Ativan belongs to a class of drug benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerve to produce calming effects. Make your brain and nerve anxiety and panic free. Ativan tablets are FDA-approved for short-term treatment of insomnia (trouble sleeping) that's caused by anxiety or stress. Ativan tablets are also prescribed off-label for other types of insomnia. However, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine , it's not a first-choice medication for this use