[piazz]

I was taking 3mg Lorazepam nightly for almost three years. Weening off of it safely took almost an entire year of miserable work, and the final stages I had to do while I had no other significant life responsibilities because of the incredible rebound insomnia and background anxiety you experience withdrawing off benzodiazepines. The only upshot is that when you finally do manage to get yourself off of a drug like this, you sort of feel like you can tackle most other challenges life throws your way.

So yeah, this stuff is serious. And of course, my Lorazepam was prescribed legally, by a responsible, well regarded psychiatrist, with very little warning regarding how quickly one builds both tolerance and physiological dependence on this chemical.

[tnecniv]

> And of course, my Lorazepam was prescribed legally, by a responsible, well regarded psychiatrist, with very little warning regarding how quickly one builds both tolerance and physiological dependence on this chemical.

Sorry to hear that. Mine told me to take at most 1mg no more than once a week for that reason. Seeing what that quantity does to me, I can't imagine dosing at that quantity or frequency (obviously you acquire a tolerance, but still).

[icantdrive55]

I really think most Psychiatrists know how addictive Benzodiazepines are, but Americans are very stressed out.

In my case, I busted a gasket in my twenties. I went from the most capable person in the room, to the trembling guy who could barely leave his room. I can honestly say it ruined my life.

I was given a benzo with a long half life. It worked a bit, but I never fully recovered. I think we all know the drug. 40 hour half life.

I tried all kinds of medications over the years, and nothing worked except benzodiazepines , and alcohol. Yes--alcohol hits so many different parts of the brain, but is horrid on the body. I really tried to avoid alcohol, but some days the anxiety susptoms we just unbearable.

I've been on the long half life benzodiazepine for decades. I take the same dose low dose, and try not to drink.

I've never even asked my doctor, but he knows my low dose isn't going to cause physical problems. They are better than alcohol, if you're self-medicating. I belive his thinking is I need the drug. I've been on it forever. Why put him through a misserable detox, at this stage of the game?

There are a few big studies done on patients whom were on opiates, and benzodiazepines for long periods of time. They didn't necessarily need to increase their dosages. I believe the studies were done on rest home geriatric patients.

I feel at my age, what's the point of a long withdrawal. It's easy to say for myself because my doctor has reasonable rates. He is getting close to retirement, and that has me very worried. The last thing I want is a long misserable detox.

I don't like the way this drug problem is playing out. I don't like blaming doctors. All their patients are very different.

My wish is we let, especially Psychiatrists, make these hard calls concerning what's best for their patients. That's what they went to school for.

I don't know why we are even discussing it here.

I don't want to live in a world where doctors send their patients home a mess because they are afaird of being accused of some sinister reason for keeping a patient on a addictive drug.

In all reality, so many doctors just don't prescribe certain drugs. Probally, one of the main reasons why former patients go to the streets, or liquor stores.

(I would further like to see a governmental bill that would allow patients, whom have been on addictive drugs for years, the ability to authorize their own scripts. The Same dose, and any increase would require a doctor's visit. At this point my office visits are pointless. There is a bill that is in congress now I believe, but it's for drugs that aren't addictive. I doubt the AMA will ever let it pass though.)

[piazz]

It’s your life, and your call, but one compelling reason to ween off these drugs is simply that you’ll feel better (most likely) when you’re off of them. I felt like I got my old brain back when I got off Lorazepam. While we take these drugs to initially treat acute anxiety, they have a tendency to create chronic anxiety in the user. This of course requires more of the drug to combat, and you have a positive feedback cycle that makes them so difficult to get off of. But, at least in my experience, there was light at the end of the tunnel. And, FWIW, my doctor was extremely fallible despite his years of education, as you noted.