HBO’s hit series has a new crew of characters White lotus, But people are already particularly obsessed with one or more: Victoria Ratliff. On the show, the wealthy and regularly unsettling Victoria, played by actor Parker Posey, appears at the resort in a giant pill container of Lorazepam, a drug that names and pops like candy throughout the show.
Victoria uses Lorazepam to help sleep and takes medication before giving her a relaxed massage. But Victoria also mixes prescription medicines and wine with wine at dinner, digs a lot of her speech, and even falls asleep at the table, cultivates many questions about what Lorazepam is, what it means, and how to take it safely.
If you suspect that Lorazepam is not designed to be used like this, you are working on something, Thea Gallagher, PSYDwith clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health. Heart of vision Podcasts tell you yourself. “Victoria doesn’t use this drug the way prescribers want you to use it,” says Dr. Gallagher. So, what is this drug actually and what is the correct way to use it? We asked the doctor to explain.
What is Lorazepam?
Lorazepam, usually known by its brand name Ativan, is a prescription drug used to treat anxiety disorders. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines and acts as a sedative and hypnotism. US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Participating drugs within this group include barium, Xanax and chronopin.
Lorazepam interacts with a region of the brain called the GABAA channel. Dr. Jamie Alanan associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells herself. “This activity can lead to muscle relaxation, sedation and reduction in seizure activity,” she says. “It can also promote sleep.”
Unlike drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are used long-term to treat anxiety disorders and depression, lorazepam is designed to be ingested on demand and works within minutes.
So, what is Lorazepam used for?
Victoria’s actions suggest that Lorazepam can be used for almost anything, but doctors say it has a specific purpose. “Lorazepam is most commonly used in very short-term situations for treatment of anxiety, panic attacks, alcohol withdrawal and more.” Ryan Marino, Marylandan assistant professor at the School of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, tells herself. It can also be used to treat insomnia related to anxiety and temporary stressors.
but short term Here’s the important part Food and Drug Administration (FDA) We recommend that lorazepam be prescribed for only 2-4 weeks.
“That’s not something you should be doing as hard as you can,” says Dr. Gallagher. She lists possible scenarios for using this drug, such as helping people with severe flight anxiety get on the plane, and feels comfortable enough for people with dental phobia to clean their teeth. “It should be used, especially when you feel anxious and revitalized as a ‘bridge’, to help you manage it,” she says. Once that serious, anxiety-inducing situation is over, drug use is also necessary.
What are the side effects of lorazepam?
Lorazepam is very useful in certain scenarios, but it is intended for short-term use as it has a risk of only a handful of side effects. According to Dr. Marino, everyone reacts slightly differently to Lorazepam. Higher doses tend to have more impacts, but even lower doses can cause widespread effects, from people feeling relaxed to becoming belligerent, he says.
