Why are doctor's still prescribing benzos for long-term use?

[[no...]]

Why are doctor's still prescribing benzos for long-term use? My psychiatrist discouraged me from getting off benzos. He said I could take them forever. I made the choice to taper down from my benzos in order to stop using tranquilizers.

[[os...]]

Money

[[Wa...]]

I've been on them for over a year and my psy. told me the same and that I may not ever be able to be off of them.  "50/50 chance".  I'm weaning myself and am now down to 1/2 of .5mg Clonzepam per day.  I am not going to live on these.  I literally wake up every morning now and I almost always feel stressed and I say to myself, "It's going to be a GOOD day".  Somehow it works.  Never has before but just saying it does do something.  I have to say it over and over throughout the day but I'm getting better.

[[On...]]

I imagine it's only the doctors who themselves had never been through a benzodiazepine withdrawal.

 

I really don't think it's money on the part of the doctor, it is with the pharmaceuticals though. It's really about doctors ignorance, they get very little training in pharmaceuticals. Much of what they learn comes from the pharmaceutical companies representatives who are not doctors but salesman that make a lot of money dropping off free trials an propaganda literature.

 

What surprises me is the disconnect between the pharmacist and the doctor? These pharmacists have extensive training in drugs and are the best to be able to advise both patient and doctor. However they are so busy filling bottle in the back they cannot give any real service to the patient.

[[no...]]

I'm trying to have a good attitude, but it's hard for me right now. I detoxed in only 6 weeks. I've been completely off benzos since 3/9/12...dealing with PAWS. The fact that I'm so angry about my situation isn't helping me to get better. I refuse to reinstate benzos even though I'm miserable right now.

[[no...]]

I was warned several times by my pharmacy regarding the long-term use of these drugs. Each time I referred back to my psychiatrist. I trusted my doctor

[[su...]]

I imagine it's only the doctors who themselves had never been through a benzodiazepine withdrawal.

 

I really don't think it's money on the part of the doctor, it is with the pharmaceuticals though. It's really about doctors ignorance, they get very little training in pharmaceuticals. Much of what they learn comes from the pharmaceutical companies representatives who are not doctors but salesman that make a lot of money dropping off free trials an propaganda literature.

 

What surprises me is the disconnect between the pharmacist and the doctor? These pharmacists have extensive training in drugs and are the best to be able to advise both patient and doctor. However they are so busy filling bottle in the back they cannot give any real service to the patient.

 

I totally agree with you and it infuriates me.  I even argued with one of the 3 docs I saw when I was having W/D symptoms that I didn't recognize at the time...I just knew something wasn't right.  All 3 told me to take more Ativan more often.  Grrrrrrrrr.  And the insurance carrier we have through my husband's employer will fill at regular pharmacy once with 1 refill, then they want to convert to a 90 day supply through their pharmacy by mail order.  And they send us reminders when it's time to fill or renew the script. 

 

I woke up feeling icky this a.m. and had this exact discussion with my husband.... ending up with me sobbing and angry and yelling, "This isn't fair!  How could they allow this to happen to us?"

 

I'm an R.N. and have seen so many changes in health care over the past 10 years.  The docs I saw were pushing patients through like cattle...and the pharmacists always seem slammed, as well.

 

Sorry for the rant.  It really hit a nerve this a.m.....

[[He...]]

I have to agree....MONEY milions of people who have this hard a time as we all are aware of when they try to stop, that's a lot of MONEY. It really is a horrible horrible business. It is incredible that a doctor can prescribe something as dangerous and life destroying (at least for a considerable time) as a psychoactive drug, ignoring or undervaluing the reccomendations for usage and get away scot free with it, yet a guy who smokes a joint (I am not legitimising any drug use, just making a point) can end up in trouble with the law for it.

 

There is an incredible and un-understandable ignorance on benzos and likewise drugs by doctors as well as the population themselves, hell I knew they were addictive when I started them, but they helped a medical condition somewhat, did not realise how MUCH of a problem they were to stop however. Nor did any doc try to explain that to me, or even be concerned when I went over the one month mark. My doc actually believes that they are fairly easy to stop, and that 1mg a week of a drop is of little consequence. He almost killed me last year when I ended up with seizures.

 

So, back to the point, M-O-N-E-Y - manufacture something incredibly addictive, play down the problem to the dealers (docs) watch the bucks roll in, claim those who are having real problems stopping must have brain chemistry problems, get them on more drugs, more money. I wonder how many are caught in that horrible trap?

 

Makes me sick in the stomach. Apologies for the rant 

[[Mi...]]

HenryK you are so right.  What better business model than to legally sell something that is addicting?  Built in and self renewing market.  Simply convince the users through clever "I'm the doctor and therefore know so much more than anyone about this and this won't hurt you" marketing.  Tobacco comes to mind.  No difference.  I personally think that benzos should be in the same controlled category as opiates, that would be a start at controlling them and making it harder to give endless supplies to unwitting people.

 

MiniMinnie

[[no...]]

Benzos are evil.

[Guest [...]]

Oscar:       

Money

 

I don't think this is the answer to the question. Doctors do not make money from the sale of drugs.

[[no...]]

They do... if they own stock in the company that makes it. I found out a few months ago that my doctor does. I think Oscar's right. I know it's sad to think that somebody might be doing this to people for money. Personally, I wouldn't prescribe  benzos to my worst enemy.

[[Ch...]]

I asked my doctor this question at my appointment today.  She said:

 

  a) Patients don't want to go off them.

  b) 2-4 weeks is a recommendation, not a law.

 

So...my answer would be that the doctors are not yet fully aware of the consequences.  I don't believe they mean any harm nor do it for profit.  Frustrating, but wake-up calls are ringing since recent celebrity issues have been in the news.

[[...]]

Oscar:       

Money

 

I don't think this is the answer to the question. Doctors do not make money from the sale of drugs.

 

Xana, in the US they can and do.  There is a site that will tell you how much your physician made from specific drug companies in 2011. 

[[...]]

Xana this is only one of hundreds of sites that publish money paid to doctors in the US.  By 2014 there will be a huge data base available for anyone to research who, what and for how much their doctor is getting paid, by the pharmaceutical companies.  The "kickback's" have gone on since the 1950's.  I find it hard to believe that Australia's doctors aren't in on this cash cow......

[nobbc]http://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/[/nobbc]

 

Edit: deactivatde commercial link

[[Ch...]]

Whew...neither my prescribing doctor (who is now retired) or my current doctor.  Great info, by the way!

[[re...]]

I had to jump in on this. I don't believe the doctor's specifically make much money off benzos. Pharmaceutical companies don't anymore either because the drugs are now generic. They did before their patent ran out and unfortunately many benzos were still on patent when drug companies had the greatest influence over doctors. Fortunately things are slowly changing (but not enough).

 

But I don't think that's the real problem. I think the problem is a mindset. Doctors and patients alike want to be "fixed." Drugs are the only tools most doctors have. They take one or two semesters in pharmacology, and then they're armed to prescribe drugs to anybody and everybody. It's an obvious problem with benzos because they are so dangerous, but the same thing is happening with statins and even antibiotics. People go to doctors for drugs. Doctors don't fully understand most drugs and unfortunately it becomes a self perpetuating problem. Everybody, including doctors, are looking for a quick fix. There is no quick fix with your health.

 

Another problem which I don't fully understand is the idea that once a drug is out of your system the damage is over. This is the gospel for almost all doctors and it is so clearly very wrong. I don't know where this idea came from and I doubt that it will ever be undone, but ultimately, that flawed believe is the biggest problem.

[[...]]

Recovered, Yeah, unfortunately doctors still continue to make a lot of money by promoting certain pharmaceuticals that are not off patent. 

I do agree that doctors are not making a lot of money off of benzos, but they certainly are making bank on antidepressants, and such.  I posted that link because of a statement made, "Doctors do not make money on the sale of drugs".

 

You are correct about the mindset.  But who do we hold responsible?  Medicine is a completely imperfect science.  Do we accept that? We are only scratching the surface of addiction or physiologic dependance.  Studies are being done that show the body's addiction to sugar & How it adapts to higher and higher levels of glucose, not unlike benzos.  The studies show that extreme obesity and metabolic syndrome may be due to addiction and tolerance to glucose!! The damage is life long.  This is only the beginning.

 

The lack of physician understanding makes me crazy!  Unless you are knowledgeable about your condition, or have someone proactive on your behalf, how do you survive this incompetence? Are we responsible?  Haven't we all been brainwashed to believe everything our physician suggests?  Doctor's take an oath "To do no harm".  I agree, it really is too bad that most of them do not live up to this oath, due to ignorance.  In a court of law, ignorance is not defendable.

It needs to change.  Perhaps as one large voice, the people suffering here can make a difference and change the future for our children....

[[Ch...]]

But I don't think that's the real problem. I think the problem is a mindset. Doctors and patients alike want to be "fixed." Drugs are the only tools most doctors have. They take one or two semesters in pharmacology, and then they're armed to prescribe drugs to anybody and everybody. It's an obvious problem with benzos because they are so dangerous, but the same thing is happening with statins and even antibiotics. People go to doctors for drugs. Doctors don't fully understand most drugs and unfortunately it becomes a self perpetuating problem. Everybody, including doctors, are looking for a quick fix. There is no quick fix with your health.

I think you nailed it here, Recovered.

[[no...]]

Skyy- I would love to make a difference. I'm willing to do anything I can to stop MD's from prescribing benzos long-term. Any ideas?

[[sp...]]

it's not a money issue; there's a lot more money in putting people on new, non-generic medications which can be sold for a lot more. Benzos are all generic at this point. There are unscheduled non-generic novel new anxiety and sleep meds that are more profitable all around to prescribe.

 

I think it comes down to, in many cases, doctors not being extremely well schooled on the issues associated with long term benzo use, combined with the fact that a lot of people are able to use them and see therapeutic benefit from them for years or decades.

 

Most doctors are not idiots, and understand that significant lifestyle changes are in general a much better solution to anxiety/insomnia/etc (diet, exercise, meditation, etc). However, we live in a culture where people want a quick fix. If you can give them a pill that helps a little that they will be compliant with, that's "better" than making suggestions that could help a lot which will be ignored.

[[Ch...]]

it's not a money issue; there's a lot more money in putting people on new, non-generic medications which can be sold for a lot more. Benzos are all generic at this point. There are unscheduled non-generic novel new anxiety and sleep meds that are more profitable all around to prescribe.

 

I think it comes down to, in many cases, doctors not being extremely well schooled on the issues associated with long term benzo use, combined with the fact that a lot of people are able to use them and see therapeutic benefit from them for years or decades.

 

Most doctors are not idiots, and understand that significant lifestyle changes are in general a much better solution to anxiety/insomnia/etc (diet, exercise, meditation, etc). However, we live in a culture where people want a quick fix. If you can give them a pill that helps a little that they will be compliant with, that's "better" than making suggestions that could help a lot which will be ignored.

 

I think you nailed it.

[[...]]

I have no idea. My Dr. has been in business for a long time so it's confusing to me. I might ask him next time I see him what he's observed in patients with long term use.

I think a good reason to go off this drug NOW is because in the future it might not be so readily available and you'll be forced to w/d eventually.

[[ho...]]

Doctors  make money on the fact that you have to come back to the office to get your rx filled . I realized this when I would go to my appt and there were 20 people waiting to see him. I found out later he had 3 offices. I contacted my ins. co to report this along with the bad way I was treated at the office when I called in for a refill. Little did I know that I was becoming an innocent addict. The ins company did nothing . 

[[ho...]]

PS I called the Dr office about something and they said the ins, company didnt pay the bills. But I never got any demand for payment. Guess they could care less as they had so many patients to collect from.  Lets see 3 offices : at least 20-30 patients a day thats x $50.( average ) = 90x $50. = 4500 a day x 5 days = $22,500. a week at 52 weeks (lets say 50 weeks ) They need a vacation too right???   Thats  $1, 170,000.  a year.  plus whatever else they get from the pharm co.