Home / Medicine / Ativan

Ativan

Ativan contains lorazepam, a molecule positioned across several overlapping pharmacological categories — anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, and muscle-relaxant — and is registered in 17 countries worldwide. The brand has a geographically scattered footprint rather than a single regional cluster, with marketing authorisation in markets as varied as Canada, India, Egypt, Australia, and Peru.

Lorazepam is used across a range of clinical situations, from the management of generalized anxiety disorder and acute anxiety or panic states to mania, certain seizure-related presentations including status epilepticus, and as a premedication for procedures such as endoscopy and bronchoscopy. The structured indication block below this introduction sets out the registered uses in detail; what matters at the level of this page is that the medication occupies several therapeutic roles rather than one.

For travellers and expatriates, the practical reality is that Ativan as a brand may or may not appear in any given country, but lorazepam itself is widely available internationally under a range of commercial names. Ireland, Hong Kong, Lebanon, New Zealand, and Pakistan are among the markets where Ativan is registered, and a pharmacist in any of these can usually confirm whether the local product on the shelf is the same molecule.

Medications in this broader pharmacological family are subject to controlled-substance regulation in many jurisdictions, which means prescription requirements, import rules for travellers, and even available brand names can differ markedly across borders. Other active ingredients within the same class also exist worldwide, although they are not interchangeable without medical guidance. Anyone carrying this medication across borders, or trying to identify a local equivalent, should treat the question as one for a healthcare provider rather than something to resolve at a pharmacy counter alone.

Countries
Australia Canada Ecuador Egypt Hong Kong India Ireland Lebanon Malta New Zealand Pakistan Peru South Africa Taiwan United Kingdom USA Venezuela
Diseases
Burping Endoscopy Generalized Anxiety Disorder Anxiety&Panic Attacks Fits Mania Status epilepticus Bronchoscopy
Ingredients
Lorazepam
Drug Actions
Anticonvulsant Anxiolytic Muscle relaxant Psychoanaleptics Psycholeptics Hypnotic Tranquilizing Calming

Drugs with the same active ingredients

Aplacasse Calmatron Emotival Kalmalin Lorazepam fabra Lorazepam vannier Lorazepan chobet Lorezan Lyovial Microzepam Nervistop Sidenar Trapax U pan Temesta Lorazepam eg Lorazepam mylan Lorazetop Serenase Serenase (lorazepam)

Shelf life

12 months

Incompatibilities

None known

List of excipients

Polyethylene glycol 400

Benzyl alcohol

Propylene glycol

Preclinical safety data

Nothing of relevance to the prescriber.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Ativan is a benzodiazepine with anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Ativan Injection is readily absorbed when given intramuscularly. Peak plasma concentrations occur approximately 60-90 minutes following intramuscular administration.

Ativan is metabolised by a simple one-step process to a pharmacologically inactive glucuronide. There is minimal risk of accumulation after repeated doses, giving a wide margin of safety.

There are no major active metabolites. The elimination half-life is about 12-16 hours when given intramuscularly or intravenously.

Date of revision of the text

05/2014

Marketing authorisation holder

Pfizer Limited

Ramsgate Road

Sandwich

Kent,

CT13 9NJ

United Kingdom

Special precautions for storage

Store and transport refrigerated (2°C to 8°C).

Keep ampoule in the outer carton.

Nature and contents of container

1ml solution in 2ml ampoules (Type I glass) with a one-point-cut opening, position marked by red spot in pack sizes of 10.

Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 00057/1279

Special precautions for disposal and other handling

None.

Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

11 August 2011

Frequently asked questions

What conditions does Ativan treat?

Ativan is prescribed in the management of generalized anxiety disorder, acute anxiety and panic states, mania, and certain seizure-related situations including status epilepticus. It is also used as a premedication in procedural settings such as endoscopy and bronchoscopy. The active ingredient belongs to a category of medications with anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and muscle-relaxant properties. The structured indication block below this introduction lists each registered use in detail.

Which active substance is in Ativan?

Ativan contains lorazepam, a molecule classified across the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, and muscle-relaxant categories. Lorazepam is one of several active ingredients within this broader pharmacological family used worldwide. The same molecule circulates internationally under a range of brand names depending on the manufacturer and regulatory market, so what is labelled Ativan in one country may appear under a different commercial name elsewhere.

In how many countries is Ativan available?

Ativan is registered in 17 countries, spanning several regions rather than clustering in a single one. Examples include Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Egypt, Peru, Taiwan, and South Africa. If your country is not represented on this list, lorazepam may still be available locally under a different brand name — a pharmacist in your destination can usually confirm what equivalent products are on the market.

Are there other medications with the same active ingredient as Ativan?

Lorazepam is sold under several brand names worldwide, and other molecules within the same broader pharmacological class are also marketed internationally. These related medications are not freely interchangeable, however — agents within the class differ in onset, duration, and clinical positioning, and substitution is a clinical decision. To identify a lorazepam-containing product locally, search the active ingredient on Pill2Trip or ask a pharmacist in your country.

Should I consult a doctor before taking Ativan?

Yes. Ativan is a prescription medication in the markets where it is registered, and the class to which lorazepam belongs is tightly regulated in most jurisdictions, including controlled-substance scheduling in many countries. This matters particularly for travellers, since import rules, prescription documentation, and available brand names vary across borders. Any decision to start, continue, stop, or substitute this medication should be made together with a healthcare provider familiar with the patient's situation.

Ativan

Available in 17 countries