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'The White Lotus' characters taking lorazepam: What is it and why are they in danger by abusing it?

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'The White Lotus' characters taking lorazepam: What is it and why are they in danger by abusing it?

Those watching HBO’s “The White Lotus” may be familiar with matriarch Victoria’s long southern drawl, sweeping silk robes — and her affinity for lorazepam.

Searches for the anti-anxiety drug spiked, according to Google Trends, following an episode of the hit show that heavily featured its use — or, more accurately, its abuse.

Victoria Ratliff, played by actress Parker Posey, is seen tossing back a pill or two at all hours of the day.

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She cites its use for anxiety when questioned by her family. 

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But when Ratliff finds herself suddenly without her medication, she utters the memorable quote: “I don’t even have my lorazepam. I’m going to have to drink myself to sleep.”

Actress Parker Posey is shown at the Season 3 premiere of HBO’s “The White Lotus” in Bangkok on Feb. 14, 2025. (CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM/AFP via Getty Images; iStock)

What is lorazepam?

The drug, which is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines, works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation, according to MedlinePlus.

Lorazepam is used to relieve anxiety as well as insomnia caused by temporary situational stress (or, in Mrs. Ratliff’s case, a stressful family vacation).

Lorazepam is used to relieve anxiety as well as insomnia caused by temporary situational stress. (iStock)

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The medication is also sometimes used in hospital environments to help patients relax and fall asleep prior to surgery, according to Healthline. 

It may also be used to treat certain types of seizures.

Potential risks and side effects

Some side effects of lorazepam include dizziness, confusion, memory issues and slowed breathing, especially when combined with other sedating substances, such as alcohol or opioids, according to Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and sleep specialist at Wesper in New York.

“This class of drug is extremely habit-forming, which means a patient taking it may become dependent and experience withdrawal symptoms once it’s discontinued,” she told Fox News Digital.

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Lorazepam has also been found to negatively impact mood and may raise a patient’s risk of depression, Rohrscheib warned. 

“There is also clinical evidence that long-term use of these medications is associated with certain diseases, like neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia,” she added.

Mixing lorazepam with other pain-relieving medications, including opiates, could heighten the risk of serious or life-threatening problems, experts warn. (iStock)

Some studies have shown that long-term use of the medication can result in memory loss or difficulty forming new memories, alongside impairments in problem-solving, focus and attention.

Lorazepam may increase the risk of serious or life-threatening breathing problems, sedation or coma if combined with certain medications, according to MedlinePlus.

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“This class of drug is extremely habit-forming, which means a patient taking it may become dependent and experience withdrawal symptoms once it’s discontinued.”

Medications that may interact with lorazepam include cough medicines or pain medicines that contain opiates, such as codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone or tramadol.

While the characters in “The White Lotus” appear to use lorazepam predominantly as a sleep aid, it’s important to note that their on-screen use mixed with alcohol can be quite dangerous.

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In the show, alcohol of every variety is flowing, with Mrs. Ratliff swigging glasses of wine in almost all of her scenes.

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Experts advise against taking lorazepam after drinking alcohol, as the combination can lead to breathing issues or difficulty waking.

The cast of HBO’s “The White Lotus” is pictured at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2025. (CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

The drug cannot be purchased over the counter. In the show, Mrs. Ratliff refilled her prescription immediately before vacation.

Those interested in taking lorazepam should see a medical professional to determine whether it is suitable and safe and to obtain a prescription.

Safer sleep alternatives

Patients suffering from insomnia and other sleep issues should try making lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy before being placed on lorazepam, Rohrscheib advised. 

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“Doctors may consider alternatives, such as over-the-counter, non-benzodiazepine medications or supplements that promote sleep, such as melatonin,” she told Fox News Digital. 

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“Additionally, it’s critical to rule out other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, which can mimic insomnia, as benzodiazepines may make sleep apnea worse.”

People can improve their quality of rest by adopting several good sleep hygiene practices, Clémence Cavaillès, Ph.D., a researcher at University of California San Francisco, previously told Fox News Digital.

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating an ideal sleep environment can help alleviate insomnia, according to experts. (iStock)

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“They can start by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day,” he said. 

“Creating an ideal sleep environment — keeping the bedroom dark, quiet and at a cool temperature — also helps.”

  

Regular exercise and exposure to natural sunlight can also improve sleep quality. 

Cavaillès also suggested avoiding screens and blue light, as well as stimulants like caffeine and alcohol. 

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“Incorporating relaxation techniques before bed, such as deep breathing or meditation, can also help prepare the body for sleep,” the researcher added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the maker of a branded lorazepam medication requesting comment.

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Health experts react as Andrew Huberman backs Trump admin’s new food pyramid

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Health experts react as Andrew Huberman backs Trump admin’s new food pyramid

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The Trump administration has taken a new approach to the food pyramid.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new guidelines on Wednesday with an updated, inverted pyramid. The top of the pyramid, which is now the wider part of the structure, is built on meat, fats, fruits and vegetables, while whole grains are at the narrow bottom.

This follows HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mission to “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA), aimed at addressing chronic disease, childhood illnesses and ultraprocessed foods.

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“The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs,” Kennedy said during a press briefing in Washington, D.C. 

“Protein and healthy fats are essential, and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.”

The Trump administration announces the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, putting “real food” back at the center of health. (realfood.gov)

The HHS secretary rallied against refined carbohydrates, food additives and added sugar, highlighting the health risks associated with sugar-sweetened beverages. 

Kennedy’s main message to Americans was to “eat real food.”

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TRUMP ADMIN’S NEW NUTRITION GUIDELINES TARGET ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS, EASE UP ON RED MEAT AND SATURATED FATS

The announcement triggered reactions from top health and wellness voices, including Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, host of the “Huberman Lab” podcast.

In a post on X, Huberman shared the White House’s graphic of the new pyramid, praising the decisions that were made.

“Oatmeal (and I think that’s rice and sourdough) made the cut!” he commented. “In all seriousness, assuming overall calories are kept in check and people exercise & get sun(day)light, this looks spot on.”

He added, “Maybe up the veggies a bit, add low-sugar fermented foods like sauerkraut & this is great.”

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Huberman said in a thread on the same post that Americans “don’t have to eat all the foods” shown in the diagram.

“You won’t see me drinking milk or eating shrimp,” he said. “Nothing against shrimp, I just don’t like the taste. Aversion to crustaceans.”

“Maybe up the veggies a bit, add low-sugar fermented foods like sauerkraut & this is great,” Huberman commented on X. (Chance Yeh/Getty Images for HubSpot; iStock)

The new guidelines received praise from other major health figures, including former FDA commissioner Dr. David Kessler.

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“There should be broad agreement that eating more whole foods and reducing highly processed carbohydrates is a major advance in how we approach diet and health,” Kessler told The Associated Press.

“Protein and healthy fats are essential, and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines.”

Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, shared in a statement that these guidelines “affirm that food is medicine and offer clear direction patients and physicians can use to improve health.”

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“The American Medical Association applauds the Administration’s new Dietary Guidelines for spotlighting the highly processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and excess sodium that fuel heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic illnesses,” Mukkamala wrote.

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The American Medical Association applauded the HHS for its updated nutrition guidelines. (iStock)

But not all feedback was positive.

Some people expressed concern about prioritizing red meat and dairy, while calling for the limitation of saturated fat.

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Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, shared in a reaction to STAT that while the guidelines “do have one or two good points, emphasizing fruits and vegetables and limiting alcohol,” the guidelines are “for the most part a strong reflection of industry influence.”

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Christopher Gardner, a nutrition expert at Stanford University, also spoke out against the new guidelines, as reported by NPR.

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“I’m very disappointed in the new pyramid that features red meat and saturated fat sources at the very top, as if that’s something to prioritize. It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research,” said Gardner, who was a member of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf, as well as Alexandria Hoff of Fox News, contributed reporting.

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Matt Damon’s Gluten-Free Diet Helped Him Lose 18 Pounds

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Matt Damon’s Gluten-Free Diet Helped Him Lose 18 Pounds


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Matt Damon’s Weight Loss: Actor Drops 18 Lbs with This Diet | Woman’s World




















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Deadly cancer risk could drop with single 10-minute workout, study suggests

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Deadly cancer risk could drop with single 10-minute workout, study suggests

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A single 10-minute workout may trigger blood changes that help fight colon cancer.

That’s according to new research from scientists at Newcastle University, who found that exercise quickly changes the blood in ways that affect colon cancer cells in the lab.

In the study, the U.K. researchers exposed colon cancer cells to human blood serum collected immediately after exercise, finding that the cells repaired DNA damage faster and showed gene activity patterns linked to slower growth.

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The blood samples came from 30 adults who had just completed a short, high-intensity cycling workout that lasted about 10 to 12 minutes, according to a press release.

Even a 10-minute burst of intense exercise may send protective signals through the blood that affect colon cancer cells, researchers say. (iStock)

Samuel T. Orange, an associate professor at Newcastle University and one of the study’s authors, spoke with Fox News Digital about the findings.

“Our findings show that exercise rapidly triggers molecular changes in the bloodstream that can act directly on colon cancer cells, reshaping gene activity and supporting DNA damage repair,” he said.

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The results suggest that even brief activity can make a difference. “Every movement matters. Exercise doesn’t need to last hours or happen in a gym,” Orange added.

The research suggests that exercise quickly triggers changes in the blood that affect colon cancer cells and helps support DNA repair. (iStock)

One of the most surprising findings, according to the researcher, was how strong the biological response was after even a single workout.

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“Exercise altered the activity of more than 1,000 genes in colon cancer cells,” he shared.

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Even brief bouts of activity can make a difference, the researcher said.  (iStock)

The study findings suggest that the effect is driven by exercise-triggered molecules released into the bloodstream, sometimes referred to as “exerkines,” which act like chemical messengers and send signals throughout the body.

“Each time you exercise, you trigger biological signals that support health and resilience to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease,” Orange said.

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The researchers cautioned that the study was conducted using cancer cells grown in the laboratory, not in patients.

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The findings are based on experiments using colon cancer cells grown in the lab, not studies conducted in people, the researchers noted. (iStock)

The study involved 30 healthy male and female volunteers between the ages of 50 and 78. Their blood samples were used to carry exercise-triggered signals to cancer cells grown in the lab.

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“These findings now need to be replicated in people with cancer,” Orange said. “We also need to better understand the longer-term effects of repeated exercise signals over time.”

Despite the limitations, the researcher said the findings strengthen the case for exercise as an important part of colon cancer prevention.

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“Each time you move your body and get a little breathless, you’re contributing to better health and may help influence biological processes linked to bowel cancer,” he added.

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