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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 18:21:25
I am trying to conjure in my mind the best approach to requesting a benzodiazepine from a doctor without the request abnegating my reasonable necessity.
I know quite a bit about benzodiazepines. I have taken them before in due course for negative side-effects with ceratin other medicine. I have not taken them for a while (four months or so), namely because I stopped seeing the doctor that was prescribing them to be (I did not agree to his practices).
I benefit from them very well. I don't get nightmares anymore when I am on them (anti-depressants, etc. are what caused me to start getting them) and they help quell my acute anxiety and restlessness. I know their potential to make oneself addicted to them...however, I believe the benefits outweigh that possibility.
I wonder if anyone has any advice on how to go by asking for them without inciting a disposition of chemical abuse. I know that there are many doctors who won't prescribe them because of this precedent...should one just merely ask for them? "Hey I have bad anxiety and, in the past, clonazepam has helped immensely". Of course, the doctor might want me to confer onto him my past with medicine, and this may cause him to give me those instead. Which would be bad since those medicines really suck.
Posted by Colleen D. on August 22, 2005, at 19:09:35
In reply to Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 18:21:25
After being diagnosed with GAD, OCD and social phobia, I came right out and asked my doc for a med specifically to help with my anxiety. He didn't hesitiate to prescribe Klonopin, but at a very low dose - .75mg per day. I went back and asked for a higher dosage and he agreed to that too, to 2.5mg daily, and now my GP is monitoring my anti-depressant and benzo use. I am actually taking less Klonopin than was prescribed. Have you had a formal pyschological evaluation done recently? Perhaps that would help you get what you need for your anxiety. I can't believe how messed up my life was before ADs and benzos.
Colleen
MDD, GAD, OCD and SP
Posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 19:33:16
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by Colleen D. on August 22, 2005, at 19:09:35
Hmmm...the thing is, I don't want anti-depressants, just a benzodiazepine. Often times, doctors prescribe both of those in unison...with the argument that anti-derpressants are for the long term. However, this argument is irrational because if you stopped taking anti-derpressants, the effects would stop eventually, much as how the effetcs of a benzo stops when you stop taking it.
Posted by Colleen D. on August 22, 2005, at 20:16:54
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 19:33:16
Well, I generally don't advocate dishonesty, but get the prescription for both and don't use the AD. I hate to say it, but sometimes you need to work around the obstacles in the health care system and I really think it's a shame that you have to do this to get what you need.
Since I seem to be much more knowledgeable (and a lot of credit for that goes directly to this forum) than the average patient when I address my doc regarding my meds, I am in charge of my treatment. I have tried various ADs and have told my doc what works and what doesn't.
Do you have prescription insurance? If you do, or if you can afford to, fill both prescriptions and go from there. My doc didn't know that I had re-started Effexor (I had leftovers and more refills when I had given Cymbalta a trial) until I told her, and she didn't have a problem with it.
Good luck!
Colleen
Posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 20:25:10
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines » jubei, posted by Colleen D. on August 22, 2005, at 20:16:54
Hmm...I have thought about thise course of action too. However, there seems to be two reasonable paths in obtaining this end. One could be that I seek consultation with a doctor, and he ends up prescribing me both kinds of medications. The other way of it is, that I seek consultation with the doctor, except in this instance I ask for a benzodiazepine directly alongside an anti-depressant.
He may just simply want to prescribe something that isn't a benzodiazepine.
Posted by Declan on August 22, 2005, at 20:29:13
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 19:33:16
This can be a bit age dependant. They're more likely to be wary with younger people. Telling the doctor you are already addicted is adventurous but risky. (Once a doctor said he couldn't rx them unless I was addicted and I neglected to mention that I was, so overwhelmed was I by his way of thinking).
And then there is the suggestion someone made of telling the dr that you would never take a benzo. (Save that one up for a certain kind of doctor).
I dunno, I've never been great with this either.
Declan
Posted by Colleen D. on August 22, 2005, at 20:39:14
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 20:25:10
It sounds like you are very uncomfortable with the thought that you might get turned down on the benzos if you ask for them up front. If that happens, find another doctor who WILL prescribe them for you alongside the AD. Your conscience will then be "clear" that you are being honest about what you are seeking. There have got to doctors out there that will do this for you and I know you can convince them of the past benefits they have had for you since you speak so eloquently here on the board. I live in the rural NORTH WOODS and I have a very good GP who is extremely smart when it comes to psychiatric meds and is willing to work with me.
Colleen
Posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2005, at 20:41:03
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by Declan on August 22, 2005, at 20:29:13
I agree. Just ask your doc. Mine has no trouble letting me use valium my choice. And she just prescribed a new Ad for me. I filled the valium but said hold off on the Ad till I present to to my Babble friends. See Thread below. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on August 22, 2005, at 21:04:21
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 20:25:10
> Hmm...I have thought about thise course of action too. However, there seems to be two reasonable paths in obtaining this end. One could be that I seek consultation with a doctor, and he ends up prescribing me both kinds of medications. The other way of it is, that I seek consultation with the doctor, except in this instance I ask for a benzodiazepine directly alongside an anti-depressant.
>
> He may just simply want to prescribe something that isn't a benzodiazepine.
Well, for me, having acute anxiety during my appointment with my pdoc was a pretty compelling argument. He had to convince ME to take benzos.Marsha
Posted by Empathy on August 23, 2005, at 9:26:59
In reply to Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 18:21:25
If you have been on them before, sometimes the easiest thing to do is to say "I have used them before and I really think that need them again at this time."
Sometimes just having used them previously, makes the doctor more comfortable prescribing. I don't know why that is.
Posted by lostsailor on August 24, 2005, at 6:01:42
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepines, posted by Empathy on August 23, 2005, at 9:26:59
>>>Once a doctor said he couldn't rx them unless I was addicted and I neglected to mention that I was, so overwhelmed was I by his way of thinking). <<<
This is really messed up thinking on your docs side....my Pdoc has a simple saying...a person using any med (in this case a benzo can become dependent on it mostly physically, but sometimes mentally as well...addiction according to him is simple: misuse (doctor shopping, calling a week into a months supply and saying I accidentally dropped them in the tub (although something like this can happen, but once it becomes any pattern , he'll wean the user off)
Also, to him, BENZOS are probably the SAFEST med we take...remember the old days when the thought that the ssri's and ssnri's would NOT cause withdrawal, which all now know is nonsense...I agree with the statement to your doc.,"they have helped in the past and I think they will help me again”-- unless he has a reason to doubt you, he should give them to you.
Good luck,
~tony
Posted by Squiggles on August 24, 2005, at 15:24:36
In reply to Benzodiazepines, posted by jubei on August 22, 2005, at 18:21:25
Hi jubei,
I feel a bit guilty about your post
(just saw it - been away from the board
and the *b* word usually catches my
attention; I used to participate on
benzo.org, and having become addicted
to Xanax, jumped to the erroneous conclusion
that the same withdrawal results would
occur with clonazepam. I therefore tried
to get off clonazepam as well, when the
measly 0.50 dose was doing me no harm
for years. I guess I just got enthusisastic
after my success with Xanax and the big
guns at benzo.org.However, not all benzos are addicting in
the same way, and even Xanax is absolutely
necessary for crisis situations, but not
good to keep taking indefinitely.So, for your case I would explain to the
doctor that the benzo situation has become
complex on account of gross generalizations
and ideological mistakes by such support
groups, and that some benzos (do the homework)
are the best thing for anxiety and insomnia.Hope that helps with your doctor.
Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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