Will the doctors ever get it?!

[[Co...]]

20 months off Clonazepam and in a wave...so disappointed but at least I know what it is. Had first appt today with new primary care physician who appears to be in her 60s. When I explained a little about what tapering and withdrawal have been like, she said, “Well, not everyone ‘reacts’ that way” and “Some of those symptoms were probably caused by the Prednisone you were on right before that.” She looked at me as though I were a big a drama queen and then said, “I’ve been in practice 27 years and I’ve heard everything.”

 

So...once again, more evidence (as though we need any more) that the medical community, generally speaking, remains inexplicably ignorant to the inhumane suffering caused by prescribed benzodiazepam use and withdrawal.

 

Sending love, light and healing out tonight...we’re all we’ve got and we are all BAD ASSES.

 

 

[[Pt...]]

Doctors will never agree with something that contradicts what they learned in medical school

[[Co...]]

Unfortunately true...but for the even psychiatric and mental health community to be so blithely unaware blows my mind. 

[[La...]]

I think they know more than they let on..kinda hard to admit it then go into the next room and write a script for it....i knew something was up when i asked how long I'd have to take and he said you'll prob be on rest of your life.....f!:;%kers!

[[Pt...]]

They don’t have the time or energy or heart to truly ask questions about these drugs. Most doctors are trained to somewhat be a robot. Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prescribe, rinse and repeat

[[Te...]]

They have nothing in their arsenals to use if they didn't have benzos and ADs. Meanwhile they're making a lot of people suffer, as I speak, which is so sad. And since doctors continue to have their heads in the sand, so do family members and friends, blindly trusting what doctors say. My lack of trust in doctors is now complete because of this devastating experience.

[[Pt...]]

They have nothing in their arsenals to use if they didn't have benzos and ADs. Meanwhile they're making a lot of people suffer, as I speak, which is so sad. And since doctors continue to have their heads in the sand, so do family members and friends, blindly trusting what doctors say. My lack of trust in doctors is now complete because of this devastating experience.

 

Yup

[[Pa...]]

Please be aware of forum policy while discussing your medical practitioners, it's unfair for anyone to lump anyone into a group, we're all individuals, including our physicians.

Whilst some of our members report negative experiences with doctors, psychiatrists, or the wider medical profession, and although we do not wish to outlaw comments about how members feel let down or mistreated in their personal medical care, you are not permitted to use this community as a platform to spread general anti-doctor or anti-psychiatry propaganda. Nor should you, unless you are posting a recommendation, name those involved in your healthcare. For more about this policy, please read our Anti-doctor, Anti-psychiatrist and Anti-medicine Comments notice.

[[Ki...]]

I think real problem is dishonest science done by corrupt pharmaceutical companies , everyone knows about side effects of these medications but somehow they are always undermined in research papers.

[[...]]

I was gaslit by doctors saying I wasn’t experiencing withdrawal after brief usage of a benzo. I finally came across a knowledgeable GP (albeit much too late) who said he doesn’t even prescribe benzos or z-drugs and actually substantiated my claims and called me very unlucky.

[[Aj...]]

My neurologist gets it.

Even read all the stuff I gave him (Including Cass bad Benzos letter) and said was aware it could be bad and last years but was grateful for the opportunity to learn more.

Asks me how I keep going with such horrific symptoms.

Says my nervous system is now sensitised.

Nothing he can do.

Was surprised Topirimate and Tegretol caused terrible symptoms though even though shld know why Topirimate would be bad.

But I literally can’t take anything now. Even laxitive causes Neuro symptoms.

Asked him if that was nocebo as doesn’t cross blood brain barrier. Said no - sensitisation of enteric nervous system as well could cause Neuro and psych symptoms.

[[Ro...]]

Hey man - I feel your pain.  Haven't been on this site for a long time because I also went to hell but came back.  Ruined my marriage.  Couldn't excersize - same as you.  FINALLY just pushed myself to get beyond the fear.  Very tough but I finally realized that it was the fear holding me back.  Had panic attacks the first few times.  When my wife moved out nearly killed me.  It had come to that point when I knew I needed to change my life or I was f....ed.  Started excersizing slowly amd started to increase a little every day.  Wishing you the best.  Don't let it ruin your marriage.

[[Te...]]

Great post, Rockland!! :thumbsup:

 

You're so right about the exercise. I found that I had to face the fear of exercise and so many other fears that I built during the benzo mess and start tearing them down. NOT EASY, but otherwise I'm afraid I'd be like this forever.

 

Wonderful job going through the fears and getting to the other side!!  :thumbsup:

 

I'm sorry about your marriage, but hopefully something far greater will come along.

[[Re...]]

I don’t think it’s entirely dr’s fault for being so uneducated on all the issues that can arise from benzos. If numbers are accurate that only a small percentage say 15% (educated guess or I read it somewhere) plus the fact they aren’t taught this in med school . With that being said it’s more than likely they have never come across a patient that has been sent into these protracted nightmares. It suxs for us because we trusted their knowledge and are suffering because of it, but I don’t think it’s entirely that black and white .  Also I’m speaking of GP’s and not psychiatrists as they probably prescribe more benzos and have more experience with that as well as antidepressants, but I’ve never seen a psych so I’m not sure.

[[sh...]]

Incredibly disappointed with the medical field, researchers, doctors, pharmaceutical companies also with FDA. Serious problems with benzodiazepines has been well known and documented since the 1980s, generations of doctors would have had the opportunity to deal with this problem but continuously new and new generations are being exposed to benzodiazepines. The only change was made that now there is a black box warning on the prescription, however most doctors keep prescribing it much longer, use it "as needed". I have read nearly a hundred "scholarly articles", studies, research documentations, prescriptions guidelines for primary care physicians from Erupian countries, England, Canada, US all pointing out the dangers of benzodiazepines in the long run. Recommending that prescribers regularly contact long term users encouraging tapering, educating patients about benzodiazepine use. Stressing that it should not be used longer than 2-4 weeks maximum, with very few exceptions. Over 40 years it has been known the suffering it can cause, benzodiazepines are involved in so many celebrities' death and here we are... So doctors may don't want to get it. Is it money, ignorance, carelesness, to us does not matter. Of course there are nice doctors who are willing to listen, but the bottom line is the bottom line even if we do not generelize, studies after studies show the rampant prescribing habits, the increase of prescription numbers "Steep Climb In Benzodiazepine Prescribing By Primary Care Doctors"

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/01/25/688287824/steep-climb-in-benzodiazepine-prescribing-by-primary-care-doctors

This is beyond upsetting for many of us sufferers. Our problems are well known and documented over 40 years by doctors we trust.