SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A recent study indicates that HBO’s series “The White Lotus” might have done more than just captivate audiences in its latest season; it seemingly motivated a surge in searches related to a specific anxiety medication featured on the show.

Experts at UC San Diego observed a significant increase in Google searches for lorazepam, a benzodiazepine commonly prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders, during the show’s third season. The character Victoria Ratliff frequently uses the drug, often pairing it with white wine, and is portrayed as visibly impaired, slurring her words, and nodding off during social gatherings.

Published on November 14 in the JAMA Health Forum, the study revealed that the series prompted 1.6 million more lorazepam searches than expected within the 12-week timeframe. Interestingly, this spike was not observed for other benzodiazepines like alprazolam or clonazepam, which were not featured in the storyline.

“It’s fascinating to see how entertainment media can both mirror and influence public behavior,” remarked Dr. Kevin Yang, the study’s lead author and a resident physician in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Additionally, the research highlighted an increase in searches on how to purchase lorazepam online, raising alarms that some viewers might be attempting to obtain the medication without a doctor’s prescription.

“It shows that there might be a subset of people that are actually wanting to figure out how to obtain that medication online,” said senior author Eric Leas, Ph.D., M.P.H., of UC San Diego’s Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Qualcomm Institute.

In the show, Ratliff eventually gives the drug to her husband Timothy, who develops a dependance on it — a storyline researchers say mirrors real-world risks. Yang noted that lorazepam is typically prescribed only short-term because long-term use can lead to tolerance, dependance and misuse.

“Studies have shown that almost one in five people who are prescribed benzodiazepines eventually end up misusing them,” said Yang. He went on to explain that the show “didn’t really portray any of the adverse effects that might come from taking too much or from stopping it all of a sudden.”

The physician says both entertainment creators and tech companies could take steps to mitigate harm, including adding on-screen warnings when medications are featured and ensuring search engines provide evidence-based information when users look up ways to obtain controlled substances.

For viewers, Yang advises healthy skepticism.

”My suggestion would be to take everything that is portrayed in the media, whether that’s on TV, film or in music, with a grain of salt,” he said. “It’s only showing one aspect of the medication, and that there are possible downsides. But ultimately, for things like medications, it’s important to talk with your doctor.”

The full study can be found here.