Posted by Dave001 on September 27, 2004, at 13:54:33
In reply to They wont give me Xanax, posted by honeychica on September 26, 2004, at 15:26:24
> I have been suffering from severe PTSD and anxiety and depression for the past 6 years. I've been in therapy, am still in therapy and am now on Effexor 225mg, I am still having severe anxiety attacks. Since I was raped and brutalized by my ex for 2 years I have been a basket case. I happened to be at my Prim. care physicians office for my asthma and was having an intense anxiety attack when I asked if she could prescribe something to helpme. She gave me a 1 month supply of Xanax .25 mg and I have to say that it has been so great for me, the anxiety attacks were far less severe and I actually went clothes shopping for the first time in 2 years. I have been a recluse for about 2 years since I left my abusive ex and I am afraid to leave my house and basically only go out for therapy sesssions and grocery shopping. So I saw the nurse who prescribes my Effexor to me and asked her for Xanax and that it seemed to really help me alot. She refuses to give me xanax stating that because I used to drink heavily 6 years ago that I would get addicted to it and that EVERYONE who takes Xanax is addicted to it! So she gives me Gabitril, it does NOTHING for me and I just don't know what to do! I am so frustrated with the fact that everyone else I go to therapy with is on Ativan or Xanax except me, I am suffering, my quality of life is crap, my anxiety is to much to bear anymore and I don't know what else to do. Please if anyone has some advice let me know...thank you so much.
> Sincerely, Lauren
>Lauren,
I sympathize with your frustration in obtaining a prescription. Only you are capable of assessing the the risk to benefit ratio of a particular medication for your situation, but unfortunately others feel the need to "protect you" from yourself. In the case of Xanax, it is true that everyone will eventually become physically dependent upon it if taken on a chronic basis, but that is hardly of consequence if it allows you to move forward with your life.
The usual suggestion is to find another doctor. Of course, the irony is that when one most needs to find a new doctor, one is also in a state with the least capability of doing so.
Good luck.
Dave
poster:Dave001
thread:395354
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040927/msgs/395808.html