In the third series of the hit TV show The White Lotus, North Carolina housewife Victoria Ratliff is often shown reaching for her lorazepam. Now, researchers say Internet searches for the anti-anxiety drug increased after the show’s release.
Lorazepam, also known by its brand name Ativan, is a type of medication known as a benzodiazepine, or “benzo.” It is thought to work by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.
US researchers say removing the name lorazepam from The White Lotus has fueled renewed interest around the drug and how to access it.
Dr Olivia Maynard of the University of Bristol, who was not involved in the study, called the data striking.
“The fact that this TV show is encouraging people to consider purchasing benzodiazepines online is particularly concerning because there is a huge amount of illicit production of benzodiazepines, and these medications are often dosed incorrectly and/or inconsistently and sometimes contain entirely different medications,” she said.
“Recently, some illicit “benzodiazepines” purchased online were found to contain nitazenes, a dangerous synthetic opioid, which could lead to overdose or even death if taken.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego analyzed Google data and found that while searches for lorazepam were stable from January 2022 to the end of the first week of February 2025, they jumped after the release of the third season of The White Lotus on February 16 and remained at increased levels for the next 12 weeks.
Overall, the team says there were almost twice as many searches related to lorazepam during this 12-week period than would normally be expected, which equates to around 1.6 million additional searches.
There was also an increase in the number of searches for how to get lorazepam, with these queries being approximately 64% higher than expected for the 12-week period, reflecting approximately 30,000 additional searches.
However, no such spike was observed for searches related to alprazolam or clonazepam – benzodiazepines not mentioned in The White Lotus.
Although the study, published in the journal JAMA Health Forum, is unclear whether people were simply searching for information about lorazepam or purchasing the drug, researchers say the findings raise concerns given the rise in prescribing of these drugs and the rise in the number of illegitimate online pharmacies selling benzodiazepines without a prescription.
The researchers also caution that The White Lotus did not describe the risks of suddenly stopping lorazepam — noting that it can cause panic attacks, agitation and seizures — nor the dangers of drinking alcohol while taking benzodiazepines. As the NHS website notes: “It can make you sleep very deeply. You may have breathing problems and difficulty waking up.”
Researchers say the entertainment industry should develop “best practice” approaches to the presentation of prescription drugs, adding that the use of health information panels could satisfy curiosity.
Harry Sumnall, a professor of addiction at Liverpool John Moores University, said that while signs with further advice and support are sometimes included at the end of shows, there are other approaches to keeping viewers safe.
“While it might be helpful for entertainment shows to include health advice highlighting potentially harmful products, I don’t think this is creatively realistic, and there is a risk that harsh warnings could lead to counterproductive results,” he said.
“When it comes to access to medicines, I believe the greatest impacts will be seen through enforcement action against illicit manufacturers and unregulated providers, as well as education of prescribers, as[prescribing] or inappropriate prescribing of clinically useful but potentially harmful medications remains a concern.
