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Why do benzos get such a bad name?

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Posted 9/14/2013 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
Why is it that benzos such as xanax get such a bad name? I don't understand . Doctors give out antidepressants like they are candy but are so hesitant to give out something that actually works? It seems to me that everybody always posts about how to get off these antidepressants . So obviously they have close to the same effect as far as us being dependamt on them like a benzo. If we have to suffer withdrawl effects then why not do it with a drug that works? I've been posting a lot lately and am stuck In a rut. I am not a huge fan of my doctor . And this is just a regular MD doctor but he says he can treat 80% of problems including anxiety/depressin etc.....
Posted 9/14/2013 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
The real reason SMU is the same doctors that now play the I don't like to prescribe benzos were the main offenders several years ago when they knew darn well that some of their patients were using them for recreation and selling the rest. It's still a problem in some area's. The worst thing you can say to a doctor now days is I need something for this pain, I think it's fibromyalgia, or tell them you are too sick to work and need something to calm you down. I use to work in the field so to speak and knew who the users were and some whole families were playing the same game. The doctors got scared when the dealers had prescription bottles from them for 90 or more benzos, they thought having the bottle made
them harder to convict, but the chain of supply and demand is full of losers who roll over on the suppliers. This was for other drugs also, painkillers were right up there with benzos. Peace
Larry ***
Posted 9/14/2013 7:21 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor knows that klonopin is just about the only med that's works for me. I've been on them for many years and have just recently had to uP the dosage. He actually gets on to me when I take less than he's prescribed (when I go to him comPlaining about my symptoms). All these years and I'm only on 1mg,usually less per day. Up until last fall, I just took a .25 mg when needed...usually twice a day if I had meetings or a lot of driving.

My biggest fear is that someday my doc will no longer prescribe them to me. Klonopin is seriously the only medicine I've ever had that has helped me swallow when my brain fOrgets how :)
Posted 9/14/2013 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
SMU,

Are you not able to see another doctor? Or get a referral to a psychiatrist?

A few different reasons that I could think of that your/any doctor would be hesitant in prescribing a benzodiazepine would be:

*fear of abuse/patient has history of addiction.(not suggesting this in your case, just a possiblility for some)
*age of patient.
*little knowledge of the drug.

There are other options for treating anxiety besides SSRI's and benzo's that you could discuss with your doctor if you can't get a second opinion...but I would recommend looking into seeing someone else if possible to get the treatment plan that works for you.

Best wishes,

S.C.
Posted 9/14/2013 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the answers !

@Scaredy cat ,
Thanks for all your help the past couple of days !! And xanax has seemed to be the only thing that has worked for me .
Unfortunately I have already (my mom) has put so much money into this doctor that it would be hard to just stop going to this current one .
Posted 9/14/2013 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
SMU,

As a person that was on large doses of benzos at one time, I am going to post a link for you which I feel really covers the topic of use of benzos well. 

I have a very long history of anxiety as well as PTSD and at one time benzos worked for me until I developed a tolerance to my dose so we kept increasing the dose as well as which drug to use.

My 21 year old son and his best friend were killed in a car crash only 15 miles from our home in 1990.  My son was driving...no drugs, no alcohol but it did not make any sense to me that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. So hard to accept. I cried until I ran out of tears.  I walked the floors at night. 

I had lost my Dad just a few years before to cancer. By the time I was just past 40 years old I did not think I could keep on going.........so the benzos were prescribed.

I finally saw a Psychiatrist instead of my PCP physician who was at a loss as how to help me. The Psychiatrist was not in favor of increasing the amount of benzo I needed to feel calm, so together we came up with a very long weaning plan and started antidepressants with therapy.  It was tough as my mind wanted to just take a pill so the pain and anxiety would go away but I promised myself I would make it through the tragedy and somehow, with the help of family and friends, and prayers, I did.

I am not against benzos but I do wish the Drs. would explain the way they should be used better than they do now.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/benzodiazepines-and-z-drugs

Face your fears now and believe that you can live without benzos with some strong coping skills.

I wish you peace and happiness,

Kitt

Posted 9/14/2013 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, I am truly sorry for your loss. I don't know I may be at the point that I need to see a psychiarast. I am only 19 but have some serious issues.
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