Mar 10, - In a sample of about patients treated for anxiety, the most frequent adverse reaction to Ativan (lorazepam) was sedation ( ), followed by dizziness ( ), weakness ( ), and unsteadiness ( ). The incidence of sedation and unsteadiness increased with age. Jul 30, - According to the Beers' Criteria, lorazepam is a potentially inappropriate medication that may cause serious side effects for older adults. Mar 17, - Alcohol can worsen the side effects of lorazepam, such as drowsiness, The dose of lorazepam may be lower if you are elderly or debilitated.