STOP — Contraindicated
FDA Black Box Warning — concurrent use has caused fatal overdoses.
Evidence level: STRONG
Taking hydrocodone with lorazepam (Ativan) puts you at serious risk of death from respiratory depression. The FDA Black Box Warning applies to all opioid-benzodiazepine combinations.
Combined CNS depression: opioid mu-receptor agonism plus GABA-A receptor potentiation. FDA Black Box Warning.
Never take these together without your doctor knowing. Request naloxone if prescribed both. Do not drink alcohol with either.
Take Lorazepam only as prescribed — benzodiazepines carry dependence risk and should not be adjusted without medical guidance. Hydrocodone at a separate time. Benzodiazepines cause sedation — avoid combining with other sedating substances. Never increase dose without medical guidance.
Risk increases with higher doses of either substance, older age, liver or kidney impairment, and concurrent use of other serotonergic or CNS-depressant substances.
Extreme sleepiness, very slow breathing, blue lips, inability to wake up, limp body
Ask about non-opioid pain relief or non-benzodiazepine sedatives. Make sure all your doctors know about all your prescriptions.
Opioid combinations carry serious risks including respiratory depression. Talk to your pain management specialist about non-opioid alternatives: physical therapy, NSAIDs (if appropriate), nerve blocks, or non-sedating supplements like PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) or curcumin for inflammation.
Taking hydrocodone with lorazepam (Ativan) puts you at serious risk of death from respiratory depression. The FDA Black Box Warning applies to all opioid-benzodiazepine combinations.
Take Lorazepam only as prescribed — benzodiazepines carry dependence risk and should not be adjusted without medical guidance. Hydrocodone at a separate time. Benzodiazepines cause sedation — avoid combining with other sedating substances. Never increase dose without medical guidance.
Extreme sleepiness, very slow breathing, blue lips, inability to wake up, limp body
Opioid combinations carry serious risks including respiratory depression. Talk to your pain management specialist about non-opioid alternatives: physical therapy, NSAIDs (if appropriate), nerve blocks, or non-sedating supplements like PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) or curcumin for inflammation.
Ask about non-opioid pain relief or non-benzodiazepine sedatives. Make sure all your doctors know about all your prescriptions.
Or browse the full interaction database (121,000+ pairs).