Doc won't prescribe xanax, in withdrawals - should I go to ER?

[Sonny Jim]

I want to go a bit further and state that I believe alcoholic withdrawal is much more commonly felt by daily drinkers than is commonly recognised. Like it's not in any of the anti drink propaganda (not that there's much of that to begin with) but I think that knowledge was important for me in addressing the bad effect daily drinking was having on me. I have actually all but quit alcohol for the past couple of years, completely lost my taste for it which has been great for my weight.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Sonny Jim

[incognito]

I've seen heavy alcohol withdrawals. "the horrors", where withdrawing alcoholics would trip balls, seeing ghosts sitting on the ends of their bed and stuff. These guys where petrified. My own father had to withdraw from a case a day kb lager habit as he got alcohol induced diabetes, and simply would have died had he continued drinking went cold turkey overnight turned into a monster for 3 months but to his credit never touched a drop since. From what I witnessed during my time in a withdrawal unit and rehab withdrawals from benzos, heavy alc use are similar. Other thing I learned to quit anything u have to want to really stop BAD or else you are just kidding yourself and wasting other people's time (and yr own)

Edited September 17, 2012 by incognito

[planthelper]

he got alcohol induced diabetes, and simply would have died had he continued drinking went cold turkey overnight turned into a monster for 3 months but to his credit never touched a drop since.

 

i can relate to that.

problem is, people give you even more shit, if you are grumpy, and that makes you feel even more to have a drink, because, one you would turn normal again, and second, the bitching of the others will not hurt you anymore.

many vallium addicts i knew, wher alcoholics aswell, so just avoid a double addiction.

tantra used heimia for benzo withdrawl, and auxin who is a heimia specialist suggested the same above, and i go with them.

topicstarter, get your hands onto heimia!

if you can't source established plants, heimia herb, or heimia resin, than pm, me and i will send you heimia material for free.

heima feels just like benzos for me, but than, i tried heima only a few times....

Edited September 17, 2012 by planthelper

[CβL]

It sounds like the best choice would be to taper off the benzos over the course of months, but finding a doctor to help you sounds difficult. So the problem here is the supply of benzodiazepines. Just read about Epilim, and it sounds like a dangerous denizen.

If it were my position, I'd probably taper with the methods that have already been suggested, but also with the green herb to get to sleep. I don't know if it's suitable in your case, but I do know that drinking alcohol before sleep often results in waking up a few hours later, bright as a daisy.

[gem]

i can relate to that.

problem is, people give you even more shit, if you are grumpy, and that makes you feel even more to have a drink, because, one you would turn normal again, and second, the bitching of the others will not hurt you anymore.

many vallium addicts i knew, wher alcoholics aswell, so just avoid a double addiction.

tantra used heimia for benzo withdrawl, and auxin who is a heimia specialist suggested the same above, and i go with them.

topicstarter, get your hands onto heimia!

if you can't source established plants, heimia herb, or heimia resin, than pm, me and i will send you heimia material for free.

heima feels just like benzos for me, but than, i tried heima only a few times....

 

I don't know what to say but thank you planthelper - I don't want to trade one addiction for another (ie alcohol). Will PM you re heimia.

thanks again

gem

[gem]

It sounds like the best choice would be to taper off the benzos over the course of months, but finding a doctor to help you sounds difficult. So the problem here is the supply of benzodiazepines. Just read about Epilim, and it sounds like a dangerous denizen.

If it were my position, I'd probably taper with the methods that have already been suggested, but also with the green herb to get to sleep. I don't know if it's suitable in your case, but I do know that drinking alcohol before sleep often results in waking up a few hours later, bright as a daisy.

 

Alcohol is *nothing* compared to xanax (in terms of what my body is craving) and I do know what you mean by waking after drinking, wide awake Stomach is (amazingly) giving me a day of grace (oh go and jinx myself ha) and I felt like drinking a beer today. Not any other wine or spirit - I think I find the hops soothing...

In total agreement with you: taper off as already put in place and YES - finding a doctor here on the Gold Coast is just... going to say impossible but I have two appointments tomorrow so ... I have to wait until tomorrow to find out

As for the epilim... I'm well dodgy on that. Quack pysch started me at 1000mgs/day (ie; two 500mg tabs) - too much!!! Can't split tabs as enteric coating. Just wanted mood stabiliser so that I was OK before dropping my benzos down more (already was titrating by myself) - *never* imagined the negligence/apathy/judgment etc I have encountered with *every* health 'professional' (use that term usely) on the Gold Coast

[Evil Genius]

Reading this thread made me feel very sorry for you, gem. I dont know what it means to have cravings like that as i pretty much stayed away from benzos after i took one whole box in a few days. Im a person who does everything excessively what is a very bad thing when its about drugs. That alone and the lack of memory from during that time convinced me that im already fucked up too much when im sober so i never ever considered taking em again. So i really hope you can use this as a chance to sober up and get rid of the addiction as im sure that the life you live with a benzo addiction is nothing compared to the one you would have without it. Sure, you may probably feel better when you are on benzos but at the same time you miss out on so many things that its a bad deal your getting right now. Not sure if this is a help for you as you probably know that already but i just felt like writing something about it and telling you that i feel for you and wish you all the willpower you may need. bye Eg

Edited September 17, 2012 by Evil Genius

[chilli]

Gem, I am sorry you have had such a bad experience with doctors and your medication.

For what it's worth, I strongly oppose the advice of those suggesting you suddenly stop such a high dose of benzos, this is not a good idea and can be very dangerous. *Please do not go 'cold turkey' from such a high dose of Xanax, it could be life threatening!* I am disappointed and surprised you were given this advice and would have thought some of those suggesting it would know better.

The best approach is to taper your dose very gradually, which I know is what you want to do. You can use other things to smooth the process if you feel you need to, but if you make the reduction gradual enough you shouldn't have many side effects, although the symptoms you were using the Xanax to treat may begin to reappear when you get to a low enough dose.

Good luck, I hope you are able to find a compassionate and wise doctor and support to help you through this. Please do keep us informed of your progress, and feel free to get on here to debrief whenever you need to. Although there is some bad advice on this thread, I know everyone means well and wants to do their best to support you.

*edit* If you haven't already, get in touch with your local community mental health team:

Gold Coast Mental Health & ATODS

www.health.qld.gov.au/goldcoasthealth/html/services/mhealth.asp

(07) 5519 7871

They should be able to help! Good luck, let us know how you go.

Edited September 17, 2012 by chilli

[gem]

Reading this thread made me feel very sorry for you, gem. I dont know what it means to have cravings like that as i pretty much stayed away from benzos after i took one whole box in a few days. Im a person who does everything excessively what is a very bad thing when its about drugs. That alone and the lack of memory from during that time convinced me that im already fucked up too much when im sober so i never ever considered taking em again. So i really hope you can use this as a chance to sober up and get rid of the addiction as im sure that the life you live with a benzo addiction is nothing compared to the one you would have without it. Sure, you may probably feel better when you are on benzos but at the same time you miss out on so many things that its a bad deal your getting right now. Not sure if this is a help for you as you probably know that already but i just felt like writing something about it and telling you that i feel for you and wish you all the willpower you may need. bye Eg

 

*in tears* - too sweet Evil Genius, thank you

[gem]

Gem, I am sorry you have had such a bad experience with doctors and your medication.

For what it's worth, I strongly oppose the advice of those suggesting you suddenly stop such a high dose of benzos, this is not a good idea and can be very dangerous. *Please do not go 'cold turkey' from such a high dose of Xanax, it could be life threatening!* I am disappointed and surprised you were given this advice and would have thought some of those suggesting it would know better.

The best approach is to taper your dose very gradually, which I know is what you want to do. You can use other things to smooth the process if you feel you need to, but if you make the reduction gradual enough you shouldn't have many side effects, although the symptoms you were using the Xanax to treat may begin to reappear when you get to a low enough dose.

Good luck, I hope you are able to find a compassionate and wise doctor and support to help you through this. Please do keep us informed of your progress, and feel free to get on here to debrief whenever you need to. Although there is some bad advice on this thread, I know everyone means well and wants to do their best to support you.

*edit* If you haven't already, get in touch with your local community mental health team:

Gold Coast Mental Health & ATODS

www.health.qld.gov.au/goldcoasthealth/html/services/mhealth.asp

(07) 5519 7871

They should be able to help! Good luck, let us know how you go.

 

Aww chilli *hugs* - thank you

You pretty much summed up my situation in your post chilli, probably more succintly than I originally started the thread!

Definitely will let you know how I go - have two docs appointments tomorrrow - fingers crossed... I can't just *stop* 8mg/day of xanax over 12 years (thanks Centrestink call centre for needing the bloody anti-anxiety tabs in the first place bah). I've already titrated myself to 7mg without docs input etc... Hmm... bugger, is it just me or I'm typing nonsense? Anyway, I want to be in control of my medication. Have found some useful info on the www.benzo.org.uk FAQ's page, pretty sure it was that site where I read that 'patients' wanting to titrate their dose of medication are far more successful than those who aren't. Makes sense to me - tell me you are taking my anti-anxiety medication away from me and I am going to freak the hell out. I'd already dropped 1-2mg/day but to be cut off entirely after such a high dose for over a decade is a cruel thing to do.

[incognito]

Wow working for centrelink put me on antidepressants as well

[Bread Filter]

I worked for Centrelink for ages. Every work day was definitely exciting with all the chairs being thrown or broken over Manager's backs etc!

[gem]

I worked for Centrelink for ages. Every work day was definitely exciting with all the chairs being thrown or broken over Manager's backs etc!

 

I remember when you got the job and were so happy about it... I didn't realise you were in a CSC. I'd rather have been in the CSC than the call centre, that's for sure. Not the calls (I really enjoyed my job, helping people, calming down irate callers, looking for all solutions for a prob rather than send an actdoc to the CSC to action). I always ensured action if I could do it in mainframe, why not? Because if you *actually help someone, empathise with them if required and be able to paraphrase some complex social security legislation so that the person knew what they needed to do... bugger, I'm waffling again. Oh yeah, if you spend more than 3mins helping someone your call stats are shite.*

Probably not good that I haven't had *anything* today. Oh geez, tomorrow is going to be interesting. ARGH - why am I typing about Centrestink???!

FFS... I'm shaking my head at myself lol.

[Bread Filter]

I remember when you got the job and were so happy about it... I didn't realise you were in a CSC. I'd rather have been in the CSC than the call centre, that's for sure. Not the calls (I really enjoyed my job, helping people, calming down irate callers, looking for all solutions for a prob rather than send an actdoc to the CSC to action). I always ensured action if I could do it in mainframe, why not? Because if you *actually help someone, empathise with them if required and be able to paraphrase some complex social security legislation so that the person knew what they needed to do... bugger, I'm waffling again. Oh yeah, if you spend more than 3mins helping someone your call stats are shite.*

Probably not good that I haven't had *anything* today. Oh geez, tomorrow is going to be interesting. ARGH - why am I typing about Centrestink???!

FFS... I'm shaking my head at myself lol.

 

I am sorry but I don't know you. I think you have me confused with someone else.

I worked in a customer service centre on the front counter and in a call centre.

[gem]

Wow working for centrelink put me on antidepressants as well

 

Doh sorry incognito, I got confused between your post and Bread Filter's - never a dull day working for Centrelink...

I hope you are ok, hate anti-depressants - big wuss but honestly crying at the empathy and advice other SAB members have contributed - try putting that (topic thread xanax) as a Facebook status update and I would never have received as much helpful advice, support, leads, suggestions etc (brain is tired) as I have here.

[gem]

I am sorry but I don't know you. I think you have me confused with someone else.

I worked in a customer service centre on the front counter and in a call centre.

 

I'm sorry, my mistake. I saw incognito's post (and yours) and the whole centrelink thing and my brain dying...

My apologies Bread Filter, I got mixed up and replied to the wrong post. No harm meant.

[incognito]

I worked in a Csc as a social worker. Worst job I've ever had. Clients where fine other staff where a pack of the nastiest bitches one could loathe to work with

Edit- yo. FYI I never suggested gem to go cold turkey not for a SECOND. As gen suggested she was tapering down, my suggestion was to find a quality doc familiar with benzo withdrawals to assist her. Just wanted to make that clear. Withdrawal period at clinic I worked at was up to 12weeks b4 u would be cold turkey in a 6month rehab. It is a tough slog only 10% make it to the end, but i saw benzo dependants make it and break the cycle. It'd not an eternal condemnation.

I'm not just talking out of my rectum.

I just hope gem is well. She's a nice lady.

Edited September 17, 2012 by incognito

[incognito]

Oh yeah and I hope I can use the word once here as its totally applicable- centrelink- cunt of a job.

You have to have a heart as dense as concrete to last 10 yrs there. And I landed a job in a hick town the only guy on the team of 8 hardened public servants of 10-20 yrs.

They where so lovely to me at thesstart and actually vied for my approval in competition with each other. Brought me in little cakes and shit.

.... Then I had to learn that fuken

Mainframe from them. They would show me once real quick and if I asked them again just hated on me. Was so hard to learn from them, and that shit I has to get right on my side of the job. Anyways long story short they all hated my guts after 8 months and I lost my license in the work car in the middle of canberra lost as at some training course, which gave me

An excuse to quit I was that frazzled by these wrathful old bitches. I was actually and honestly scared of one. She used to make me shit my pants and the old bitch soooo got off on it.

Long story short we had no services to refer. These guys onto (homeless shelters, women's refuge, mental health team) so my job was mute

And I became a counsellor for all this heavy shit and I'd get blasted for spending to long with clients and these moles would

Make

My day hell, so I went fuk it, I can't drive to work anyways, next door neighbor hooked me up with a job at a grain merchant after I'd spent 2 months off on anti-d's. Thought if last a week, still there lovin it!

Bler centrelink

[gem]

I worked in a Csc as a social worker. Worst job I've ever had. Clients where fine other staff where a pack of the nastiest bitches one could loathe to work with

Edit- yo. FYI I never suggested gem to go cold turkey not for a SECOND. As gen suggested she was tapering down, my suggestion was to find a quality doc familiar with benzo withdrawals to assist her. Just wanted to make that clear. Withdrawal period at clinic I worked at was up to 12weeks b4 u would be cold turkey in a 6month rehab. It is a tough slog only 10% make it to the end, but i saw benzo dependants make it and break the cycle. It'd not an eternal condemnation.

I'm not just talking out of my rectum.

I just hope gem is well. She's a nice lady.

 

You're a sweetheart incognito

Oh yeah and I hope I can use the word once here as its totally applicable- centrelink- cunt of a job.

You have to have a heart as dense as concrete to last 10 yrs there. And I landed a job in a hick town the only guy on the team of 8 hardened public servants of 10-20 yrs.

They where so lovely to me at thesstart and actually vied for my approval in competition with each other. Brought me in little cakes and shit.

.... Then I had to learn that fuken

Mainframe from them. They would show me once real quick and if I asked them again just hated on me. Was so hard to learn from them, and that shit I has to get right on my side of the job. Anyways long story short they all hated my guts after 8 months and I lost my license in the work car in the middle of canberra lost as at some training course, which gave me

An excuse to quit I was that frazzled by these wrathful old bitches. I was actually and honestly scared of one. She used to make me shit my pants and the old bitch soooo got off on it.

Long story short we had no services to refer. These guys onto (homeless shelters, women's refuge, mental health team) so my job was mute

And I became a counsellor for all this heavy shit and I'd get blasted for spending to long with clients and these moles would

Make

My day hell, so I went fuk it, I can't drive to work anyways, next door neighbor hooked me up with a job at a grain merchant after I'd spent 2 months off on anti-d's. Thought if last a week, still there lovin it!

Bler centrelink

 

I didn't want to ''like'' your second post because yes, Centrestink sucks and I empathised with everything you said in your post. I can't believe I lasted five years in the call centre. Like you, loved helping customers but then got in trouble for longer call times... The problem for me was staff too... Primarily team leaders and the management. I could spew bile about centrelink all day

Oh and personally I can't think of a more apt word to use for Centrelink (cunts). It's the stupid social security leglislation you have to adhere to, not so much staff ... bah, there I go off again

gem

[gem]

Thanks to one of our forum members I got my prescription for xanax

I explained to the doctor that I has already been titrating the dose down by myself so he gave me my usual 8mg/day to take as required. Now I feel back in control of *my* medication and health and will be able to continue to titrate the xanax down (in conjunction with diazepam & epilim, altho still dodgy on that one).

Thank you to everyone who offered advice, suggestions and support. I love you guys

Shot at 2012-09-17

[Gollum]

Hey Gem, been following this thread and first off id like to wish you all the best with your medication management, sounds like you are on the right track.

Secondly, I can tell you about my experience with epilem(Sodium valproate). I was prescribed this last year in conjunction with Zoloft(Sertraline) Currently i take 400mg of epilim a day with 50mg Zoloft. I have lost count of the different mood stabilizers and anti depressants over the years but these two together work incredibly well for me. The Epilim has been a huge help. I was very up and down before taking this but now it keeps me at a more stable, instead of having high highs and low lows. I dont know if it is the combination of the two, all can say is that the Zoloft itself didnt do that much for me. Give it a chance and see how you go. I noticed a more improved frame of mind within the first 3-4 days of taking it. Realize though that we are all different, what works for me may not work for you. I just wanted to share my experience with you so you have something to go off. Good luck with it all. Stay positive.

[gem]

Hey Gem, been following this thread and first off id like to wish you all the best with your medication management, sounds like you are on the right track.

Secondly, I can tell you about my experience with epilem(Sodium valproate). I was prescribed this last year in conjunction with Zoloft(Sertraline) Currently i take 400mg of epilim a day with 50mg Zoloft. I have lost count of the different mood stabilizers and anti depressants over the years but these two together work incredibly well for me. The Epilim has been a huge help. I was very up and down before taking this but now it keeps me at a more stable, instead of having high highs and low lows. I dont know if it is the combination of the two, all can say is that the Zoloft itself didnt do that much for me. Give it a chance and see how you go. I noticed a more improved frame of mind within the first 3-4 days of taking it. Realize though that we are all different, what works for me may not work for you. I just wanted to share my experience with you so you have something to go off. Good luck with it all. Stay positive.

 

Hi Gollum

Thank you for your lovely post and letting me know about epilim/sodium valporate and anti-depressants. I too have been on countless anti-depressants (from tricyclics, MAOIS, SSRIs, SNRIs etc etc) without any noticeable positive effect. I was prescribed Lexapro at the same time I got my Epilim but didn't want the Lexapro. I'll continue on the Epilim but only one 500mg tablet. Just got my xanax sorted - don't want to trade waking up to panic attacks and hyperventilating (JHC *that* was scary, I thought I was dying, seriously) for seizures or fitting (from cessation of Epillim)... - that and BF said that the Epilim has made a ''huge'' difference (non-subtle way of saying I've been a difficult person to live with ) I think the combination of epilim, diazepam and self-medication spared me the severity of withdrawal horrors I usually experience, thank goodness.

I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me and your kind words. Thank you Gollum.

[CβL]

Didn't want to make a new thread, so I hope it's okay if I add my own benzo related story.

I just went to my doc to get prescribed modafinil, and he wouldn't have any of it. First he said he'd never heard of it (okay fine, then tell me that I'll have to come back when you know more), then he looked at the medsafe page (this one: http://www.medsafe.g...ecember2011.htm), and made up some rubbish about how "oh wow, I can see it's really dangerous" and said he couldn't prescribe it at all. Then he proceeded to say he could prescribe me anti-depressants or a hypnotic, and that was it. So I left with a script for some Temazepam, rather than getting nothing ($40 for a visit and another $2 for some pills - why not).

Really angry, that he would pretend he knew a medicine was dangerous after reading about it for 20 seconds (if not less), and then giving me a dangerous benzo without batting an eyelid. Whole profession is full of dangerous people who blatantly have many more, higher-priority motivations than what the patient needs.

I explained it clearly that falling asleep wasn't my problem, but staying focused was. Secondly, after reading about Temazepam wiki quotes: "but has the drawback of distorting the normal sleep pattern", Side effects typical of hypnotic benzodiazepines are related to CNS depression, and include somnolence, dizziness, fatigue, ataxia, headache, lethargy, impairment of memory and learning, longer reaction time and impairment of motor functions (including coordination problems), slurred speech, decreased physical performance, numbed emotions, reduced alertness, muscle weakness, blurred vision (in higher doses), and inattention.-

SO IT MAKES MY PROBLEM WORSE!!! FUCK YOU DOCTOR, FUCK YOU!

So anyway, I am looking into the racetams as I think it's my only legal option.

[qualia]

did you ask him how much he was being paid by drug companies to peddle their wares?

"doc i'm having trouble staying awake"

"here, have a tranquilizer"

ahh, gp's. where would we be without them .

[planthelper]

Didn't want to make a new thread, so I hope it's okay if I add my own benzo related story.

I just went to my doc to get prescribed modafinil, and he wouldn't have any of it. First he said he'd never heard of it (okay fine, then tell me that I'll have to come back when you know more), then he looked at the medsafe page (this one: http://www.medsafe.g...ecember2011.htm), and made up some rubbish about how "oh wow, I can see it's really dangerous" and said he couldn't prescribe it at all. Then he proceeded to say he could prescribe me anti-depressants or a hypnotic, and that was it. So I left with a script for some Temazepam, rather than getting nothing ($40 for a visit and another $2 for some pills - why not).

Really angry, that he would pretend he knew a medicine was dangerous after reading about it for 20 seconds (if not less), and then giving me a dangerous benzo without batting an eyelid. Whole profession is full of dangerous people who blatantly have many more, higher-priority motivations than what the patient needs.

I explained it clearly that falling asleep wasn't my problem, but staying focused was. Secondly, after reading about Temazepam wiki quotes: "but has the drawback of distorting the normal sleep pattern", Side effects typical of hypnotic benzodiazepines are related to CNS depression, and include somnolence, dizziness, fatigue, ataxia, headache, lethargy, impairment of memory and learning, longer reaction time and impairment of motor functions (including coordination problems), slurred speech, decreased physical performance, numbed emotions, reduced alertness, muscle weakness, blurred vision (in higher doses), and inattention.-

SO IT MAKES MY PROBLEM WORSE!!! FUCK YOU DOCTOR, FUCK YOU!

So anyway, I am looking into the racetams as I think it's my only legal option.

 

i'm sure sidetracking is ok, for gem.

man, i agree with what you say, in short i poured my temazepam pills down the sink after using them only a few times.

i had my own thread about it, and some people said, i'm full of crap saying benzos make you addicted to them even after taking only a few.

it always starts with psychological addiction first.

i than was given diazepam, for my panic attacks (always feels like i will die of a heart attack), but returned the almost full bottle to my doc.

i rather get afraid of dieing once in a while, than become a benzo addict.

i used to smoke pot for many years, but can stopp it at will and can even have it in the house and not touch it for years.

but those benzos i could not handle at all.

temazepam has a short halve life thats, why stupid doctors think it's safer.

i have trouble sleeping, but the temazepan, did not help, i still woke up two hours later fully awake and not being able to sleep again for a few hours.

all i would have got from it, is an addiction, without any benefits!!!

Edited September 19, 2012 by planthelper