If, like me, you’ve been glued to your couch every Sunday night to catch the latest episode of The White Lotus, then you’ve surely been hearing the word “lorazepam” in Parker Posey’s drawling accent over and over in your head. It’s the drug of choice for kooky Southern mom Victoria Ratliff (played by Posey), who can’t seem to go anywhere—not even dinner with her family at a wellness retreat—without popping one of the anti-anxiety pills and stashing the prescription in her purse. She’s often seen zoning out, slurring her words, and even falling asleep at the table after sipping white wine.
On the lastest episode of the hit HBO series (season 3, episode 5, which dropped on March 16), it’s even more clear that Victoria and her husband, troubled businessman Timothy Ratliff (played by Jason Isaacs), have both become dependent on the drug. Victoria can’t get over the fact that her prescription bottle is missing—”I don’t even have my lorazepam, I’m gonna have to drink myself to sleep,” she says at one point—and Timothy still hasn’t come clean that he’s the one that stole it.
If you’re curious what this drug is all about and if it’s even safe to take for anxiety, you’re not alone. That’s why I talked to an expert to get the lowdown on lorazepam. Scroll down for everything you might want to know about the medication and how it might be affecting the Ratliffs as they imbibe their way across Koh Samui.
What is lorazepam?
Lorazepam, also known by the brand name Ativan, is a drug commonly prescribed short-term to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to the class of medications called benzodiazepines, which work to calm the central nervous system by slowing activity in the brain. Designed to be used as an as-needed treatment to help you relax, it can also cause a sense of euphoria, drowsiness, and/or cognitive impairment.
“Its accessibility and effectiveness in acute settings makes it a go-to for health care providers looking to alleviate immediate distress,” says Sue Varma, MD, PC, DFAPA. “It is most commonly used for short-term treatment, often while the patient works on long-term strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or lifestyle changes that address the root causes of anxiety or insomnia.”
Is it an easy drug to abuse?
Someone reaaally should have fact-checked Victoria when she handed a lorazepam to her husband and said, “Take this, they’re not addicting, I just take one when I need it.” Lorazepam is, in fact, very easy to abuse, says Dr. Varma, especially when it’s taken more frequently—or in larger doses—than prescribed. “Chronic misuse of lorazepam can lead to physical dependence, tolerance (requiring more of the drug for the same effect), and withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing use,” she says. “It’s so important that health care providers closely monitor patients on this medication, but that doesn’t always happen.”
If you’re being given a start date for lorazepam, your doctor should be giving you an end date, too, says Dr. Varma, noting that there should always be a clear plan for how you’ll get off the medication. It’s not the type of medication that you pop whenever you feel like it, despite what the Ratliffs might be doing on TV.
In fact, you shouldn’t even be using it daily: “Taking lorazepam alone two to three times a week or more is not the standard of care for somebody with an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder,” says Dr. Varma. “Not only will it be insufficient, but a person will tend to take it daily, and soon find themselves developing tolerance and a physiological dependence on it.”
Who is it best for?
Lorazepam is best as a short-term solution for those dealing with acute anxiety or panic disorders, says Dr. Varma. It can also be prescribed for those who need short-term relief from insomnia or stress, or patients who require a sedative for certain medical procedures (for example, if you have claustrophobia and need an MRI).
Can you drink while taking lorazepam?
Nooooo, Ratliff family, no! It is not safe to drink while on this medication! “Both lorazepam and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow down brain activity and can lead to profound sedation, impaired coordination, and respiratory depression,” says Dr. Varma. “This combination can increase the risk of severe side effects such as extreme drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, and even respiratory failure, which can be life-threatening.” Put down the vino, Victoria!
Who should not take lorazepam?
There are a few groups of people who should avoid lorazepam, says Dr. Varma, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, elderly patients who may be more sensitive to sedation, and individuals with certain medical conditions that may react to the medication (like severe liver disease and acute narrow-angle glaucoma).
People with a history of substance abuse should also steer clear, says Dr. Varma. “Due to its potential for addiction, individuals who have struggled with alcohol, prescription drugs, or other substances should generally avoid lorazepam.”
Is anyone in the Ratliff family taking it the right way?
Honestly…no. As Dr. Varma mentioned, you should really only take lorazepam when you’re experiencing extreme anxiety—think, like, mid-panic attack—and very sparingly, at that. Victoria seems to be popping ’em whenever she feels any emotion at all, several times a day, and her dependence on the drug began showing all the way back in episode 1. (One of my favorite lines this entire season: Piper, Victoria’s daughter, quipping, “You don’t have enough lorazepam to get through one week at a wellness spa?”)
Victoria also offered up her pills to her husband, which is always a major no-no. Sure, “what’s mine is yours” in marriage and all that jazz, but let this be a reminder that you should never give prescription drugs to someone whose name isn’t on the bottle. We saw Timothy sneakily swallow two lorazepam in a row during episode four, and I, for one, am afraid to see what’s going to go down as the season goes on.
MEET THE EXPERT
Sue Varma, MD, PC, DFAPA, is a board-certified psychiatrist, clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health, and a Distinguished Fellow at the American Psychiatric Association. She is the author of Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being, which came out in February 2024.
Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
