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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bellame on September 24, 2007, at 21:17:28
I hava chemical dependency with benzo's, sedatives, and most prescrition pills. I am almost 6 months clean I recently became sick with nausea, headache and dizziness--not related to drug use as I am clean. So far the tests are negative but I have been precribed meclizine and ativan to help with the dizziness. I am taking it as prescribed until I get a diagnosis. Am I missing up my sobriety by taking the ativan? I am not duing it to get high or low but just some relief from these awful symptoms and it is dr precribed. Please help me to know what to do.
Posted by Racer on September 24, 2007, at 21:25:20
In reply to HAVE I SCREWED UP MY SOBRIETY, posted by Bellame on September 24, 2007, at 21:17:28
That's a tough one. Some people would say that you are, because it is a benzo, but I think you'll know if you're skating on thin ice here. If you think you can be honest with yourself about it, and you honestly know that you're not taking it "for fun," then I don't think it counts against you.
Also, did your doctor know your history when he/she prescribed it? If so, that would indicate to me that there isn't a problem here.
I hope that helps.
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2007, at 22:23:44
In reply to Re: HAVE I SCREWED UP MY SOBRIETY, posted by Racer on September 24, 2007, at 21:25:20
I agree and funny the same thing did happen to me. The result was depression and on paxil l0mg and xanax .5 for two years. That's one instance. the antivert will get rid of the dizzyness and make you tired. If you start vomitting call your doc and interestingly they gave me a shot of ativan in the er. Phillipa
Posted by curiousfish on September 25, 2007, at 0:51:29
In reply to Re: HAVE I SCREWED UP MY SOBRIETY, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2007, at 22:23:44
i think that as long as you are taking it as prescribed you are 'ok'. but it is very risky. maybe talk to your doc about it and only get a week supply at a time. i would get off of it as soon as you can and try and take the lowest dose possible. like someone else said, you are going to have to be very honest with yourself!!
Posted by blueboy on September 25, 2007, at 10:02:05
In reply to HAVE I SCREWED UP MY SOBRIETY, posted by Bellame on September 24, 2007, at 21:17:28
Do you have a group, like AA or NA, you belong to? That's a good place to get some opinions and you can get a lot of follow-up.
I have the same problem. My pdoc prescribed me a benzo. There are people in AA who say "absolutely no" to habit-forming drugs, to the point that they refuse pain medication (addictive ones, like opiates) after surgery. Other people say it's fine as long as you are absolutely honest with your doctor and yourself.
I take the benzo's as prescribed. I see the doc every month or two and tell him exactly what I'm doing, and of course, I was upfront with him about my addiction problems. And I also talk about it at meetings, even though I get some criticism about it.
I also have to say, I think that not having the benzo would have a fairly negative effect on my functioning. But I always keep the possibility open that I'm kidding myself and rationalizing a way to get high.
> I hava chemical dependency with benzo's, sedatives, and most prescrition pills. I am almost 6 months clean I recently became sick with nausea, headache and dizziness--not related to drug use as I am clean. So far the tests are negative but I have been precribed meclizine and ativan to help with the dizziness. I am taking it as prescribed until I get a diagnosis. Am I missing up my sobriety by taking the ativan? I am not duing it to get high or low but just some relief from these awful symptoms and it is dr precribed. Please help me to know what to do.
Posted by Rayray on September 30, 2007, at 19:18:25
In reply to HAVE I SCREWED UP MY SOBRIETY, posted by Bellame on September 24, 2007, at 21:17:28
No, Bellame, I don't believe you are screwing up your sobriety. But as mentioned by others, honesty with yourself is critical. As someone who has been sober for 14 years, is active in AA, and has numerous sponsees, I feel I can put in my 2 cents. Although some hardliners may disagree, there is nothing that I've seen in AA literature that directs you to ignore medical advice. The goal of AA is to have a happier life, not to become dysfuctional because you deny yourself needed medication. Could you imagine having major surgery without anesthesia? Again, honesty and intention are paramount.
Good luck!
Ray
P.S. Some prayer wouldn't hurt either.
Posted by nolegirl23 on October 4, 2007, at 21:28:12
In reply to HAVE I SCREWED UP MY SOBRIETY, posted by Bellame on September 24, 2007, at 21:17:28
> I hava chemical dependency with benzo's, sedatives, and most prescrition pills. I am almost 6 months clean I recently became sick with nausea, headache and dizziness--not related to drug use as I am clean. So far the tests are negative but I have been precribed meclizine and ativan to help with the dizziness. I am taking it as prescribed until I get a diagnosis. Am I missing up my sobriety by taking the ativan? I am not duing it to get high or low but just some relief from these awful symptoms and it is dr precribed. Please help me to know what to do.
Hi Bellame,
I struggle with the same issue on a daily basis. I am an alcoholic, and I am also active in AA. I have been diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa, Bipolar type II, Panic Disorder and OCD. Because of these mental health issues, I am on several PRESCRIBED medications; one of which is Xanax. When I got involved with AA, I went there so that I could quit drinking, if I kept on drinking the way I was drinking before I got sober than I was going to end up dead or in prison for taking the life of an innocent driver..
A lot of people in AA tell me that I have to stop taking xanax if I really want to get sober. I take xanax as prescribed, I don't get high off of it, and it keeps me from having panic attacks. I have spoken to my sponsor about this at great length, and she agrees that as long as I abstain from alcohol and as long as I am not abusing the xanax, than I am not ruining my sobriety.
The problem with AA is that so many people have so many different opinions on this issue. Some people (like the man who chaired the meeting tonight) believe that you have to be free from ALL mood altering substances. For me that would mean unmanageable anxiety, severe depression, wild mood swings and possible death from my eating disorder. My meds keep me sane, and in order to stay sober I need to stay sane.
So no, I don't think that you are ruining your sobriety if you are taking your meds as prescribed. If you start taking them to get high, than that is a different issue.
Take care!
~S~
This is the end of the thread.
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