If you are something like me, you are glued at your place every Sunday night and watching the last episode of “The white lotus.” There has been lots of discourse about all the new characters in the show’s third season, but Victoria Ratliff, played by Parker Posey, gathers much of the attention.
We have seen her popping pills to the left and right and claim that they help her sleep and relax. She even offers freely some to her husband, Timothy, which is visible to be stressed about being caught in a money laundering system.
The small, colorful capsules in question? Lorazepam. We talked to Jamie Alan, PHD, Pharmd, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, to find out exactly what it is – and why you should not look at Victoria for how you use it.
Experts in this article
Jamie AlanPHD, Pharmd, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
What is lorazepam and what is it used for?
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine used to treat different health conditions including seizures, panic attacks and alcohol outlets, according to Dr. Alan. FYI: Benzodiazepines is a type of medication that slows down activity in your brain and nervous system, according to US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
To get a prescription for Lorazepam, you must talk to your healthcare provider, according to Dr. Alan. “Because this is a controlled substance (a government -regulated drug), your healthcare provider will usually check your state controlled substance database before prescribing,” she says.
Since Lorazepam entails a risk of abuse (more about it below), it is a medical health care provider that usually only prescribes someone for a limited time, says Dr. Alan. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Lorazepam should only be prescribed for a period of two to four weeks. For example, if you are dealing with severe anxiety or alcohol withdrawals, Lorazepam can help you handle the worst of it while undergoing professional help to fully treat the condition.
Are there any side effects of Lorazepam?
While the side effects on Lorazepam are usually soothing and grogginess, Per Dr. Alan, are there any others to watch out for, according to National Library of Medicine:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Blurred sight
- Constipation
- Appetite changes
- Restlessness
In addition, Dea says that Lorazepam can cause memory loss, living or disturbing dreamsirritability or hostility.
If you have any questions or concerns about taking your prescribed Lorazepam, it is important to share them with your doctor. In addition, before taking Lorazepam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, if you take something Other medications or supplementsIf you have a narrow angle glaucoma, if you have been diagnosed with any health conditions, if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Can you drink alcohol while taking Lorazepam?
If you have seen “The White Lotus” every week, you have probably noticed that Ratliff is drinking alcohol on Lorazepam. That’s a big no, according to Dr. Alan. “There is a dangerous interaction between Lorazepam and alcohol,” she says. “They are both active in the same place in the body and combining both can be fatal.”
It is worth noting that Lorazepam may interact negatively with other subjects, according to National health care (NHS). These include some antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsive agents, antihistamines, antifungal and strong painkillers (such as codin, methadone, morphine and oxycodone).
“There is always an opportunity for drug interaction when combining medication,” says Alan. “Generally speaking, the most worrying interactions would be with other medications that are soothing – such as opioids, gabapentin, alcohol or barbiturates. If you are worried, please talk to your healthcare provider.”
Is Lorazepam addictive?
Absolutely, says Dr. Alan. In fact, the FDA 2020 demanded New warning label To be placed on benzodiazepine boxes to manage the increased risks of abuse, abuse, physically dependent and withdrawal reactions that can follow the drug.
“Physical dependence may occur when benzodiazepines are steadily taken for several days to weeks, even as prescribed,” FDA -States. “Stopping them suddenly or reducing the dose too quickly can result in selection reactions, including seizures, which can be life -threatening.”
In other words: If you are at Lorazepam, it does not offer up to someone who seems to be in need, says Dr. Alan. Not only is to make so dangerous about the causes above, but it is also illegal. Your medications are yours and your lonely. Please take them according to the instructions and do not share.
