.

If you have weight gain while taking lorazepam, talk with your doctor. They can determine what may be causing it. They may also recommend ways to manage your weight. For example, they may suggest changes to your diet or exercise routine to help manage your weight.

Consider the following important information before starting lorazepam.

Lorazepam has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Boxed warnings for lorazepam” section.

Other warnings

Before taking lorazepam, discuss your health history with your doctor. Lorazepam may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

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.