Among the stars that make up the cast of HBO’s White Lotus are the heavy anti-anxiety drugs loved by Victoria Ratriff, played by actress Parker Posey.
Classified as a benzodiazepine and sold under the name Atiban, the drug has a strong sedative effect that can prevent and stop panic attacks and aid in social anxiety.
The drug helped millions of people fight anxiety, obsessions, panic disorder, anxiety around people, and what they can leave their homes.
But like prescription drugs, it is not perfect and if it is used accidentally or freely, lorazepam can be dangerous.
At one point, Posey’s character states: “They are not addictive. I take them when I need them. You tease me, but they work. It’s not a big deal.”
However, lorazepam can form habits, especially when taken for long periods and at high doses. Typically, your doctor will prescribe it for just a month.
Dr. Holly Schiff, a licensed clinical psychologist, told dailymail.com:
“It could be useful for people who are dealing with acute anxiety under the supervision of a doctor, but the possibility of 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, praises the accidental use of prescription drugs, particularly for anxiety and sleep.
A significant proportion of American adults (approximately 50 million) suffer from anxiety disorders such as general anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorders.
Victoria Ratliff takes Lorazepam with him for her social anxiety. Because she is always worried that her children will not be ashamed of their family or husband ruining his career.
Posey’s personality is often, if not daily, on medication.
Dr. Schiff said:
“The way Lorazepam is shown as an almost attractive or way of dealing with life problems contributes to the dangerous normalization of self-medicine with prescription drugs.”
Posey’s character tells her husband, who is struggling with sleep, being exposed to extreme stress at work. I slept like a corpse. ”
Her husband then takes the tablet without prescriptions or treatment from a licensed professional. This is a move that a psychiatrist who spoke to dailymail.com discovered was worried and potentially dangerous.
Another time she says: “I don’t even have my Lorazepam. I’ll have to drink myself to sleep.”
Clinical studies on the effects of lorazepam showed that it has “mental stability effects on the central nervous system,” FDA Label About drugs.
Doctors will prescribe it to treat anxiety disorders and provide short-term relief for anxiety symptoms associated with anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety and tension associated with stress in daily life are usually [anti-anxiety drug]’Label says.
![Parker Posey Character [right] He takes Lorazepam with him for social anxiety and is always worried that his family and her husband are putting his career at risk](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/03/31/16/96753715-14555361-image-a-6_1743433330190.jpg)
Parker Posey Character [right] He takes Lorazepam with him for social anxiety and is always worried that his family and her husband are putting his career at risk
Dr. Carol Lieberman, a board-certified psychiatrist based in Beverly Hills, told dailymail.com: “As a psychiatrist, I don’t prescribe Lorazepam.
“There are rare occasions only when it can be temporarily useful, such as a panic attack, but still there is a risk of patients becoming addicted.”
Lorazepam is a Schedule 4 controlled substance. This means that you have a lower ability to addiction compared to a lower schedule that includes drugs like heroin and cocaine, but you still need a prescription.
It works by increasing the amount of calming chemicals in the brain called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Low levels of GABA, the major brain chemical that calms the nervous system, can lead to overactive brain circuits that contribute to anxiety.
Even among people who have been prescribed medication and are taking it as directed, the body can get used to it and need a higher dose to enjoy the same benefits that the person took it for the first time.
Over time, people can physically depend on drugs to feel normal.
Powerful benzodiazepines are particularly dangerous when combined with other substances such as alcohol and opiates.
When anxiety drugs are combined with other depressants, they can slow heart rate and breathing, reduce balance, cause difficult thoughts, and lead to potentially fatal overdose.
Approximately 50 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and social anxiety
Benzodiazepines are involved in approximately 17% of deaths caused by drug overdose.
In 2019, the most recent year when data is available, pharmacies dispensed approximately 92 million benzodiazepine prescriptions. Of that total, one-fifth was Lorazepam.
Dr. Lieberman said: Still, those who see it persuade themselves, “I will never be addicted.”
Dr. Schiff added that monitoring yourself and the effects of the drug, and checking in regularly with a licensed psychiatrist, is essential to safety.
She added: “It is important for viewers to understand that relying on such medications without proper monitoring is not a healthy or sustainable coping mechanism and should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes treatment, lifestyle changes, and other coping strategies.
