New York State to Require Refrigeration of Ativan

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By EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy, Saratoga County
NYSAFC Director, EMS

The Bureaus of EMS and Narcotic Enforcement notified EMS agencies and medical directors that effective February 15, 2013, any agency carrying lorazepam (Ativan) must maintain the drug in a refrigerated environment until it is administered to a patient. They base this on lack of any evidence supporting an acceptable period of time that injectable lorazepam can be stored outside of refrigeration. This will put a crunch on agencies that substituted lorazepam during shortages of midazolam last year. Revised controlled substances plans for affected agencies must be submitted to the Bureau by March 1, 2013.