Compare Ativan vs. Lunesta
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Helps you relax.
Ativan (lorazepam) is an effective medicine for occasional or short-term anxiety. It's less likely to have drug interactions, but more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms compared to similar drugs.
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3.8/ 5 average rating with 642 reviewsforAtivan
Helps you sleep.
Lunesta (Eszopiclone) is good for falling asleep and staying asleep. Not as habit-forming as some sleep medicines, but more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop suddenly.
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3.3/ 5 average rating with 592 reviewsforLunesta
Upsides
- Effective at relieving short-term anxiety.
- Can be used together with antidepressants to manage anxiety disorders. Especially helpful for anxiety symptoms while you wait for an antidepressant to kick in.
- Less likely to have drug interactions compared to other drugs like it, so it might be a better option if you're taking multiple medications.
- Effective at helping people fall asleep faster and sleep longer.
- Not as habit-forming, so you can use it for longer than most other sleep medicines.
Downsides
- Can cause memory problems, drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.
- Can be habit-forming, so it's not typically used for long-term treatment or for people who've had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.
- Compared to other similar medicines, Ativan (lorazepam) is more likely to cause withdrawal if you take it for a long time and then suddenly stop.
- Most people find that Ativan (lorazepam) gets less effective over time.
- More likely to cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.
- Might not be safe if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, depression, lung disease, or a condition that affects metabolism.
- It's easy to become reliant on sleep medicines. In the long run, it's better to learn good sleeping habits and behavior so that you can sleep better naturally.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Injection
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$9.10
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$15.01
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Reviews
642 reviews so far
71%
saidit'sworth it
51%
saiditworked well
15%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Ativan (lorazepam)?
Leave a review592 reviews so far
55%
saidit'sworth it
36%
saiditworked well
17%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Lunesta (Eszopiclone)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
4possible side effects
- Sleepiness16%
- Dizziness7%
- Weakness4%
- Unsteadiness3%
10possible side effects
- Headache15%
- Unpleasant Taste8%
- Dyspepsia6%
- Pain4%
- Diarrhea4%
- Pruritus4%
- Dry Mouth3%
- Abnormal Dreams3%
- Neuralgia3%
- Urinary Tract Infection3%
Risks and risk factors
- Severe sedation with opioid use
- Taking with opioids
- Tolerance and dependence
- Taking more than the prescribed dose
- Taking Ativan (lorazepam) for longer than 4 weeks
- History of drug abuse
- Withdrawal
- Long-term use
- Driving impairment
- Alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Memory problems
- Dependence and withdrawal
- Continuous use for 2 weeks or more
- Driving impairment
- Alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Less than 7 hours of sleep.
- Abnormal thoughts
- Undiagnosed psychiatric conditions
- Sleep driving
- Taking with alcohol or drugs that acts in the brain
- Serious allergic reactions
- Risk of falls and injury
- Elderly
- Higher dose
- Liver problems
- Taking Lunesta (Eszopiclone) with other nervous system depressants
- Long-term use
- Risk to fetus
- Women of childbearing age
- Breast-feeding