Polypharmacy Killed My Son. He’s Not Alone: Essay, May/23

[[Li...]]

This essay highlights the dangers of psychiatric drug polypharmacy, drug interactions, and drug side effects.  It also calls attention to the danger of PRN use of benzodiazepines, including physical dependence and tolerance (see quote below). Regrettably, the author confounds physical dependence with addiction and also fails to point out the risks associated with abrupt cessation of this class of medication.

 

It’s easy to write a prescription, but doing so is not always the safest or most effective option for a patient. The psychiatric medications prescribed on a “PRN” basis—that is, to be taken “as needed” are particularly troubling. One of the most overprescribed types of these medications, and among the most dangerous, are benzodiazepines—commonly known as “benzos.” From mid-February to mid-March of 2020, prescriptions for them increased by 34%. While these medicines can be helpful in relieving anxiety, depression, and other symptoms, they can lose their effectiveness when taken on a long-term basis. Eventually, the initial dosage becomes ineffective, and patients come to need larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect. Within a few short weeks, patients can develop a physical dependence on them ending up worse off than before the medications, struggling with addiction and withdrawal. Benzos can also have serious side effects, including respiratory depression, which can cause death.

 

Link:

Polypharmacy Killed My Son. He’s Not Alone | TIME | May 2023

https://time.com/6280929/polypharmacy-dangers-essay/

[[or...]]

Thank you, Libertas. Interesting . . . but sad and upsetting. A cautionary tale for those of us who have been polydrugged . . . we may have escaped by the proverbial skin of our teeth!

 

Katz

[[Li...]]

You’re welcome, oregonkatz.  It is indeed a sad and upsetting story.  It seems like more and more individuals are being polydrugged these days (especially younger people, older adults, and individuals with developmental disabilities).

 

I agree with the author about the need for ‘medication quarterbacking’ (i.e. coordinating medications across providers).  In the meantime, we need to serve as our own quarterbacks by using tools such as DailyMed to learn about drug warnings, side effects, and adverse reactions as well as drug interaction checkers to learn about interactions among and between any medications we take.

[[Re...]]

Heartbreaking, but glad that this topic is hitting the mainstream.

[[Co...]]

Oh yes everyone here tries with me too to taper the benzo easier. Crazy.

[[ma...]]

The essay appears to distinguish between physical dependence and addiction, which is a crucial distinction. Physical dependence is the body's physiological adaptation to a drug, often resulting in withdrawal symptoms if the drug is suddenly stopped. Addiction, on the other hand, involves psychological and behavioral components, including compulsive drug use despite negative consequences. While physical dependence can occur with benzodiazepines, not everyone who develops physical dependence becomes addicted. It's essential to highlight this distinction to avoid confusing the two terms.

[[Pa...]]

2 hours ago, [[m...] said:

The essay appears to distinguish between physical dependence and addiction, which is a crucial distinction. Physical dependence is the body's physiological adaptation to a drug, often resulting in withdrawal symptoms if the drug is suddenly stopped. Addiction, on the other hand, involves psychological and behavioral components, including compulsive drug use despite negative consequences. While physical dependence can occur with benzodiazepines, not everyone who develops physical dependence becomes addicted. It's essential to highlight this distinction to avoid confusing the two terms.

hello markusmiles, welcome to BenzoBuddie,

Thank you for recognizing and describing addiction vs dependence so succinctly.  I wish the scientific community would make this distinction more than it does, too much emphasis is focused on addiction and abuse, that label doesn't fit 98% of our members. 

We're happy you found us, if you care to, please start a thread to tell us a little about your situation.

Pamster