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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 14:02:46
I wanted to post a major note of caution. I have recently tried to wean myself off of Ativan after being on 4 1mgs a day for quite some time. I was forced to do this, as I made the mistake of mixing alcohol with my meds over a major depresion / anxiety episode during the holidays and ended up in the er...My Psy. doc, just stopped my Ativan / Ambien and left me with Remeron and Lexapro and just told me tough luck, one strike and your out.....yes I am looking for a new dr., have known I should for a long time....but.....anyway...I tried to cut back on my own with the Ativan I had left....over about 7 days....I got down to the past three days...horrible withdrawal symptons...last night I finally got afraid of having a seizure and went to the ER.............I got lucky and found and understanding Dr., and nurse that put me on 10 days of decreasing Librium...thankfully I had an appointment scheduled for a complete physical in less than a week.....so I can turn my needs to my medical dr....until I find a new Psy.....the Librium really helped.......it does wear off quicker put then probably part of that so far is still withdrawals....but I just feel sick, not like I was dying like last night....yeah it was no fun being in the er from 6 til after midnight......but they did help me, did not lock me away, I've been there for short stints it's a nightmare.....so if your going to get off of a benzo...find a dr. that will work with you on decreasing it and keep a check on your health.......I tried the benadryl...vistaril......it was no help with withdrawls.....long term I don't know,...but at least I can make until I get in with my physcian.....Good luck
Posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2007, at 14:02:46
In reply to DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 11:05:12
What a horrible experience. My thoughts are with you. Love Phillipa
Posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 14:02:46
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!! » invisiblemanpa, posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2007, at 11:43:30
Thanks so much for the kind thoughts....every one is a big help when the darkness overwhelms us and the medical system frustrates and angers us...
Posted by fca on January 16, 2007, at 14:02:46
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!! » invisiblemanpa, posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2007, at 11:43:30
Absolutely, your physician should have worked with you to taper (especially if he/she had prescribed the ativan and dosage). I believe they had a moral and ethical duty to work with you in a thoughtful way.
On the other hand--I stongly believe the physician had every right, if not a responsibility, to discontinue the ongoing use of benzos after your alcohol/benzo mix. You know this is not a good idea and potentially very dangerous--your physician is subject to significant malpractice exposure if they continue to prescribe benzos (unless it is in a controlled inpt or outpt environment) after that. Also, it is not clinically appropriate. While you may never file a claim against your physician I want to assure you that relatives and survivors have a way of valuing your life after your death--sometimes much more than during your life. I know that sounds harsh but that is the way it is in some situations. Even if you forget the malpractice--it just is not good medicine to prescribe benzo's to someone who either will not, or can not, manage their use of alcohol. I am not talking about a person who uses benzo's on an intermittent or PRN basis but on a regular basis. Good luck
Posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 17:39:10
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by fca on January 16, 2007, at 12:02:26
I agree.....and that is not easy as on of the benzos has been the only help I have found with helping me control severe GA and SA.....it started in college and grew with my career.....I asked my psy doc for help weaning not cold turkey...he wouldn't listen during appointments....5 minutes for an hours worth of insurance charges.....I wish I would of changed docs prior...but....I understand their ethical and moral delimina with benzos, alchohol abuse albeit binge, daily, annual.......you just can't cut a patient off cold turkey and tell them they are own their own.....not with benzoe, SSRI's...we all know the struggles....the struggle sometimes just gets to the point that it hits you is this it?....Am I to live with these feelings and drugs forever?......then the bad and easy choices arise and the wise choices fade....If I would of had a seizure and died yesterday would that still make the psych docs. choice wise.....no....so one step at a time.....gradual reducing Librium...then?......
Posted by notfred on January 16, 2007, at 17:39:10
In reply to DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 11:05:12
That is the message that is repeted over and over again on the withdrawal board here.
Posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2007, at 19:01:06
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by notfred on January 16, 2007, at 16:26:41
Fred is it? I must visit more often then and how are you? Love Phillipa
Posted by saturn on January 17, 2007, at 10:21:51
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 14:06:56
>>>>gradual reducing Librium...then?......
Maybe find a doc that'll be willing to let you wean more slowly than just 10 days? And perhaps with something longer-acting like valium. Just a thought. Please let us know how you're doing if you can. My thoughts are with you. Peace...Saturn.
Posted by shadowplayers721 on January 17, 2007, at 10:21:51
In reply to DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by invisiblemanpa on January 16, 2007, at 11:05:12
After much inexperience from pdocs, I did it on my own. I didn't switch to a new med. I shaved it down with a pill cutter on a very very slow schedule. I would have to bump back up at times and then resume. Slow is the best way. It took me literally almost 3 years and now I take them strictly as needed with no withdrawal.
Posted by invisiblemanpa on January 17, 2007, at 10:21:52
In reply to Re: You are so right., posted by shadowplayers721 on January 16, 2007, at 19:23:08
Three years sounds a easier than 3 days or 3 weeks....you must a strong will and personal strength to do it yourself over 3 years....you should get a Psycho Babble Purple Heart....good for you and good luck...........
Posted by invisiblemanpa on January 17, 2007, at 10:21:52
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!! » invisiblemanpa, posted by saturn on January 16, 2007, at 19:14:38
Saturn,
Thanks that is what I am going to ask my med Doc. to let me do...as I can see dark clouds after just 10 more days...I know it will probably take me up to 3 months to get in with a new psy doc......so hard to get them to understand.......or at least some...I did have a good one where I lived previously...the Doc and therapist worked together to help me and their other patients....the clinic where I was going, my therapist and all the staff/nurses hated or were afraid of my 5 minute visit Doc....no communication....so after 2 plus years....I see I must get out and try again.....time to take control myself.....thanks for the kind thoughts...
Posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 17, 2007, at 14:10:03
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!! » saturn, posted by invisiblemanpa on January 17, 2007, at 8:21:22
My problem is related...bit somewhat unique.
I got a DUI on Dec 6 of last year (40days ago)
I checked myself into detox for 4 days..and then into a Intensive Outpatient Care Therapy Class daily for 4 weeks.I have a court and sentence date Jan 29 ( 13 days from now)
The Mandatory Minimum sentence is 10-20 days in County Jail..where they DO NOT give xanax...even tho I have been prescribed it for 13 years.
My new PDoc is trying to ween me off with Libruim
Doubled my Zoloft..and added Trazadone for sleep.How can I possibly face 10-20 days lock-up, without my weening Meds? I have to assume after 13 years a seziure is likely or worse.
advice please!
BM
Posted by invisiblemanpa on January 28, 2007, at 9:45:12
In reply to Re: DON'T DETOX BENZS ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 17, 2007, at 14:10:03
Buckeye,
Brother, my heart bleeds for you man. Many of us could be in the same position. I understand your fear, I have felt it. The librium does work. But when it's gone it's gone, and the underlying anxiety, which is very real, is still there.....
I got lucky...I knew the psy. I was seeing was terrible, but being so depressed I never changed, after this last episode of crashing, I forced myself to get in with my general DR. and he himself got me into a new, more upscale practice, if it wasn't for him, I would not of gotten in, sh*tty state insurance. I got hooked up with a great Nurse practioner, cutting edge knowledge and therapist, they could not believe the treatment, ECT, med. regimen that I had been on over the past 3 years....The nurse practioner, put me back on a lower dosage of Klonopin, said she realized the benefit of Benzos and that SSRI did nothing for anxiety for most, she is also taking me off of Remeron, slowly, adding Effexor XR, slowly, and will probably taper me off Lexapro, but wants to leave it for now to see if my mood impoves in combo with the Effexor, she also did not hesitate to give me the low dose of Restoril for my insomnia.......The therapist herself said you have to shop around for the clinic that best fits your needs and never give up...I gave up and ended up much worse off.....Buckeye,,,,can a good lawyer really emphasize your mental health issues and maybe get you into a day program??...I hate being in enclosed spaces, especially with strangers, even family sometimes...I to would be doing the super freak....
Good luck.....let us know....
e
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