Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1105571

Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

are benzos coming to an end

Posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 11:13:59

as i stated earlier my pdoc wanted to cut my nightime dose of diazepam from 20 to 10...do you think drs/clinics /hospitals etc are getting pressure to stop their usage because of the opiod crisis?

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by linkadge on August 2, 2019, at 11:50:08

In reply to are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 11:13:59

Possibly...

The problem is that benzos are a treatment for GAD when antidepressants don't work. When I was hospitalized, they said that clonazepam (for instance) could be used long term for treatment resistant GAD.

It's a shame. All the wrong people are being cut off meds. Strange too how the tables are turning. In Canada here, weed is legal. Alcohol is legal. Without the benzo option, many patients will just turn back to alcohol, with arguably more long term health consequences.

The worst part of it is that (for anxiety) benzos work for basically everybody. SSRI are not that effective, and the side effects can suck.

Linakdge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 12:06:19

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2019, at 11:50:08

I CUT MY DIAZEPAM FROM 20MG TO 15MG RATHER THAN 10 AND FEEL NO PROBLEM ITS BEEN 3 WEEKS WOULLD YOU WAIT A MONTH BEFORE GOING TO 10MG?

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by linkadge on August 2, 2019, at 13:23:17

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 12:06:19

I would say you're fine to drop to 10mg. 3 weeks should be enough for any adjustments to be noticed.

Linkadge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by sigismund on August 2, 2019, at 14:05:02

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2019, at 13:23:17

The medical profession accepts its historical responsibility, IMO.

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 14:08:38

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by sigismund on August 2, 2019, at 14:05:02

WHATS HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY?

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by Christ_empowered on August 2, 2019, at 20:26:05

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 14:08:38

personally, id recommend stretching out your taper as long as you can.

i dont know what's happening with benzodiazepine prescribing. there was a big uptick in the US, over the past 15 years or so...

and now comes the severe reaction to a 'crisis' largely created by the 'helping professions.'

it also seems that the US is turning really, really Puritanical when it comes to pills. i've seen a number of articles on the dangers of gabapentin, for instance...

maybe the next generation of 'safe, effective, non-addictive' anti-anxiety Rx drugs are being developed? if history is any indication...

by the time the next round of Miracle Meds goes off patent, they'll be demonized, too...

and replaced with something el$e.

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by sigismund on August 3, 2019, at 8:12:04

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 2, 2019, at 14:08:38

Overprescription, the assertion that they were not addictive, then that only psychological dependence was possible.

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by joe f on August 3, 2019, at 8:36:22

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by sigismund on August 3, 2019, at 8:12:04

well i', staying at 15 a night for a month ....or maybe 2 then moving to 10 and dr says he will keep me there along with my 5mg at noon .....i tend to think if i was going to have a problem after 3 weeks it would have surfaced

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by linkadge on August 3, 2019, at 10:05:52

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 3, 2019, at 8:36:22

>i tend to think if i was going to have a problem after 3 weeks it would have surfaced

I would agree.

Linkadge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by joe f on August 3, 2019, at 10:48:41

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by linkadge on August 3, 2019, at 10:05:52

after a month woud you take it to 10 or 12.5 for a few weeks?

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by linkadge on August 3, 2019, at 12:00:29

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 3, 2019, at 10:48:41

Going down by 5mg should be fine. If you experience withdrawal symptoms, you could always go back up 2.5mg. I think you're going slow enough, but play it by ear.

Linkadge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by Christ_empowered on August 5, 2019, at 0:48:44

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by joe f on August 3, 2019, at 10:48:41

i think you should take it as slooowly as possible, personally. and by 'possible,' i mean as slowly as your psychiatrist will allow. they can be taper Nazis, big time...give your body ample time to adjust to life on a reduced dosage of Mother's Little Helper.

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end » Christ_empowered

Posted by linkadge on August 5, 2019, at 6:58:18

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by Christ_empowered on August 5, 2019, at 0:48:44

They wouldn't yank a patient with epilepsy off benzos if they were being used for long term adjunct.

Linkadge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end » linkadge

Posted by Phillipa on August 5, 2019, at 17:45:42

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end » Christ_empowered, posted by linkadge on August 5, 2019, at 6:58:18

Good point. Those that don't abuse are the ones that are being shall I say hurt? As my long ago pdoc said if it ain't broke don't try to fix it!!

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end

Posted by Christ_empowered on August 6, 2019, at 11:30:12

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end » linkadge, posted by Phillipa on August 5, 2019, at 17:45:42

i read somewhere...some states in the US already tried "cracking down" on benzodiazepine prescribing, by requiring triplicates. I think one of the copies of the Rx had to be filed with some agency or something (?). Anyway...

this was a while back, so I don't know if the states in question are still doing this or not. It seems that the states were requiring triplicates for benzodiazepines (Schedule IV drugs, except for Rohypnol, which is illegal), but not other sedatives, and...

Miltown (meprobamate) suddenly made a mini-comeback, as did some of the less addictive barbiturates (I'm guessing phenobarbital, perhaps butalbital). Problem there is...

meprobamate can be effective, but it has its own set of adverse effects. the discontinuation probs can be just as bad as benzodiazepines. plus, because its popularity started to decline in the 1960s (LOL), availability was an issue, plus the costs were higher.

blah. i obviously don't think excessive and/or abusive prescribing is a-OK, but...people do need pain drugs, drugs for severe anxiety, etc. Plus...

have y'all noticed that pain killers and (increasingly) benzodiazepines are a no-go, but the Schedule II uppers are still regarded as "medical treatment for ADD/ADHD" ? but then...if they're used off label, in depression...they're not "medicine," they're "potentially addictive stimulants" ?


ugh. psychiatry. can't live with it...can't really live without it, right now, either...

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end » Phillipa

Posted by linkadge on August 6, 2019, at 12:59:28

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end » linkadge, posted by Phillipa on August 5, 2019, at 17:45:42

Right.

Another thing is that there actually is evidence that benzos can work long term for some individuals without abuse, or loss of efficacy. Opioids have (perhaps) less evidence for efficacy in long term pain management (although the jury is still out).

Linkadge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end » Christ_empowered

Posted by linkadge on August 6, 2019, at 13:05:09

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end, posted by Christ_empowered on August 6, 2019, at 11:30:12

Great points.

Not only are stimulants used frequently for ADHD, they are dispensed readily to young individuals (where some evidence suggests they may prime the brain for future drug seeking behavior).

Here in Canada, marijuana has been legalized and is promoted heavily for a variety of health problems. I swear by it and am personally finding it a better option for insomnia than benzos (simply because I feel better, not worse the next day). But the point is, what was once horrible (pot) and perfectly medically acceptable (benzos) have completely switched roles.

Finally, the SSRIs simply are not an acceptable option for GAD for many individuals. Asking people to become impotent (or have to take antidote drugs) is not an acceptable tradeoff for mild-moderate anxiety disorders.

Linkadge

 

Re: are benzos coming to an end » linkadge

Posted by Phillipa on August 6, 2019, at 17:39:59

In reply to Re: are benzos coming to an end » Christ_empowered, posted by linkadge on August 6, 2019, at 13:05:09

Well said and totally agree with you. Thing is at my age though can't see myself on Pot!!


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