text: ativan in cancer patients? my grandmother was diagnosed with pancratic cancer in oct, she is not taking chemo or radiation, no life saving measures can be done only comfort measusrs for her.  why would her doctor perscribe ativan for her?  it makes her loopy.  thanks for your help. ativan is to help calm her down.  i'm sure she is anxious about everything and it will keep her calm.  i get panic attacks and when they get bad, i take xanax, which makes me loopy too - i think the more she takes it, the more she'll build up a resistance and it will be less likely to make her loopy.  i'm sorry to hear about her diagnosis and wish her a painfree passing and comfort to you and your family.