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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 jono_in_adelaide on May 18, 2013, at 18:47:35
The recent meeting of the drug scheduling committee decided that alprazolam should be reclassified a Schedule 8 poison (equivalent to a CII drug in the US) because of an epidemic of misuse among heroin addicts
I just hope it doesn't turn doctors off prescribing it for those in genuine need.....looks like my prescription might be changing to diazepam next month!
Posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2013, at 19:02:34
In reply to Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 18, 2013, at 18:47:35
Why are heroin users using Xanax? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on May 18, 2013, at 20:13:43
In reply to Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 18, 2013, at 18:47:35
> The recent meeting of the drug scheduling committee decided that alprazolam should be reclassified a Schedule 8 poison (equivalent to a CII drug in the US) because of an epidemic of misuse among heroin addicts
This is scary.
Maybe we ought to outlaw hypodermic needles and latex tubing.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2013, at 21:26:17
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on May 18, 2013, at 20:13:43
Scott you know that is someone is going to abuse whatever they will find a way. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 18, 2013, at 22:46:16
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia » SLS, posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2013, at 21:26:17
Phillipa, they use benzos both to substitute for heroin when they cant get it, and to increase the "buzz" it gives them when they are taken together
Xanax is their favoured benzo because it is highly potent, quick acting, and available in high strength tablets (the 2mg Xanax pills are = to 20mg of Valium, where as Valium it self only comes in 2mg and 5mg tablets here)
Xanax is also listed on the national insurance scheme, other high potency benzos such as Ativan arnt. Also, because Xanax is indicated for long term treatment of panic disorder, doctors tend to give refillable prescriptions for it, where as Valium etc are generaly written for short term use only.
Being an S8 drug means that each script is tallied by the health department, and alarm bells are raised if a patient is getting scripts from multiple doctors, or if a particular doctor is writing a lot of scripts for example. The other benzos are only S4 in Australia, the sane schedule as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, blood pressure meds etc, so in effect there is no legal control on their prescribing at all.
Posted by SLS on May 19, 2013, at 7:14:31
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia » SLS, posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2013, at 21:26:17
> Scott you know that is someone is going to abuse whatever they will find a way. Phillipa
Why deny treatment and punish people who are desperately ill just because some small percentage of the population abuses prescription drugs recreationally or for non-medical purposes?
- Scott
Posted by Phil on May 19, 2013, at 7:40:48
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by SLS on May 19, 2013, at 7:14:31
I asked a pharmacist I worked with one time what pills are most stolen in pharmacies. He said he thought Valium. I said Valium? Y'all have lots better stuff than that. He said junkies mix it with Methadone and it makes it more like heroin.
Posted by Beckett on May 19, 2013, at 13:19:55
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by SLS on May 19, 2013, at 7:14:31
My pdoc told me last year that many countries were going to tighten regulations on Xanax prescriptions. He mentioned parts of Europe, I think Canada, and he wondered if and how US would follow.
He said it is the only benzo that is believed to be stored in the brain, unlike other benzos stored in fat tissue. Thus, perhaps, the higher rates of dementia seen in long-term Xanax users. (I have no idea what those rates are.)
I switched to clonazepam, but it does not work as well for me. I supplement with Xanax occasionally when the going gets too tough.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 19, 2013, at 18:27:20
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by SLS on May 19, 2013, at 7:14:31
I'm with you Scott, I hope this new regulation means that abusers and doctor shoppers are weeded out, while genuian cases who only get scripts from one doc and follow their prescription still get the drugs they need
> > Scott you know that is someone is going to abuse whatever they will find a way. Phillipa
>
> Why deny treatment and punish people who are desperately ill just because some small percentage of the population abuses prescription drugs recreationally or for non-medical purposes?
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 19, 2013, at 18:33:38
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by SLS on May 19, 2013, at 7:14:31
That said, I'm looking to change my script to from alprazolam to diazepam, in the hope that the much longer half life has somthing to offer me
Posted by Phillipa on May 19, 2013, at 20:06:59
In reply to Re: Alprazolam made S8 drug in Australia, posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 19, 2013, at 18:33:38
Jono I feel it does. Hence now take .25mg a day of Xanax & 7.5mg of valium a day all at night. Cutting down more though. As I think back until started reading about them took them at will meaning never gave a thought to stopping one. I know I went for periods of time without any and all was fine. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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