From the Guidelines
For inpatient anxiety management, Ativan (lorazepam) should be dosed at 0.5-1 mg orally four times a day as required, with a maximum of 4 mg in 24 hours, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. When managing anxiety in inpatients, it's crucial to consider the patient's ability to swallow and their overall health status.
- For patients who are able to swallow, the recommended dose is 0.5-1 mg orally four times a day as required, with a maximum of 4 mg in 24 hours 1.
- In elderly or debilitated patients, the dose should be reduced to 0.25-0.5 mg, with a maximum of 2 mg in 24 hours, to minimize the risk of adverse effects 1.
- Oral tablets can be used sublingually if necessary, although this is considered an off-label use 1. It's essential to monitor patients closely for signs of respiratory depression, especially when Ativan is combined with other CNS depressants.
- The response to Ativan should be assessed after 30-60 minutes for IV/IM administration or 1-2 hours for oral dosing.
- Regular reassessment of the need for continued benzodiazepine therapy is essential, with consideration of non-benzodiazepine alternatives for long-term anxiety management. By following these guidelines, healthcare providers can effectively manage anxiety in inpatients while minimizing the risk of adverse effects and promoting the best possible outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
From the FDA Drug Label
For anxiety, most patients require an initial dose of 2 mg/day to 3 mg/day given twice daily or three times daily. The recommended inpatient Ativan (lorazepam) dosing for anxiety is an initial dose of 2 mg/day to 3 mg/day given twice daily or three times daily 2.
- The daily dosage may vary from 1 mg/day to 10 mg/day.
- The dosage of lorazepam should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects.
From the Research
Inpatient Ativan Dosing for Anxiety
- Ativan, also known as lorazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders 3.
- The dosage of Ativan for inpatient anxiety treatment is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but benzodiazepines are commonly used for their rapid onset and immediate symptom relief 3.
- Combination therapy with benzodiazepines and antidepressants may improve outcomes over monotherapy in some patients with comorbid anxiety and depression 4.
- Benzodiazepines, including Ativan, have been shown to be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, with a moderate to high effect size compared to other medications such as SSRIs and SNRIs 5.
- However, the use of benzodiazepines, including Ativan, should be carefully considered due to their potential for dependence and withdrawal symptoms 3.