Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

You're right, the website that had showed up in google that I had used for my prilosec example is either incorrect or using some non-DEA scheduling sytem. I'll use another comparatively ridiculous example and re-edit my comments with the correction.

In my case, I busted a gasket in my twenties. I went from the most capable person in the room, to the trembling guy who could barely leave his room. I can honestly say it ruined my life.

I was given a benzo with a long half life. It worked a bit, but I never fully recovered. I think we all know the drug. 40 hour half life.

I tried all kinds of medications over the years, and nothing worked except benzodiazepines , and alcohol. Yes--alcohol hits so many different parts of the brain, but is horrid on the body. I really tried to avoid alcohol, but some days the anxiety susptoms we just unbearable.

I've been on the long half life benzodiazepine for decades. I take the same dose low dose, and try not to drink.

I've never even asked my doctor, but he knows my low dose isn't going to cause physical problems. They are better than alcohol, if you're self-medicating. I belive his thinking is I need the drug. I've been on it forever. Why put him through a misserable detox, at this stage of the game?

There are a few big studies done on patients whom were on opiates, and benzodiazepines for long periods of time. They didn't necessarily need to increase their dosages. I believe the studies were done on rest home geriatric patients.

I feel at my age, what's the point of a long withdrawal. It's easy to say for myself because my doctor has reasonable rates. He is getting close to retirement, and that has me very worried. The last thing I want is a long misserable detox.

I don't like the way this drug problem is playing out. I don't like blaming doctors. All their patients are very different.

My wish is we let, especially Psychiatrists, make these hard calls concerning what's best for their patients. That's what they went to school for.

I don't know why we are even discussing it here.

I don't want to live in a world where doctors send their patients home a mess because they are afaird of being accused of some sinister reason for keeping a patient on a addictive drug.

In all reality, so many doctors just don't prescribe certain drugs. Probally, one of the main reasons why former patients go to the streets, or liquor stores.

(I would further like to see a governmental bill that would allow patients, whom have been on addictive drugs for years, the ability to authorize their own scripts. The Same dose, and any increase would require a doctor's visit. At this point my office visits are pointless. There is a bill that is in congress now I believe, but it's for drugs that aren't addictive. I doubt the AMA will ever let it pass though.)

And it was explained to me at 3 different clinics in 3 different areas of the country that it was really about #1) liability -- particularly at clinics that accepted insurance for payment but not exclusively, there were cash-only ones with the same rule: No Benzos full-stop. If you had a legit prescription for xanax or ativan then they would send a letter to the prescribing doctor and would not dose you until they got an affirmative, positive response -- and to a somewhat lesser extent #2) they know it has the real potential to be fatal, and they're not monsters they don't want to kill all the junkies. Despite what you might think, some of them actually do give a shit and got into substance abuse medicine trying to help. Sure, for some it's just a job, and if you own the clinic it's a gold-shitting goose, but there are a lot of them who are genuinely trying to do good.