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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Zonked on September 13, 2011, at 19:52:39
The neighbor I've taken for ECT twice now told me he went through 30 1mg Xanax in two days. That's Michael Jackson level benzo abuse. I knew he had a problem as he's always trying a new scheme to get his refills early but I had NO idea it was that bad. I am glad I never told him I take it myself... I guess it shows we're all different... I am just thinking wtf? Sometimes my prescribed dose of Xanax makes me sleepy. If I consumed more than that I'd just fall asleep. He also goes to more than one doctor for his scripts. One of these days he's gonna get in trouble and I told him he should get help... before I learned how bad his problem was. I guess this might be part of why many docs avoid Xanax... patients like my neighbor. Poor guy needs rehab and a long slow Valium taper probably. Not going to get too involved and will hide my meds if he's ever in my house again.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 13, 2011, at 22:16:58
In reply to My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by Zonked on September 13, 2011, at 19:52:39
Yes, sadly idiots like him make it hard for us genuian cases - every patient who needs Xanax or Valium has become a possiblr drug abuser in the minds of doctors and pharmacists
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on September 13, 2011, at 22:18:01
In reply to My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by Zonked on September 13, 2011, at 19:52:39
Good thing its not Seconal or he would be dead. Let's see 2 days worth 1mg xanax is about 15mg a day or more. I mean that's not exactly a high dose in a abuse terms. I have taken higher doses. Nuerontin is great thing because it treats the shakes from benzo withdrawl. If you can somehow tell him about it that would be great because not too many doctors are crazy about treating benzo's with benzo's for detox. Really Like Lyrica or Nuerontin.
If there is anything that relates to junkie...i can relate but I don't stick needles in my arms and lie to people to get drugs. That's something I never have done and will do it. In my addiction I would run and pour the bottle of amphetamines into my hands and would say "YESS" after it was completed with not being caught.
Nuerontin. Best guess for me for this.
Posted by Phillipa on September 13, 2011, at 23:44:24
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 13, 2011, at 22:16:58
Isn't it the truth? And I've always taken less than docs want me too. Phillipa
Posted by Zonked on September 14, 2011, at 10:58:02
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on September 13, 2011, at 22:18:01
No offense Matt, but now I see why your doctor won't give you any controlled substances. Having said that, I don't think abuse and need are permanently mutually exclusive. If you really do have ADD, maybe when enough time has passed, you can have your doctor start you back on a stimulant with weekly prescriptions at first. No sane doctor given your history (15 Xanax in a day?) would give you benzos or stimulants until it's been awhile and they believe you ought to be given a chance. How are you doing now? I meant to say I agree with Christ*Empowered, they put you on a huge amount of Zyprexa. You might want to ask to have it tapered, maybe the dopamine blockage is interfering with the Wellbutrin's ability to work.
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 14, 2011, at 19:54:41
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie! » rjlockhart04-08, posted by Zonked on September 14, 2011, at 10:58:02
He's probably miserable and bored. That's how I was when I abused the hell out of benzos. After a couple years, when I wasn't so bored and miserable, I didn't even think about the pills anymore. Unfortunately, I had a psychotic manic episode, so my doc decided--knowing my history--that a bit of Klonopin was OK. I wish more docs were like her; most docs see "substance abuser" and try to dope you up with massive amounts of seroquel and the most mind-numbing antidepressants available. I even had a doc try to tell me that depakote was a viable option for anxiety. sheesh.
You're right, though; he needs some kind of supervised taper. I've heard of people being prescribed double digit doses of xanax, but I think its frowned upon.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 14, 2011, at 23:43:23
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by Christ_empowered on September 14, 2011, at 19:54:41
The data sheet, atleast here in Australia says upto 10mg per day may be needed in panic disorder and agrophobia, but that is very unusual, its rare to go above 3 or 4mg per day.
He needs a taper, preferable substituting diazepam for the Xanax, and treatment for his problems with drugs other than benzos atleast for a while.
Posted by sigismund on September 15, 2011, at 12:30:54
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 14, 2011, at 23:43:23
> treatment for his problems with drugs other than benzos atleast for a while.
Other than ECT too.
Posted by zonked on September 15, 2011, at 14:13:41
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie!, posted by sigismund on September 15, 2011, at 12:30:54
> > treatment for his problems with drugs other than benzos atleast for a while.
>
> Other than ECT too.He's someone else that seems to have taken everything under the sun for depression except MAOIs. His doctor refuses to prescribe anything other than Emsam because of his history of suicide attempts (my guess); after he saw me improve dramatically on Nardil he wanted to join the club.
He also confided in me that he used to forge scripts for Xanax as early as 1987 before there were more stringent paper Rx requirements (all California prescriptions now, regardless of Schedule, are on security paper) and never got caught, so his Xanax problem has been long-lasting.
If he regularly does without and consumes them as rapidly as his more recent binge, probably the only reason he doesn't seize is because he is also on Neurontin.
It's kinda sad.
-z
Posted by sigismund on September 15, 2011, at 15:56:19
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie! » sigismund, posted by zonked on September 15, 2011, at 14:13:41
He's between a rock and a hard place.
I would bet that gradual withdrawal of the benzos would have an ultimately better outcome than the ECT. But it would take years.
Posted by zonked on September 15, 2011, at 20:37:38
In reply to Re: My neighbor is a Xanax junkie! » zonked, posted by sigismund on September 15, 2011, at 15:56:19
> He's between a rock and a hard place.
>
> I would bet that gradual withdrawal of the benzos would have an ultimately better outcome than the ECT. But it would take years.At least 2.5 decades of benzo abuse and repeated withdrawal, plus ECT and no day structure = a profoundly damaged brain and psyche. It makes my case, which has been difficult to treat (until recently) look like a piece of cake.
-z
This is the end of the thread.
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