Is lorazepam (Ativan) a controlled substance?

Yes. Lorazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance under US federal law, and in the United Kingdom it is a Class C drug listed in Schedule 4 Part 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Ativan is the brand name the DEA list gives for it, and the rules are the same whatever the product is called.

Which Ativan label does this page use?

Lorazepam is sold in several forms. The reference label we use on this site is ATIVAN Injection, made by Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA and published on DailyMed on September 18, 2026. It is an injectable product, and the quotations and approved uses below come from that label. DailyMed also lists a separate ATIVAN tablet label under Bausch Health US LLC (published November 26, 2025), so tablets exist under the brand name as well. We have not used the tablet label for quotations, so where this page speaks about "the label", it means the injection.

What is lorazepam?

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine. The injection label describes it as "a benzodiazepine and a CNS depressant with a potential for abuse and addiction". Its Indications section lists two uses. The first is the treatment of status epilepticus. The second is preanesthetic medication in adult patients, producing sedation, relief of anxiety and a decreased ability to recall events related to the day of surgery. The label states that the injection is indicated only for intermittent use.

That is a summary of the document, not guidance for any individual. A prescriber or pharmacist is the right person for questions about treatment. Our benzodiazepine guide covers the drug class generally.

Is lorazepam a controlled substance in the US?

The DEA list "Controlled Substances - Alphabetical Order" (dated August 27, 2026) shows lorazepam as code 2885, Schedule IV, with Ativan as another name. The eCFR text of 21 CFR 1308.14 lists lorazepam as item 34 among the Schedule IV depressants, and the Controlled Substance subsection of the ATIVAN Injection label's Drug Abuse and Dependence section states:

ATIVAN Injection contains lorazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Schedule IV is the second-lowest of the five federal schedules. See the DEA schedules guide for the full set. For prescriptions, 21 CFR 1306.22 sets one familiar rule: a Schedule III or IV prescription may not be filled or refilled more than six months after it was issued, and may not be refilled more than five times. Section 1306.21 also covers institutional practitioners, who may dispense a Schedule III, IV or V drug for immediate administration under an order for medication.

States can go beyond the federal rules. Some add prescription monitoring or quantity limits of their own. The state board of pharmacy is the place to check.

Does the form of the drug change its status?

No. The status attaches to the substance. The opening of 21 CFR 1308.14(c) applies to "any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity" of the listed depressants, and lorazepam is on that list. A tablet, a solution and an injection therefore sit in the same schedule. The UK works the same way: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 names the substance, not a brand or a dosage form. The brand, the maker and the form change the label text, but not the legal category.

Is Ativan a narcotic?

The DEA list puts N in the NARC column for lorazepam. In the list's own terms, it is not a narcotic. It is not an opioid either, because it belongs to the benzodiazepine class. The narcotic guide and the opioid guide explain why these words are often mixed up.

What is lorazepam's status in the UK?

The Home Office list of commonly encountered controlled drugs (updated April 1, 2025) gives lorazepam as Class C, Schedule 4 Part 1. The class comes from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, whose Schedule 2 names lorazepam in Part III, the Class C drugs. The schedule comes from the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and concerns lawful prescribing, supply and possession. Penalty bands for each class are published on gov.uk. The UK drug classes guide lays out the two systems.

Why is lorazepam controlled?

The label's Drug Abuse and Dependence section says the drug has a potential for abuse and addiction, and that even use as prescribed may put patients at risk of abuse and misuse. On dependence, the label says the injection may produce physical dependence if used more frequently than recommended, and that abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, including seizures, which can be life-threatening.

The boxed warning repeats three themes: profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death when benzodiazepines are combined with opioids; abuse, misuse and addiction; and dependence with withdrawal. Questions about any of this are for a prescriber or pharmacist. For urgent help in a medical emergency, call 999 in the UK, or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US.

How does lorazepam compare with other benzodiazepines?

The same schedule and class apply to Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam): Schedule IV in the US, Class C and Schedule 4 Part 1 in the UK. The controlled substance guide explains how a drug is placed on a schedule, and the method page lists the sources and dates behind every status on this site. The disclaimer sets out what this site is and is not.

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