Ativan (lorazepam) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for anxiety, seizures, and other uses in adults. Ativan comes as an oral tablet and an injection. The dosage can vary depending on what condition the drug is used to treat.

Ativan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:

Ativan contains the active drug lorazepam and belongs to a drug class called benzodiazepines. Lorazepam is also the name of the generic form of Ativan.

Ativan comes as oral tablets and injections.

For information about the dosage of Ativan, including its forms, strengths, and how to take the medication, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Ativan, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Ativan provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Ativan, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

If your doctor prescribes Ativan, you may have questions about the drug’s dosage, such as:

  • What’s Ativan’s dosage range?
  • What are the usual dosage amounts of Ativan?
  • What’s considered a safe dose of Ativan?

Below is a basic dosage chart for Ativan (“mg” refers to milligrams).

Usual dosage rangeSafe dosage
2 mg to 6 mg total, divided into two or three dosesUp to 10 mg total per day

Ativan forms and strengths

Ativan comes as an oral tablet and a vial that contains a liquid solution. The solution is given as an intravenous (IV) injection or intramuscular (IM) injection.

Here are the strengths for each form of Ativan:

  • Oral tablets: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg
  • Liquid solution for injection: 2 mg per milliliter of liquid solution (2 mg/mL), 4 mg/mL

Typical dosages

Depending on what you’re taking Ativan to treat and the dosage form your doctor prescribes, they may start you on a low dosage. Then they may adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly taken or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for sleep problems caused by anxiety or stress

To treat sleep problems caused by anxiety or stress, your doctor will prescribe Ativan tablets. The dosage range for this use is 2–4 mg once per day, taken at bedtime.

Dosage for certain seizures

To treat certain seizures, a healthcare professional will typically give you Ativan as an IV injection. In some cases, they may give you an IM injection.

The usual dosage is 4 mg given slowly (over about 2 minutes). If the seizures continue after 10 to 15 minutes, you may be given another 4-mg dose.

Dosage for anxiety

To treat anxiety, your doctor will prescribe Ativan tablets. The typical starting dosage is 2–3 mg per day. You’ll take Ativan in two or three daily doses. For example, you might take 1 mg in the morning and 2 mg in the evening.

Your doctor may increase your dosage if needed. The dosage for anxiety can be a total of 1–10 mg per day, and the usual total dosage is 2–6 mg per day.

Dosage for surgery

To make you sleep before surgery, a healthcare professional will typically give you an IM injection of Ativan.

For this use, Ativan is dosed based on body weight. You’ll likely receive an IM injection of 0.05 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight, up to a maximum dose of 4 mg. 1 kg equals about 2.2 pounds (Ib).

Ativan may also be given by IV injection to make you sleep before surgery. The recommended dose for this use is either 2 mg or 0.02 mg per Ib (0.044 mg/kg) of body weight, whichever is smaller.

The healthcare professional will determine what dose is right for you.

Long-term use

Using Ativan for more than 4 months in a row hasn’t been studied. Ativan is not meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. Your doctor will typically check from time to time whether you still need to take Ativan.

Children’s dosage

Ativan is not approved for children to take. The drug has not proven to be safe and effective to treat conditions in this group.

The maximum dose of Ativan in 24 hours is 10 mg. This dose is typically taken for conditions that Ativan treats, such as anxiety.

The 10-mg maximum dose is usually divided into two or three doses. For example, you may take 2 mg in the morning, 2 mg in the afternoon, and 6 mg before bed.

For making you sleep before surgery, the maximum dose of Ativan is 4 mg.

For more information about Ativan dosages, including what’s a safe dose of Ativan, see the “Ativan dosage” section just above.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Ativan dosages.

What’s considered a ‘normal’ dosage of Ativan?

The “normal” (usual) dosage of Ativan is 2–6 mg total, divided into two or three doses. For example, to treat anxiety, you may take Ativan tablets at a dosage of 2 mg twice per day, for a total daily dosage of 4 mg.

For more information about Ativan dosages, including what’s a safe dose of Ativan, see the “Ativan dosage” section above. You can also speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

What’s the Ativan dosage for panic and anxiety attacks?

Ativan is not approved to treat panic or anxiety attacks. But the drug may be prescribed off-label for this use. Off-label use is when a drug is prescribed to treat a condition it isn’t approved to treat.

To learn more about using Ativan for panic or anxiety attacks and what the dosage would be, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Ativan used for dogs? If so, what’s the dosage for dogs?

Ativan is not approved for use in dogs, but your veterinarian might recommend Ativan for your dog in some situations. Ativan may be used in dogs to help reduce anxiety or stress, to sedate your dog during a surgery, or to treat seizures.

Do not give your dog Ativan unless your veterinarian recommends this. Your veterinarian can recommend whether this drug is safe for your dog and what dosage your dog might need. If you think your pet has eaten your Ativan medication, contact your veterinarian right away.

The Ativan dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Ativan to treat
  • the form of Ativan you take
  • your age
  • your body weight, depending on the form of the drug and what it’s treating

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Ativan dosage.

Dosage adjustments

If you’re an older adult, you may need a lower dose of Ativan than usual. This is because Ativan affects your body differently as you age.

You may also need a dosage adjustment if you have kidney or liver problems. Your doctor will typically decrease your dose based on the severity of your liver or kidney condition.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about Ativan dosage adjustments.

How you take Ativan depends on the form of the drug you’re prescribed.

One form is an oral tablet that you swallow. You can take them with or without food.

Ativan’s other form is a liquid solution that’s given as an intravenous (IV) injection or intramuscular injection. A healthcare professional will give you Ativan injections.

Be sure to take Ativan exactly as your doctor prescribes. You should not take more or less Ativan than prescribed without first speaking with them.

If you miss your dose of Ativan tablets, take the dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then take your next dose at your regular scheduled time.

You should not take more than one dose to try and make up for the missed dose. This can increase your risk for side effects from Ativan. (For more about Ativan’s side effects, see this article.)

To help make sure that you do not miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app.

Ativan has a boxed warning regarding misuse and addiction. A boxed warning is the most serious warning given to a medication by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Taking Ativan can lead to misuse and addiction, even when you take an approved dosage. Misusing Ativan can cause serious side effects such as trouble breathing or coma. This risk increases if you take Ativan with certain other drugs or substances, including alcohol. Although rare, misusing Ativan can be fatal.

Misusing Ativan can also increase your risk for overdose. (To learn more, see the “Ativan and overdose” section below.

Because of the risk for misuse, Ativan is a controlled substance. This means its use is regulated by the government to prevent possible misuse. You should not share your Ativan prescription with anyone else. Be sure to take Ativan exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Also, it’s recommended that you store Ativan in a safe place, away from children.

If you take more Ativan than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.

It’s important that you do not take more Ativan than your doctor advises.

Symptoms of an overdose

Overdose symptoms of Ativan can include:

If you take more than the recommended amount of Ativan

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Ativan. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Ativan has a boxed warning about physical dependence and withdrawal. A boxed warning is the most serious warning given to a medication by the Food and Drug Administration. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Using Ativan can lead to physical dependence. This could lead to withdrawal if you suddenly stop taking the drug, even if you take an approved dosage.

You should not suddenly stop taking Ativan. Doing so could cause serious or, rarely, life-threatening side effects that can include:

In some people, withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines such as Ativan can cause symptoms that last for up to 12 months, such as:

  • anxiety
  • trouble remembering or concentrating
  • depression
  • trouble sleeping
  • feeling like insects are crawling under your skin
  • muscle weakness or twitching
  • tinnitus (ringing in your ears)

Instead of suddenly stopping Ativan treatment, your doctor will help you with a drug taper. This involves gradually lowering the dosage of the medication over time. A drug taper can help decrease your risk for withdrawal symptoms or make them less severe.

If you’re interested in stopping treatment with Ativan, be sure to talk with your doctor first. You should not suddenly stop taking the drug on your own.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Ativan for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Ativan without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Ativan that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Ativan. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Ativan. For information about other aspects of Ativan, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To find out how Ativan compares with Xanax, read this article.
  • Side effects. To learn about side effects of Ativan, see this article. You can also look at the prescribing information for Ativan tablets and solution.
  • Interactions. For details about what Ativan interacts with, see this article.
  • Details about your condition. For details about sleep problems, refer to our sleep hub. For more information about mental health and anxiety, see our mental health hub and list of anxiety articles. To learn more about the other conditions Ativan is prescribed for, talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.