Ativan (lorazepam) typically starts working within 20 to 30 minutes after oral administration, providing rapid relief from anxiety. The peak effects of Ativan are usually reached around 1 to 2 hours after taking the dose, and its calming effects generally last for about 6 to 8 hours. The onset might be even faster (10 to 20 minutes) when taken under the tongue, and the drug acts by enhancing the calming effects of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.
