The ease of addiction to Lorazepam, (the Ativan brand was particularly cited), and its withdrawal were brought to the attention of the British public during the early 1980s in Esther Rantzen's BBC TV series "That's Life!", in a feature on the drug over a number of episodes.

However, adverse effects such as behavioural disinhibition may make benzodiazepines inappropriate for some acutely psychotic patients. Lorazepam's effects are dose-dependent, meaning the higher the dose, the stronger the effects (and side effects) will be. * Surgical premedication – Informed consent that was given only after receiving lorazepam premedication could have its validity challenged later. To avoid amnesia (or excess sedation) being a problem, the initial total daily lorazepam dose should not exceed 2 mg. Such allegations may arise because of incomplete amnesia, disinhibition, and impaired ability to process cues. Long-term therapy may lead to cognitive deficits, especially in the elderly, which may only be partially reversible. With long-term use of benzodiazepines it is unclear whether cognitive impairments fully return to normal after cessation of therapy; cognitive deficits persist for at least 6 months post-withdrawal, but it is possible that longer than 6 months is required for recovery of cognitive function. Benzodiazepines can cause or worsen depression. Less serious Ativan side effects may include:* drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness; * blurred vision; * sleep problems (insomnia); * muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination; * amnesia or forgetfulness, trouble concentrating; * nausea, vomiting, constipation; * appetite changes; or * skin rash. It is also used as adjunct therapy for cyclic vomiting syndrome.