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Re: social phobia insomnia, benzophobic dr., HELP ME » erik98225

Posted by Sad Panda on May 15, 2004, at 13:41:04

In reply to social phobia insomnia, benzophobic dr., HELP ME, posted by erik98225 on May 15, 2004, at 5:01:07

> I have social phobia and have always had a heck of a time getting to sleep. It takes a long time to fall asleep, but once I am asleep I sleep like a baby.
>
> A few months back I discovered that 3-4 beers in the evening makes me fall asleep fast and gives me a feeling of peace like nothing else can.
>
> I was stupid enough to discuss this with my doctor, so now I have alcohol dependence in my medical records.
>
> While drinking I gained 30 pounds, hated the hangovers, and decided last week that this needs to stop.
>
> I am now two days into the horror that is alcohol withdrawal.
>
> I have been awake for 37 hours.
>
> Alcohol withdrawal will make your worst case of the flu feel like an orgasm.
>
> I know I deserve it -- it's my punishment for beating up my liver -- and I know it passes, but the thing is, I drank alcohol because it worked.
>
> I am convinced that I have the "overactive brain" component of alcohol dependence (I don't have a link, but I know I read about it on this board... I drank alcohol in an attempt to calm down the brain to a more normal state.)
>
> Benzos are alcohol pills, and alcohol is a liquid benzo.
>
> I have mentioned this to my doctor many, many times, and told him that the drinking was a desperate attempt to self-medicate, but he simply WILL NOT write a prescription for benzos "because they are addictive".
>
> Yes, they are addictive. Big deal. Would you deny morphine to a terminally ill cancer patient just because he might get addicted to it? And isn't it better to be addicted to benzos than addicted to alcohol?
>
> I take Paxil 20mg. It was effective for the social phobia until the drinking rendered it useless, but it never did anything for me in terms of helping me fall asleep.
>
> Can anyone knowledgeable give me some information I can discuss with my psychiatrist
> to convince him that a benzo is right for me? Anyone have any suggestions for a psychiatrist who is willing to prescribe benzos? (I'm in the Bellingham, Washington area)
>
> Any comments, suggestions, or information would be greatly appreciated. I'm at my wit's end here.
>
>

I think your doc is actually right not to give you benzos for sleep, as they are for short term insomnia only. Used longterm to force sleep & they actually cause sleep to deteriorate. You best bet is a sedating AD like Remeron or Doxepin taken in a low dose & added to your current SSRI.

Cheers,
Panda.



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poster:Sad Panda thread:347048
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040515/msgs/347163.html