Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesSide EffectsDosageWhat if It Doesn’t Work?PrecautionsWarningsTips for Reducing NauseaFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Side Effects
Dosage
What if It Doesn’t Work?
Precautions
Warnings
Tips for Reducing Nausea
FAQ
Ativan (lorazepam) is typically prescribed for treating anxiety. Less often, it is used to help reduce nausea and vomiting due tochemotherapy.
The drug, which is a benzodiazepine, comes as a pill, a liquid, a tablet taken sublingually (under the tongue), or in a form that’s used intravenously (IV, within a vein).
This article will go over how Ativan is used during chemotherapy, its side effects, and facts you should know before or while you are taking it.
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Use of Ativan During Chemotherapy
The most common side effect of chemotherapy is nausea and vomiting. There are many treatments that can help reduce this side effect.
Sometimes, Ativan is used in the following settings:
This medication can also be helpful due to its sedating properties. During and following chemotherapy, some people value the mild drowsiness this medication can cause.
While Ativan can be effective, it should not be taken alone as an anti-nausea drug. It should be added to an anti-nausea regimen of at least two other drugs.Ativan is most often used with other medications designed to prevent and control nausea, especially steroids such as Ozurdex or Maxidex (dexamethasone).
You may experience fatigue, dizziness, and weakness while taking Ativan. Other side effects include feelings of depression, sleep problems, and sleepiness.Let your healthcare provider know what you are experiencing.
If the side effects become bothersome, other anti-nausea medications can be prescribed. Sometimes it takes trying out a few different medications before finding the best one for you, and there are many available.
Before stopping or changing the dosage of Ativan, speak with your healthcare provider.
If you’re taking Ativan to prevent nausea and vomiting, the typical dosage is as follows:
If you are taking Ativan to treat nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy, this is the dosage:
The tablets and liquid tend to work within 20 to 30 minutes.If it is given intravenously, you will feel the effects sooner.
How Long Does Ativan Last?
The peak concentration in plasma happens about two hours after administration, meaning its effects are strongest then. It then slowly tapers off over several hours, with sedation lasting a total of six to eight hours.However, even after the effects are gone, it stays in your system for a whilelonger. The average half-life of the drug (when it is halfway eliminated in your body) is about 12 hours.
Some anti-nausea drugs need to be taken on a regular schedule topreventnausea and are much less effective if you wait until you have symptoms. For people who have nausea that’s associated with cancer treatment, Ativan usually is prescribed “as needed,” meaning you won’t need to take the medication on a regular schedule.
If Ativan doesn’t help with yournausea and vomiting, your healthcare provider may change the dosage or prescribe another anti-nausea medication. Don’t despair—many new and very effective medications have been approved for both the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea in recent years.
Currently available antiemetics (drugs that treat vomiting and nausea) used to curb chemotherapy-induced illness include:
Competitive Dopamine (D2) Antagonists:
5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)3 receptor antagonists:
Neurokinin (NK)-1 antagonists:
These drugs can be used alone or in combination depending on the severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting during the acute period (up to 24 hours after chemotherapy) and the delayed period (up to five days after).
Other Pharmacological Agents:
However, nausea and vomiting can continue beyond five days in many people. Other drugs, includingbenzodiazepinesandcannabinoids, may offer additional benefits during this time.
Commercially available cannabinoids, such as dronabinol and nabilone, are drugs approved for the treatment of cancer-related side effects.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:
Before taking Ativan, you should be aware of the following:
Tips for Reducing Nausea During Chemotherapy
There are several simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing nausea during your treatment. Most people require preventative measures, as well as medications. Trying to tough it out is not advised.
Some lifestyle measures that others have found helpful include:
Ativan for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Summary
Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy can cause physical and emotional distress. While Ativan may be best known as an anti-anxiety drug, it can also help prevent and treat chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting, as well as the anxiety that’s associated with it.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt can be, yes. It is a benzodiazepine, and these drugs can be habit-forming. If you have a personal or family history of addiction or prescription abuse, talk with your doctor. Always use the drug exactly as prescribed. If you find yourself having trouble sticking to the treatment regimen, talk with your healthcare provider about switching to an alternative drug.Yes, it typically does. This drug, especially the generic version, is inexpensive. Even if your health insurance doesn’t cover it, your out-of-pocket price may be cheaper than your insurance co-pay for a more costly drug.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, yes. It is a benzodiazepine, and these drugs can be habit-forming. If you have a personal or family history of addiction or prescription abuse, talk with your doctor. Always use the drug exactly as prescribed. If you find yourself having trouble sticking to the treatment regimen, talk with your healthcare provider about switching to an alternative drug.
Yes, it typically does. This drug, especially the generic version, is inexpensive. Even if your health insurance doesn’t cover it, your out-of-pocket price may be cheaper than your insurance co-pay for a more costly drug.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Hesketh PJ, Kris MG, Basch E, et al.Antiemetics: ASCO guideline update.J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(24):2782-2797. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.01296
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