Anxiety, sleeplessness, and some seizure disorders are treated with the prescription drug Ativan, commonly referred to as Lorazepam. It is a member of the benzodiazepine class of medications, which boost the effects of GABA, a substance that is found naturally in the brain. In the United States, ativan is a commonly prescribed drug that has been taken for non-medical purposes by about 5.4 million people, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.