'The White Lotus' characters taking lorazepam: What is it and why are they in danger by abusing it?

Those watching HBO’s "The White Lotus" whitethorn beryllium acquainted with matriarch Victoria’s agelong confederate drawl, sweeping silk robes — and her affinity for lorazepam.

Searches for the anti-anxiety cause spiked, according to Google Trends, pursuing an occurrence of the deed amusement that heavy featured its usage — or, much accurately, its abuse.

Victoria Ratliff, played by histrion Parker Posey, is seen tossing backmost a pill oregon 2 astatine each hours of the day.

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She cites its usage for anxiousness erstwhile questioned by her family. 

But erstwhile Ratliff finds herself abruptly without her medication, she utters the memorable quote: "I don't adjacent person my lorazepam. I'm going to person to portion myself to sleep."

Actress Parker Posey is shown astatine the Season 3 premiere of HBO's "The White Lotus" successful Bangkok connected Feb. 14, 2025. (CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM/AFP via Getty Images; iStock)

What is lorazepam?

The drug, which is successful a people of medications called benzodiazepines, works by slowing enactment successful the encephalon to let for relaxation, according to MedlinePlus.

Lorazepam is utilized to relieve anxiousness arsenic good arsenic insomnia caused by impermanent situational accent (or, successful Mrs. Ratliff’s case, a stressful household vacation).

Lorazepam is utilized to relieve anxiousness arsenic good arsenic insomnia caused by impermanent situational stress. (iStock)

The medicine is besides sometimes utilized successful infirmary environments to assistance patients unbend and autumn dormant anterior to surgery, according to Healthline. 

It whitethorn besides beryllium utilized to dainty definite types of seizures.

Potential risks and broadside effects

Some broadside effects of lorazepam see dizziness, confusion, representation issues and slowed breathing, particularly erstwhile combined with different sedating substances, specified arsenic intoxicant oregon opioids, according to Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and slumber specializer astatine Wesper successful New York.

"This people of cause is highly habit-forming, which means a patient taking it whitethorn go babelike and acquisition withdrawal symptoms erstwhile it's discontinued," she told Fox News Digital.

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Lorazepam has besides been recovered to negatively interaction temper and whitethorn rise a patient's hazard of depression, Rohrscheib warned. 

"There is besides objective grounds that semipermanent usage of these medications is associated with definite diseases, similar neurodegenerative disorders, specified arsenic dementia," she added.

Mixing lorazepam with different pain-relieving medications, including opiates, could heighten the hazard of superior oregon life-threatening problems, experts warn. (iStock)

Some studies person shown that semipermanent usage of the medicine tin effect successful representation nonaccomplishment oregon trouble forming caller memories, alongside impairments successful problem-solving, absorption and attention.

Lorazepam whitethorn summation the hazard of superior oregon life-threatening breathing problems, sedation oregon coma if combined with definite medications, according to MedlinePlus.

"This people of cause is highly habit-forming, which means a patient taking it whitethorn go babelike and acquisition withdrawal symptoms erstwhile it's discontinued."

Medications that whitethorn interact with lorazepam see cough medicines oregon symptom medicines that incorporate opiates, specified arsenic codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone oregon tramadol.

While the characters successful "The White Lotus" look to usage lorazepam predominantly arsenic a slumber aid, it’s important to enactment that their on-screen usage mixed with intoxicant tin beryllium rather dangerous.

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In the show, intoxicant of each assortment is flowing, with Mrs. Ratliff swigging glasses of vino successful astir each of her scenes.

Experts counsel against taking lorazepam aft drinking alcohol, arsenic the operation tin pb to breathing issues oregon trouble waking.

The formed of HBO's "The White Lotus" is pictured astatine Paramount Studios successful Los Angeles connected Feb. 10, 2025. (CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

The cause cannot beryllium purchased implicit the counter. In the show, Mrs. Ratliff refilled her medicine instantly earlier vacation.

Those funny successful taking lorazepam should spot a aesculapian nonrecreational to find whether it is suitable and harmless and to get a prescription.

Safer slumber alternatives

Patients suffering from insomnia and different slumber issues should effort making manner changes and cognitive behavioral therapy earlier being placed connected lorazepam, Rohrscheib advised. 

"Doctors whitethorn see alternatives, specified arsenic over-the-counter, non-benzodiazepine medications oregon supplements that beforehand sleep, specified arsenic melatonin," she told Fox News Digital. 

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"Additionally, it's captious to regularisation retired different slumber disorders, specified arsenic slumber apnea, which tin mimic insomnia, arsenic benzodiazepines whitethorn marque slumber apnea worse."

People tin amended their prime of remainder by adopting respective bully slumber hygiene practices, Clémence Cavaillès, Ph.D., a researcher astatine University of California San Francisco, antecedently told Fox News Digital.

Maintaining a accordant slumber docket and creating an perfect slumber situation tin assistance alleviate insomnia, according to experts. (iStock)

"They tin commencement by maintaining a accordant slumber schedule, going to furniture and waking up astatine the aforesaid clip each day," helium said. 

"Creating an perfect slumber situation — keeping the chamber dark, quiescent and astatine a chill somesthesia — besides helps."

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Regular workout and vulnerability to earthy sunlight tin besides amended slumber quality. 

Cavaillès besides suggested avoiding screens and bluish light, arsenic good arsenic stimulants similar caffeine and alcohol. 

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"Incorporating relaxation techniques earlier bed, specified arsenic heavy breathing oregon meditation, tin besides assistance hole the assemblage for sleep," the researcher added.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the shaper of a branded lorazepam medicine requesting comment.