The truth about the anti-anxiety drug loved by Parker Posey’s character in White Lotus

Among the stars making up the cast of HBO’s White Lotus is Lorazepam, the heavy-duty anti-anxiety medication beloved by Victoria Ratliff, played by actress Parker Posey.

The drug, classified as a benzodiazepine and marketed under the name Ativan, has a strong sedative effect that can prevent and stop panic attacks, as well as aid in social anxiety.

The drug has helped millions combat what can be crippling anxiety, obsessive thoughts, panic disorder, unease around people and leaving the house.

But, like any prescription medication, it isn’t perfect, and Lorazepam can be dangerous if used incorrectly or too liberally.

At one point, Posey’s character says: ‘They’re not addictive. I just take them when I need it. You make fun of me, but they work. Not a big deal.’

However, Lorazepam can be habit-forming, particularly when taken long-term and at high doses. Generally, doctors prescribe it for just one month.

Dr Holly Schiff, a licensed clinical psychologist, told DailyMail.com: ‘White Lotus makes constant references to Lorazepam and glorifies the casual use of prescription medication, especially for anxiety and sleep.

‘While it can be helpful for those dealing with acute anxiety under a doctor’s supervision, the potential for misuse and dependence is very high.’

Dr. Holly Schiff, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Northeast, told DailyMail.com that White Lotus frequently mentions Lorazepam and portrays the casual use of prescription medication, particularly for anxiety and sleep, in a glorified manner

A significant share of American adults – around 50 million – suffer from an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Victoria Ratliff takes lorazepam for her social anxiety, as she is constantly worried about keeping her children from embarrassing the family and her husband from ruining his career.

Posey’s character takes the drug often, if not daily.

Dr Schiff said: ‘This is problematic because it doesn’t accurately represent the potential risk associated with a medication like Lorazepam.’

‘The way Lorazepam is shown as almost glamorous or a way to cope with life’s problems contributes to a dangerous normalization of self-medicating with prescription drugs.’

Posey’s character says to her husband, who is under extreme stress at work and having trouble sleeping: ‘You should have taken my Lorazepam. I slept like a corpse.’

Her husband then takes a tablet without a prescription or treatment by a licensed professional, a move that psychiatrists who spoke with DailyMail.com found worrisome and potentially dangerous. 

Another time, she says: ‘I don’t even have my Lorazepam. I’m going to have to drink myself to sleep.’

Clinical studies into the effects of Lorazepam showed it has a ‘tranquilizing action on the central nervous system,’ according to the FDA’s label on the drug.

Doctors prescribe it to treat anxiety disorders ‘for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an [anti-anxiety drug],’ the label says.

Parker Posey’s character [right] takes lorazepam for social anxiety, constantly worrying about her children embarrassing the family and her husband jeopardizing his career

Dr Carole Lieberman, a board-certified psychiatrist based in Beverly Hills, told DailyMail.com: ‘As a psychiatrist, I never prescribe Lorazepam, because anxiety is better treated with talk therapy that gets to the root of what is making the person anxious.

‘There are only rare occasions when it can be temporarily useful, such as panic attacks, but you still risk the patient getting addicted to it.’

Lorazepam is a Schedule Four controlled substance, meaning it has a lower capacity for addiction compared to lower schedules, including drugs like heroin and cocaine, but still requires a prescription.

It works by increasing a calming chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Low levels of GABA, the primary brain chemical that calms the nervous system, can lead to overactive brain circuitry that contributes to anxiety.

Even among people who are prescribed the drug and take it as directed, the body can become accustomed to it and require higher and higher doses to reap the same benefits as it did the first time the person took it. 

Over time, people can become physically dependent on the drug to feel normal.

The potent benzodiazepine is particularly risky when combined with other substances, such as alcohol and opiates.

When anxiety medications are combined with other depressants, they slow the heart rate and breathing, impair balance, cause difficulty thinking, and can lead to a potentially fatal overdose.

About 50 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and social anxiety

Benzodiazepines are involved in around 17 percent of drug overdose deaths.

In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, pharmacies dispensed roughly 92 million benzodiazepine prescriptions. Of that total, one-fifth were for Lorazepam.

Dr Lieberman said: ‘On the one hand, we see it reducing a character’s anxiety, but, on the other hand, it reflects the problem of addiction. Still, people watching it persuade themselves, “I would never get addicted.”’

Dr Schiff added that monitoring oneself and the effects the drug is having, as well as checking in regularly with a licensed psychiatrist is vital for safety.

She added: ‘It is important for viewers to understand that relying on medications like this without proper oversight is not a healthy or sustainable coping mechanism. It should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy, lifestyle changes, and other coping strategies.’