An Ativan taper utilizes all of the resources at a rehabilitation center’s disposable, combined with ample recovery time to help those struggling with the substance succeed. Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of LORazepam such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. Lorazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines and is used to treat anxiety disorders. Learn about side effects, interactions and indications. Effects Of Mixing Alcohol And Energy Drinks. The spike in the popularity of energy drinks has created a new trend in nightlife- combining energy drinks with alcohol. Lorazepam is the generic form of the brand-name drug Ativan, used to treat anxiety disorders and to relieve anxiety that's associated with depression. Lorazepam is a prescription benzodiazepine drug approved for the short-term management of anxiety. It is sometimes used off-label for the treatment of nausea in cancer patients, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), epilepsy, and sometimes insomnia (though drugs like Ambien have largely supplanted benzodiazepines in the treatment of sleep disorders). Zolpidem, sold under the brand name Ambien, among others, is a medication primarily used for the short term treatment of sleeping problems. Guidelines recommend that it be used only after counseling and behavioral changes have been tried. Be aware of the effects of mixing lorazepam and alcohol before you take a drink while on this medication. Lorazepam interacts negatively with alcohol; if you drink while on this drug, your heart rate can slow down, you might have trouble breathing and you can collapse or die. The Question of Ambien Addiction. Ambien was originally synthesized to be a less addictive alternative to benzodiazepines like Valium (diazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam). When abusive amounts of alcohol and Zoloft (sertraline) are combined, it can result in potentially dangerous reactions. Drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants, such as Zoloft, is typically not recommended because both substances can make an individual feel drowsy, less alert, and uncoordinated.