| Note |
Ativan an uncomplicated benzodiazepine. Manages anxiety without turning off the patient. Ativan…"at the dosage levels indicated, is well tolerated and effective…Although lorazepam possessed increased therapeutic potency, fewer adverse effects (muscular weakness, lethargy, sleepiness and ataxia) were seen with lorazepam than with diazepam during the course of the clinical trial." Uncomplicated metabolically. Ativan, in contrast with the common long-acting benzodiazepines, has no active metabolites and is metabolized in a simple one-step process. There is, therefore, no accumulation of multiple metabolites on repeated dosage. Less complicated clinically. Peak blood levels of Ativan usually occur within 2 hours after a single oral dose. Steady state serum levels are achieved in approximately two days as opposed to 4 to 9 days for diazepam. The intermediate 12 hour half-life of Ativan provides convenient BID or TID dosage to suit individual patient needs. |