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← Return to long term xanax use
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I truly understand how you feel, I too have a dependency on ativan, another brand of benzos and as I've said before, I didn't really have any issues with this med, it controlled my anxiety and panic attacks and I was never aware of any specific side affects. I always knew it was a drug that becomes addictive but no one ever bothered me about my usage...sometimes my family doctor would say that it's a tough medication to stop but he never enforced me to try. In recent years this medication started getting more attention and it primarily linked up with the pain medication epidemic because it was highly lethal to combine the two meds. Now everyone is getting on board with trying to eliminate these meds because they don't want a bigger problem so now they are putting undue pressure on patients who've been taking them a long time, in fact the majority of these people are in their older ages, it's just cruel to push all these desperate people away because the doctor doesn't want to be associated associated with these drugs, hence they abandon their patients without conscience... I've notice that doctors are more apathetic today, they don't really care as much anymore, they complain about being overworked, etc. I understand they are human but their job is to help people in trouble and to be there for them, instead they just want to sweep you under the carpet like a bad secret. Someone mentioned here a subject called med shaming, I was initially startled to see this but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was happening to me as well, I just didn't connect the dots at the time. I truly don't know what they plan to do with people like us, stopping our meds is just going to lead to more problems not to mention it's heartless and cruel, after all it's like they want to punish us as though we're solely responsible for getting into this mess.
Replies to "I truly understand how you feel, I too have a dependency on ativan, another brand of..."
My psychiatrist called me a "drug addict" because I had been prescribed Lorazapam for years. I stopped cold turkey. It was complete hell. I was ok for a bit, but my panic attacks have resumed, my anxiety is through the roof, and I have experienced tachycardia for almost 2 hours. I still have not been able to see a cardiologist nor my psychiatrist. It's been almost a month since the tachycardia episode. I totally agree with you about doctors today. They are not interested in the best interests of their patient's mental health, only covering their own asses. It has caused a great deal is suffering. By the way, I am 64 years old.
I agree about this concern. My Psychiatrist has lately brought up the worry that future providers of mine ( he’s older than I and has a heart issue). Although I am lucky he works in a large (private) practice either multiple Drs. I digress, I am 60, been on the same dose of XanaxER for 11 years (4mg a day in 2 doses). During that time (and I credit this med for most of my success) I quit an Alcohol problem cold Turkey 11yrs quit , full agonist opiates 14yrs and Suboxone 6yrs. Also quit a 40 year habit of chewing tobacco (dip) 2yrs now!
I have tried to taper the benzo, and it’s horrible to experience the panic and fight response that I get. (Fight meaning being productive as a HS Teacher while experiencing withdrawal.
Suboxone was the worst if you’re not familiar with, it’s a high affinity binding opiate with little (or for me no) feeling of being high.
Nicotine was the toughest mentally, but it took me 4 years to taper off of Suboxone. And it still was horrific. So much m freaked because many years ago the Drs. had me try every SSRI under the sun and Buspar. My depersonalization reaction to SSRIs was really bad and the memory slightly triggers panic. So yesI am concerned. I get the drift Drs are unwilling to risk combo/drug/alcohol reactions and write prior authorizations to Rx providers.
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I have run into that too - in fact I went back to the doctor who originally prescribed it because no one else would - he too want me to get off it now after putting me on it 15 years ago without ever telling me how addictive a drug it is. Had i known i would not have taken it to begin with. Most other doctors just say they don't know how to handle it - and blame everything thats wrong with you on anxiety - not taking your physical compllints seriously. I am so fed up with doctors . I want to get off so i don't have to deal with trying to get a prescription - so I can go to a better more competent doctor and not have to worry about being cut off and withdrawing cold turkey since that can actually cause serious harm - or death. The doctors know how to prescribe it but they have no idea how to safely get off