Story My psychiatrist Refuses to Prescribe me Benzos

[Spectre]

I have been dealing with chronic stomach pain since the start of November and the zopiclone pills, my doctor prescribed for insomnia, seem to be the only thing that's helping with that. When I told her that she got upset saying that I was not using them according to the directions. She refused to prescribe me with Benzos and said that I am a drug abuse and addiction risk. Is this fair?

 

[jbear824]

Why do you need her to prescribe them if you're doctor is already doing that? Did your doctor refuse to continue prescribing them?

Psychiatrists are more strict with benzos nowadays because of how addictive and habit forming they can become. There is a lot of reluctance to prescribe them (at least in the US) in part because of the opioid crisis. When they started to crack down on those, they also started cracking down on benzos as well. There is a lot more hesitation now as for a long time they were being over prescribed. and people suffered for it. There is also the fact that benzos are a popular class of drugs for suicide, leading to even more apprehension from providers.

P.s. if you know you can handle them without danger of becoming addicted and she still refuses, it might be time to find a psychiatrist who will actually work with you and not just decide all your meds for you.

 

[Spectre]

I wanted them prescribed to help with my severe anxiety. I was hoping it could help me feel less stressed. She was not already prescribing them she insists that fluoxetine is a better option.

 

[DoubleUp8]

Of course it's not fair. The whole concept of anyone being able to deny anyone else any drug, substance, liquor or anything of the sort is morally bankrupt. Everyone should have absolute right over what they put or don't put into their own bodies.

 

[jbear824]

I wanted them prescribed to help with my severe anxiety. I was hoping it could help me feel less stressed. She was not already prescribing them she insists that fluoxetine is a better option.

Yes, but you said your doctor already prescribed them once for insomnia right? Or am I misinterpreting what you said in your first post? Will that same doctor keep prescribing them to you, regardless of your psychiatrist? Or is that not an option either?

I know this is very frustrating. I've had the same issues before.

 

[DreamEnd]

Dude idk what your situation is or how badly you need them but. Try to stay away from them if possible. Almost anything else is better than Benzos. Once you are on them you will feel good for a while but then the effect will diminish and you will need higher and higher doses. It will be borderline difficult to get off them without major side effects. Be careful

Edit: also idk what the deal is with stomach pain but I'm not sure how psychiatrists are qualified to deal with that. Maybe some other specialist will do ?

 

[jbear824]

Dude idk what your situation is or how badly you need them but. Try to stay away from them if possible. Almost anything else is better than Benzos. Once you are on them you will feel good for a while but then the effect will diminish and you will need higher and higher doses. It will be borderline difficult to get off them without major side effects. Be careful

Edit: also idk what the deal is with stomach pain but I'm not sure how psychiatrists are qualified to deal with that. Maybe some other specialist will do ?

This is also a very good point. That is the pit fall of benzos. The effects are very short lived and often your body will become tolerant to the dose, which requires upping, which then increases the chances of addiction and dependence. I know. I was addicted to Ativan for years.

Have you tried the fluoxetine before?

 

[february in alaska]

Good lord. I think it's perfectly understandable to warn the risks of addiction but psychiatrists always feel so subjective with whether they prescribe something or not. I hate the game we're forced to play when we want to try a new medication or know what we need, where we have to dance around the subject and not be too obvious or sound too eager.

All it does is force people to get better at lying or find off market drugs that could be cut with something else and far more dangerous. Anyway. Sorry about your situation. I hope you find something that works out

 

[Spectre]

Yes, but you said your doctor already prescribed them once for insomnia right? Or am I misinterpreting what you said in your first post? Will that same doctor keep prescribing them to you, regardless of your psychiatrist? Or is that not an option either?

I know this is very frustrating. I've had the same issues before.

My first post was worded badly. Zopiclone is a non-benzo sleeping drug that is sedating but is very easy to get acclimated too. I was hoping that a benzo like Xanax may help reduce my anxiety and if my stomach pain is related to anxiety if it can help treat that as well.

 

[Ash’Girl]

It's not generally the individual practitioner but the medicines governing bodies. All prescribers have to follow prescribing pathways and cover themselves and general practice these days is that benzos, and even sleeping pills, are considered last resort or something to be prescribed short term only. They could lose their license if something goes wrong and they are investigated, so I understand their hesitation.

 

[Spectre]

This is also a very good point. That is the pit fall of benzos. The effects are very short lived and often your body will become tolerant to the dose, which requires upping, which then increases the chances of addiction and dependence. I know. I was addicted to Ativan for years.

Have you tried the fluoxetine before?

No this is my first time on prozac though I have taken similar SSRI's before. I'm not expecting much

 

[jbear824]

No this is my first time on prozac though I have taken similar SSRI's before. I'm not expecting much

I won't lie, it may not work. At that point it's all up to body chemistry and how that reacts with the medication. Meds can be an incredibly frustrating, and sometimes very disheartening trial and error. It's taken me 27 years to find a combination of meds that actually does something for me. Not saying it will take that long for you tho.

I hope the fluoxetine helps. If it doesn't and your psychiatrist just won't let you have a say over your treatment, then imo, it's time to move into someone else. I've had to do that multiple times.

Like we're the ones one the meds ffs. I think we know what helps us and what doesn't. Shit.

 

[IWishToDie]

I have been dealing with chronic stomach pain since the start of November and the zopiclone pills, my doctor prescribed for insomnia, seem to be the only thing that's helping with that. When I told her that she got upset saying that I was not using them according to the directions. She refused to prescribe me with Benzos and said that I am a drug abuse and addiction risk. Is this fair?

You're going to have to start doctor shopping if you really need/want them. Personally, not sure if it would work for you but HHC/DELTA-8 is rather easy to acquire. Best of luck.