I have the same situation with my doctor. He follows govrernment regulations.
I understand GOVERNMENT regulations....but what about patients who only HAVE one doctor and only takes one medication, who over the 11 years have had to switch doctors only 3 times due to insurance changes and the doctor not participating in that insurance.
I have letters from BOTH doctors prior to the one I have now, that was in my file letting them know I NEVER called in my script early, lied about "they were in my Jeans and I washed them"...No BS just been a patient with my Xanax's never causing any problems.
I am so sick of the BAD patients making it hard of the ones that have been exeplemtary patients...
I did not ask these past doctors to write these, my current doctor told me they were IN MY FILE....
Why can't the one like me get a "free pass"??? be left alone....now I have to call in my script EACH month to a doctors office that is over booked and understaffed...and its in a very up scaled area...I began going to her due to the fact If I had a sinus infection or an emergency I could be seen...TODAY I called due to the past 2 weeks of mild depression, crying, feeling blue, and guess what I cant get in until MARCH 15th???? FOR DEPRESSION symptoms???
just pitiful...
OK Im done.....cuz there is nothing for little ol me to do but RANT which gets me KNOW WHERE!!!! just more pi$$ED off
I had the same issue at the beginning of the year..very frustrating!!uhg
The Dr.'s have to do that - they're protecting you even if it doesn't feel like that, they are. Addiction issues are tricky - just because you've been taking them for years doesn't mean they aren't supposed to be careful. Too many people are dying from this drug. How are you doing with your tapering? I know you've wanted to get off all the drugs - this might be a good thing and maybe the Dr. can start to wean you off the benzo's too? I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that taking methadone and benzos is a deadly combination. Please be careful okay?
Thank you for replying to my post and asking about my taper & how I'm doing ...means allot!!
Yes I am at 17 mg's now until Tuesday I will taper down to 15mg's...and yes I am having a few issues that come alone with Tapering off methadone but nothing that is SO bad that I feel will cause me to Stop the taper...or cause me to fail...I am IN THIS FOR TILL the end...NO more excuses this is the REAL DEAL now and my faith & Gnarly's advice, prayers, are my guide to being free.....
I just feel I have to give you and whom ever else may read this some insight on the Xanax's I've taken for 11 years---My Story---
True, I have been taking Xanax's for 11 years all due to my severe panic /anxiety I suffered with for some time ...countless doctors using me like a cadaver, an experiment for them to just rape my insurance, NEVER listened to WHAT I was telling them such as my symptoms, having to take my husband in with me to have him provide the doctor with stories of FIRST hand he has had to watch me endure , the shaking, Exclusion of my family & friends, the inability to drive, carry on a conversation-Take my THEN 4 year old to a park for that matter ....that is just "Some" of the symptoms I experienced for a good 18 months...all day- everyday..., and if it hadn't have been for the Psychiatrist for actually taking the time to hear me look over my records and he was just sickened by the number of "antidepressants they gave me which I never needed...
He knew I did not have depression ( at least NOT then) but I was becoming depressed due to feeling like I was all alone ( thank God for this wonderful forum-+as this was 1999-to 2001) No one cared doctor wise that is...
When he prescribed Xanax he told me of everything about the drug..good and BAD ...
I'm only giving you an insight on my past ...so you know what I went thru and how I will be forever grateful that this doctor finally helped me.
its no different than the pain meds....they're prescribed, some people need to take them allot longer, others, like myself only needed to be on them for a short time But the unfortunate abuse of this drug has caused countless deaths ( a dear friend of my sisters was just found dead Friday night she had abused Oxycontins and Valiums for many years and was an alcoholic) and over run Treatment clinics due to SOME people wanting to change and become clean & sober....
But just like so many drugs people use it and HAVE used it to get HIGH, mixing it with pain meds....But for Some reason when I used pain meds & the amount of pain meds I took ...I would only take 1 or 2 of my xanax's day becuz the sick addict that I AM was too afraid of taking anything that would cause my HIGH I was on from my pain meds...
so My SICK thought process was "oh Kim, don't you dare take the xanax or at least not what you're prescribed to take just take less as I can not loose this feeling I have I just took 20+ percs, all my Roxy's and Oxy's" Cant waste that HIGH....all the cash I spent....
Now that I'm in a methadone treatment clinic- on the dose I'm at, speaking with my own doctor about "mixing the two" all my OWN research as well, I am NOT in any danger....
There are so many that take Xanax's or "THE BARS" to get a feeling of being high along with methadone milligrams of 100 or more...And YES they are playing Russian Roulette every single day.... I NO longer wish to play that game and haven't for over 305+ days now.....
So yes taking benzo's and meth even Suboxone Can be deadly IF the addict is taking MORE than prescribed or mixing it with Alcohol---IF the Addict does not want to gain controll back of their lives??? I want that ....So I will not take more than prescribed nor mix it with alcohol ( last alcoholic drink I had was in 2008)
I get upset "NOW" when I hear of a death whether it be a person in the spot light or just someone like me...an addict. My sister called me just last night to inform me of an employee of her husbands wife fell asleep and didn't wake up...she mixed her usual cocktail of Oxycontins, Valiums, Imitrex & Jack on the rocks.....Another one Gone
I know you weren't expecting a BOOK but I have always felt I have to give people a mental picture of the H3LL I've been thru in the past....Where I've been with Doctors But mostly WHERE I am NOW.....
I have not Now Nor have I ever abused xanax's. I have never like many Past friends that LOVED to take more than 1 and go out drinking....I have NEVER even done that because 1 single glass of wine with dinner and I feel the effects and I don't like it.?? Go figure , an Addict NOT liking the Buzz you get from mixing them with alcohol??
But for what ever reason, maybe those 18+ months I suffered with Anxiety/ Severe Panic attacks I realized xanax "TO ME" is like any person who suffers with any type of condition that requires daily medication.I will continue taking it as prescribed I will continue to work on my mental state of mind every day as I know the work doesn't stop once I take my last dose of methadone....I know the POWERS of Xanax and what can happen if abused....I KNOW I want my life to be one that can live on Xanax's as PRESCRIBED ...continue with my Yoga, Educating myself on what I can do to remain a free of pain meds never ever think for a second I'm "OK"....I am and will always be An addict ...just one that knows she will never play with her life the way I did in the past.
Again Sorry for the NOVEL but...maybe someone will gain something from my story???
Kim
I have almost the same thing going on now with my Xanax and having to go to the doctor once a month. This is crazy. I'm on disability for my severe anxiety disorder and have been on Xanax for 20+ years. Now this once a month visiting the doctor thing has just added more anxiety to my plate. I feel this is a total discrimination for a person diagnosed with anxiety, which is a mental disorder, so people with mental disorders are being discriminated against.
Vickie
I feel your pain. I have been on 90 Xanax a month for 26 years. The only time I changed psychiatrists was if they retired or moved. I had also been on methadone for a back issue. Due to "state laws" which hopefully someone can clarify for me for the states of KY and OH, doctors may lose their liceses if they prescribe narcotic pain meds and benzos together. Even though I was on these 2 medications together for over 10 years and never abused them and was never in medical danger. I had to choose which drug I felt I needed the most. I feel that is an invasion of my personal rights. Since I've been on Xanax 4 over 26 yrs and suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, I felt I needed my Xanax more so I went through PURE HELL detoxing off of methadone. Now, my psychiatrist has dropped me to 2 .5 mgs a day. I feel he may even be trying to taper me all of the way off. If I find that to be true, I do not know what I will do. I feel your pain my friend. I'm trying to find out the actual state laws and if these laws are only for Xanax or all benzos. I know so many people who's doctors have been tapering them of Xanax, and thought it was because they were also prescribed pain meds but my friends dr told him that they are trying to stop prescribing Xanax all together because there have been recent deaths by people who take them at night and do not wake up. Obviously, these people are abusing their meds, or are on too high of a dose, or are mixing them with another drug or alcohol. ANY DRUG has the potential to be fatal if misused. To those of you who share my concern, please post a comment.
I liked your comments. I had a doctor for 15 years that totally trusted me not having any reason not too. Panic Disorder with Agorophobia, PTSD, ADHD and chronic pain from 5 congenital spinal deformities. I was on Xanax about 1.5 mg per day as needed. I took as little as possible making a 30 day supply last for 40 days.
Once that was under control I started a small business that required ADD meds. I started with 10 mg to see and increased to 30 where I stayed. i declined pain meds due to side effects and my work (electronics repair, vintage collectables--tube radios, etc) kept me moving and busy which helped with the pain due to light, variable activity. I took Vicodin for kidney stones, a tooth repair and during a flight to Kauai'. 12 hours in a seat would be intolerable.
This worked for 15 years until she retired. New doctor, same company: "Why do you need all these pills?" Why was your doctor giving you Naproxin when you can buy it? All accusatory. I had no ice that Naproxin was the same as alive or whatever and after I explained all as well as the success of my business which is constantly growing and I am now selling paintings that I make and junk sculptures made from recycled electronic and mechanical parts. I sell these in my shop.
She seemed to do a little about face after I explained my situation until one time when they messed up the benzo script requiring me to go back early. She asked "why are you back early? Are you taking more because your dad is sick?' (kidney removal) I said I came back because they failed to write the benzo scripts on my last visit. Easy to check obviously but it seems like she did not. She simply wrote more scripts saying very pointedly looking at me sternly "I do not want this to happen again!" I was thinking, yeah, me neither you incompetent b but I bit my tongue because I realized she had stereotyped me because of her mistake and chose not to apologize but to pretend that it was my mistake. Crazy! shortly after that she started trying to push Effexor on me telling me that the benzos would stop working soon after 15 years without Effexor to help them along!?!? I told her my dad has been on them since 1965 and they have continued to work. Her reply: "You are not your father". New doctor time.
People die in their sleep who don't take anything at all. Going without sleep, trying to sleep with chronic pain, these things can lead to diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and immune system issues to name a few. Is that OK? To me, NO...not when there is something out there to help them.
I get three refills but not on Xanax but on kolonipin. But I went to the doctor and was told a new story. I have been on every pain med known to man because I fell 30ft off a building and then 4 years later I was in a near death car accident. I was so tempted to abuse my pain meds to try and kill the pain but never did so I got a dr to prescribe methadone to manage my pain. Never abused the methadone or the kolonipin and 2 days ago I went to the dr and he told me a law had been passed that if you are on methadone that you can't be prescribed any benzodiazepines and any other pain meds because so many people have been passing away. I have been looking trying to find this law. I was getting 120 kolonipin a month and in March of 2015 they cut me to 60 a month and 2 days ago they cut me from 60 1mg to 30 .5mg a month in order to take me off completely. I have terrible anxiety issues. If I had not had them about a month ago when I was having 3 implants put in then I would have jumped up out of the chair and told him no way. But about 15 minutes of taking 1mg of my kolonipin I was just fine. I go to groups to help me with my anxiety and it helps in some occasions but when it's really bad it's only the medication that helps. Don't get me wrong I do not take them every day but when my exercises that I learned in group do not work I can take 1mg of kolonipin and about 15-30 minutes later it gets me on a level plain. I am not saying that I need them every day but I would hate to think that if I did need it that I would not have it because of all these people that abuse them for fun and make it hard on us people that need it. The doctor also told me that it leads to premature altimers disease and I feel that it should be up to the patient whether or not they are willing to take that chance.
I don't use xanax, but I do take Klonopin, so it is still a Benzo. They changed mine a long time ago so I could only get it one month at a time. Now today I went, and found out they can only give me enough for one per day- I use them "as needed" for anxiety and for restless leg syndrome. One .5 mg tablet isn't going to do that. I turned down these other long term medications like antidepressants and stuff because I've been on them before, then the nurse practitioner seemed upset with me because I didn't want long term medication with definite side effects, but instead wanted something "addictive." I just felt like she was drawing some really conclusions about me, and I felt offended. I am in Indiana, and they have gotten really strict here on anything considered a controlled substance. I understand the issue with opiates, but this isn't an opiate. I know technically it is addictive, but not at the low doses that I take.
YES. At last prmary care visit a few days ago, to renew my Alprazolam RX, I was presented with a 3 page form to initial and sign, along with the doctor. ALSO with this new state "law" we benzo prescribers can be called without notice, to come in for a urine test and bring our bottle of pills so they can count how many are in it!!!! Can you IMAGINE?? I was highly offended. Happily, though, I am on my last tail of weaning off them. I always took a very low dose. AND they wanted a urine sample before I left, which I could not provide because I peed before I got to doctor's. I could not pee and was told to come in the next day to pee and until them could not get my RX filled. However the pharmacy called and said my RX was ready. So? I am not picking it up. Hoping I can finish my wean off plan over the next couple weeks. Good luck everyone with this new state requirement. Even my doctor seemed uncomfortable with it. But they are required to do this now.
I spent about 45 minutes answering your fine question. Unfortunately, they claimed an error had occurred. I will Edit - Gabapentin gave me a jerky movement disorder in 2008, 2 consecutive doses, I yelled, “My life is screwed!” It even got worse when it destroyed my facial expressions.
My understanding PCP, allows me 3, 0.5 mg, of Alprazolam per day. It can’t stop nerve vibrations, but it will stop an uncontrollable laughing or crying spell.
Hopefully no one will take it away from me.
My Brain MRI results show a round non-enhanceable lesion in my hypothalamic gland. “Must of been born with it.” Too bad I found proof, that I would have been a very short person, instead of my 5’8 height. They had decided to not validate me, so Supratentorial, crazy, nuts follows me around like the plague that never ends.
I just moved to a new state, and have been on benzodiazepines for years (50 years, to be exact), one (diazepam aka Valium, for 50 years for my muscle control [spasms] ) and the other for 20 years (lorazepam aka Ativan for anxiety [low dose, 0.5 mg.]). And when I changed Drs. back home, (WA state,) they were ALWAYS very accommodating when it came to my scripts, none of them wanting to be the one who took me off my meds that have worked for me for SO LONG. I never abused either benzo, never sold them, nothing. Now that I'm in a new state, and having to get a new Dr., she said she "doesn't fill ANY benzodiazepines, that I'd either have to see a psychiatrist or a neurologist. (I do have a disability that affect my motor control and speech, a lot like Cerebral Palsy, hence the diazepam). I had lived in TN for a short period and the neurologist changed me from my diazepam to klonipin and that just put me to sleep. I had to cut the dose in half myself, but it still did nothing for my muscle control. So this time I chose a psychiatrist, since it was a psychiatrist that put me on the lorazepam. She said she could fill my scripts ONCE, but she wants me to see her associate for his opinion. I don't have that appointment until later this month. So we'll see what the associate has to say..... So it's NOT just Xanax that's being targeted. I can't help but wonder if this is a " Red state" thing. Btw, WA state is "Blue".