Did anyone's doctor warn them about benzos?

[[su...]]

I was put on benzos because a friend was with me when I went to the doctors because I was in a bad place. She told me to tell the doctor I have anxiety because she wanted the benzos to mix with alcohol for recreational purpose. She was just young and in party mode and I heard of others doing this. I was stupid I guess in that I never knew how bad they are for you. I just thought mixing them with alcohol was bad and I never cared to do that because the irony is I hate drinking and being in any altered state with drugs except coffee. A few years ago while still on benzos I was getting very argumentative with people in my life especially this friend. One day she told me "I'm sorry I told you to say you have anxiety to get put on those pills ." I really didn't know what she meant at the time and shortly after she ended our friendship because I was blowing up lots and then apologizing. I honestly don't remember what I said because my memory day to day was also shot. Its hard to be mad at her because she was there for me when I needed someone in life but I have to question sometimes if she knew how bad these pills are why didn't she tell me. All I told the doctor is 'I'm having anxiety" which would make sense with everything I was dealing with in my life and I remember like yesterday the doctor saying something along the lines of "This medication will help with your anxiety. Just take one as needed." Like it was nothing. I never thought twice about it. Never did she say this can give you brain damage. I would have never touched something which causes brain damage if I was told. Like I said I don't even drink because I don't like being in altered states but I also never wanted to damage my brain. I prided myself on being a good thinker if nothing else. I moved and saw two more doctors who prescribed refills but never mentioned anything about it. The last doctor wanted me to get off but never told me why. It wasn't until w/d that I learned how badly I was addicted and that they cause damage to your brain. I've been reading articles of celebrities  who were abusing klonopin but knew it was bad when they were taking it every day after 2 years and stories like that. I took it 3 times a day for seven years. I guess I should blame myself for not educating myself on the side effects of medication I was taking. I really think it should be illegal but if nothing else doctors's should legally have to warn you about side effects and brain damage. Did anyone's doctor warn them about the dangers of taking banzos?

[[Ma...]]

Two words...HELL and NO.

 

Especially no damn warning about how hard these f****rs are to get off of. No warning about what happens when you reach tolerance after long term use. Can you say incorrect diagnosis of RA and Fibro? And a whole host of other problems and issues I've had over the past 10 years? I know benzos aren't responsible for everything wrong with me over the past 3 years I was in tolerance (I didn't dare ask for a higher dose, for fear the doctor would take my sleep away from me, just drank more), but it's pretty funny how so much of it is healing up.

 

Went to the rheumatologist today. Not that I'm taking anything he was going to dish out. I didn't say anything about the cold turkey, or how the supposed RA was going away, just to see if he'd mention the benzos. Not a f*****g word. He didn't know. These things have been around for 50+ years. HOW THE HELL CAN THEY NOT KNOW?!?

 

Yeah, so that's more than two words. Sue me. 

[[...]]

Two words...HELL and NO.

 

Not a word. Not even a slight 'these are hard to get off of', or 'these are addictive, be careful', or 'these have the potential to be dangerous if "abused"'. Literally Ativan was her actual first suggestion upon mention of my anxiety, like it was the most innocuous, beneficial thing on the planet. No heads-up, warning, or mention of even the POTENTIAL for otherwise.

 

Then doctor number 2 forced me to go cold turkey without any mention or apparent knowledge of what that would entail.

 

...crazy, man. I try not to let this make me angry. I try not to let deep hatred for these doctors fester within me. Because I know it's futile and harmful at this point. But damnnn, it's hard. 

[[Ma...]]

Nov3 - I dunno. I find nurturing the anger helps increase my resolve to get off this crap. Every time I even *think* maybe I might take one, I direct my mind back to the anger I feel. That route probably is not for everybody, but my mind works in mysterious ways. LOL I think angry is better than depressed. More energizing. I'm just not a positive "the world is a friendly place my child" fluffy bunny sort. The world will eat you up and suck you dry if you let it. I just don't let it.

 

If I don't stay angry, I will get depressed. So. not. going. there. Once I've been off this stuff long enough, I'll let my anger run away to nothing, and just shake my head at fools and their foolishness. Right now, I need it. I have to stay angry.

[[Pu...]]

Nope! I was prescribed diazepam over the phone ! Dr knew I was struggling with anxiety and was on two AD at the time, I called because we were going away for a few days and I didn’t think I could go because of terrible anxiety, did a prescription over the phone with no insight about their dependency, then it was just repeat prescriptions after that. Seen him about something else December 2018 and he said we need to get you off these because our prescription rate for our area is to high! Nothing about the dangers, nothing about a taper plan, absolutely no guidance at all, I did my taper using Ashton which he had never heard of!

[[un...]]

Nope, never warned. I went to the ER one night because I was suffering with daily bouts of anxiety. (I realized later that the original anxiety was caused by the Glipizide I was taking for my Type 2 diabetes. Prior to the anxiety bouts, I had stopped taking Paxil which was masking the side-effects of the Glipizide). The clinician prescribed Ativan, saying that it might not be what my psychiatrist would prescribe, but it would "just take the edge off". No warning about side effects or withdrawal symptoms. Had I been able to think clearly at that point, I would have decided to simply go back on the Paxil until I could figure it all out. In the meantime, my regular MD had no idea that Glipizide would cause anxiety (I ended up finding out about it online). When I finally did get to see a psychiatrist, she said that the Glip most likely was the original culprit and that she would never have prescribed Ativan. All I know is, that a clinician's careless assessment caused me a year or more of needless pain and suffering.

 

[[Cu...]]

No.  And, prescribing doctor stopped rxs cold, just giving 1 extra month.  CT could've ended up killing me.  He'd also over-prescribed, so I had enough to get though a 10-month taper.  I was prescribed ativan for pain management.  Had been prescribed klonopin years' earlier for fibromyalgia pain, but had the presence of mind to read up & threw that rx out.  Not so @ time of ativan rx.  FF 10+ years & tolerance w/d sxs (of depression & agoraphobia) for 2 years prior to taper.  Now, in excruciating pain & have disdain (to put it mildly) for doctors.  Can't take NSAID's due to having had ulcer.  Taking tylenol (about as effective as M&M's!) & wonder what that may be doing to my liver.  Feel life's just become lose/lose situation.  Benzos =    Doctors = 

[[...]]

Nov3 - I dunno. I find nurturing the anger helps increase my resolve to get off this crap. Every time I even *think* maybe I might take one, I direct my mind back to the anger I feel. That route probably is not for everybody, but my mind works in mysterious ways. LOL I think angry is better than depressed. More energizing. I'm just not a positive "the world is a friendly place my child" fluffy bunny sort. The world will eat you up and suck you dry if you let it. I just don't let it.

 

If I don't stay angry, I will get depressed. So. not. going. there. Once I've been off this stuff long enough, I'll let my anger run away to nothing, and just shake my head at fools and their foolishness. Right now, I need it. I have to stay angry.

 

Mayavata - Interesting perspective. Haha... I've never been the positive 'fluffy bunny' either. Not possible; Too much darkness in the world. I've just always gravitated toward the melancholy instead of the anger. You're right, it's no f'n fun. I feel like it's almost my natural state at this point though.

But, alas, after years of residency in 'perpetually-depressed-melancholy-ville', maybe you're right - maybe I should go Incredible Hulk and just let the anger consume me.....try it on for size. Lolol.

[[dd...]]

Nope. Went to my Dr. because of a horrendous family crisis and she prescribed clonazepam-said she "really liked it for anxiety". Once the family crisis abated a couple months later I tried stopping only to be met with awful symptoms. My Dr's response was...."well it just means you need to keep taking them". Most ignorant words ever uttered by a Dr. So I stayed on for another year until I finally suspected it wasn't me. I did some research and to my horror really discovered it wasn't just me. The irony is that I have always been pharma adverse and good at researching things I put in my body. When I asked her about how to taper off of these things, the response I got was..."we have no exit plan in place". The 2nd most ignorant thing ever uttered by a Dr.

[[Ma...]]

Nope. Went to my Dr. because of a horrendous family crisis and she prescribed clonazepam-said she "really liked it for anxiety". Once the family crisis abated a couple months later I tried stopping only to be met with awful symptoms. My Dr's response was...."well it just means you need to keep taking them". Most ignorant words ever uttered by a Dr. So I stayed on for another year until I finally suspected it wasn't me. I did some research and to my horror really discovered it wasn't just me. The irony is that I have always been pharma adverse and good at researching things I put in my body. When I asked her about how to taper off of these things, the response I got was..."we have no exit plan in place". The 2nd most ignorant thing ever uttered by a Dr.

 

Somebody out there has a license to practice medicine that needs to go bye-bye. What the hell is she a doctor of? Gender Studies?

[[Sa...]]

Nope.  I was told it was SAFE!  And told to keep taking it by 3 docs!

 

SaraSue

[[Ma...]]

Nope.  I was told it was SAFE!  And told to keep taking it by 3 docs!

 

SaraSue

 

Pity we can't just all jump on a class action lawsuit. Can't argue with this many people all suffering from the same mess.

[[ca...]]

Yes! My doctor got pissed off badly when I told him I was abusing benzo after a panic attack. He sent me straight to an expert on benzo withdrawal. He followed the Ashton manual and it was relatively easy for me to get off.

 

The best part, it was all free healthcare from the state.

[[dd...]]

I believe in the UK there was a class action that they people won. And I also think they no longer Rx benzo's in the UK....but big greedy pharma here in the US is too powerful and doesn't care about how many bodies or how much misery it creates for its profits...

[[Ma...]]

I believe in the UK there was a class action that they people won. And I also think they no longer Rx benzo's in the UK....but big greedy pharma here in the US is too powerful and doesn't care about how many bodies or how much misery it creates for its profits...

 

Check out a flick on YouTube called "Big Phram, Big Money". You probably have no idea.

[[Cu...]]

I believe in the UK there was a class action that they people won. And I also think they no longer Rx benzo's in the UK....but big greedy pharma here in the US is too powerful and doesn't care about how many bodies or how much misery it creates for its profits...

 

Thanks for posting that info.  I do tend to think it's more of another disabling big-pharma issue in the U.S. than elsewhere.  I, also, don't believe the FDA is much good for anything.  How do so many medications get passed through to only eventually have "hush-hush" class action lawsuits - no disclosure agreement - settlements?   

I do believe there will be more light shone on this, but not until the opioid epidemic/crisis is more controlled, as more young lives are being lost from that.  My prediction time-wise...another decade.  For myself, once w/d was forced upon me, I've frequently thought, "if only" prescribing doctor had given me an opioid for pain management, instead of ativan.  An opioid never would've been prescribed as a 4 xs/daily mediation & certainly not for 10+ years! & I was well aware of the dangers of opioids; having no such information about benzos.  What's also going to be the outcome/backlash is scary: that doctors aren't going to be prescribing anything for pain management...what, then? 

[[Ma...]]

CuzKK - I know for a fact that opiods are much easier to WD from. 7-10 days, you're done. The psychological funk may stick around for a while, but I don't believe there's a PAWS attached. Never was for me.

 

Too bad opiods are such a problem with the young. If they weren't, then maybe older people like me with arthritis who actually NEED them now and again (I can't take anything else for pain due to GI tract issues) might be able to freaking GET them.

[[su...]]

candysmandy Damm thats a good doctor! You're lucky.

 

Everyone else. It's crazy that doctor just prescribe this like its nothing.

 

I really wish the dangers about benzos like opioids would become common knowledge. I definitely feel responsible to launch my own crusade against benzos to stop other people from going through this.

[[An...]]

No warning about benzos has ever been given to me and I am a 30 year benzo user. :-(

[[J ...]]

My dr. never said a word. After a few years I knew I was addicted, dependent or whatever term. I would tell him I wanted to get off the meds on my med check visits every six months. He would just say we are going to retire together! Wow! Once I made a comment about which one of my two meds would kill me and he told me....is that insane.

 

On my last visit I asked for a script for 0.5mg pill, he asked why so I told him what I was doing..he said OK and wrote the new script for 30 @0.5mg. I was on 2-2mg tabs or 60 every month.

 

Last thing he said to me was to come back to let him know how it went. I am like screw you dude. I figured this out on my own with no help from him and he wants me to come back...POS.

 

I so want to sue the prick. Anybody else feel the same way?

Stone

[[Ho...]]

Nope. Original doc who prescribed Klonopin described it as a wonder drug. That was 2006. When did Ashton author her work? This doctor practiced at a major university. Stupid me for thinking that Psychiatry departments at major Universities are advanced. Doctor retired and referred me to next doc.

 

New doc said that Klonopin can cause short term memory problems and after a number of years seeing this doc they encouraged me to quit. Great! That doctor went to work for a large firm and closed their practice. When that doctor referred me to a list of providers they warned me that being on Klonopin would be a major red flag to any new doctor!!!! WHAT!!!!!! That practice closes as I am tapering down.

 

I call new doctor and she interviews me over the phone. Different but ok must be her style. Told her that I was at end of my taper. I followed up with her to schedule appointment and she DOES NOT RETURN MY CALLS! Thats was about 9 months ago. I have been benzo free for 8 months. Sigh.....

[[St...]]

Nope and nope

[[Li...]]

I really don't think most doctors understand how bad benzos are and it is also very easy to write their side effects off as mental illness when they make people sick.  When people go to the doctor complaining about having anxiety the doctors give them what works and benzos work well for a while.  They work for some people for years before they have serious problems.  While that time passes the doctor keeps writing prescriptions and the patient keeps filling them.  All of a sudden it is 3 years later and now this same patient is complaining about all the problems the drug is causing.  The doctor just thinks the patient has gotten worse with time and don't try to explore why that is.  If you talk to the patients many times you will find the patient has lost their job, their relationships and any sense of self worth.  The doctors sees this and decides it is mental illness and sends the patient to a phychiatrist.  The phychiatrist then puts the patient on more medication and very seldom removes them from the benzo that caused the problem in the first place.

 

Most doctors have very busy schedules so they don't spend much time reading things on the internet about the various drugs.  Benzos are actually not considered as danagerous as many other drugs.  I wish I had never experienced the anxiety and I never would have been introduced to Xanax.  Unfortunately I did.     

[[Aj...]]

No. But even if he had I wouldn’t have cared because the muscle contracture was so severe I would have killed myself without something to ease it.

[[cl...]]

NO until almost 10 years later when i started having problems and H!T tolerance he said something vague like:

"they are not meant for long term" - they change your brain chemistry"

- when I told him I want to get off them he just said:

- "you have to do it slowly"

NO direction / guidance ...nothing

when I went back with more problems he denied it was the clonazepam meds and

said it was "complications of anxiety"

- I do NOT go to that Doctor anymore and curently do NOT have a Doctor and do NOT trust any Doctor