benzo script times

[juliesculpt]

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juliesculpt
Female
Olympia - WA
Member since Apr 2009


, 3 minutes ago
I recently went to psychiatric nurse practicioner to consult regarding my anxiety and panic disorder.  For the past 11 years, I have dealt with it through various and changing regular general practitioners.  The regular docs have always prescribed 6mo-1years worth of prescriptions,(Klonopin, xanax, tranxene, effexor at different times)  I took only as needed but filled my scripts regularly. When my anxiety became unbearable on a daily basis, I decided to try daily therapy w/klonopin, rather than lean too heavily on prn xanax.  I have now been on klonopin 1.5 a day, .5 a.m., .5 p.m., .5 bedtime and it seems to be working fairly well. The psych practiconer agreed to this dose and even offered to increase the night time dose if I wanted it, but will only prescribe on month at a time...meaning I have to pay for an office visit every month to renew my script, which I can not afford, as I have no insurance and a limited income.  Is this typical practice?  Also, will the pharmacy only refill a 30 day script after a full 30 days? It makes me nervous, to say the least, to have to run my script down to nothing before going in to get a refill...it seems like there should be some leeway in case of emergency, etc...it doesn't seem wise to wait until the last minute to refill  a script that your body has become dependant on.I would prefer to have some emergency reserve in case it is unavailable for some reason.....but some would say that is just my anxiety talking?  Any thoughts?

[velvetvenus]

i wouldn't worry with what it looks like changing doctors, anyone with any sense knows it takes trial and error to find the right psych doc. you have to be persistant, i know finances are an issue, but do what you can. find a doc you can trust and who listens. if anyone asks you about changing doctors just tell them you are trying to find the best one for your mental health, and it's none of their business anyway unless its an insurance company or something. it's not really even another doctors business unless you just want them to know you're not drug seeking, that would be their only concern. doesn't sound like you are so don't worry with what other people think so much. they are just trying to cover their butts or being nosy so just make a judgement call on which they are doing. you have to be persistant to get the right help but i know how the financial burden is and just do what you can. good luck, velvet

[juliesculpt]

Thanks for the helpful thoughts, all.  i do understand about the pharmacy regulations, but still find it a bit disconcerting, as I have learned in disaster preparedness, to keep at least a months stock of all necessary prescription meds..I don't think this is purely paranoia, but I also understand the need for regulations.  It does seem odd to me that the ssri and snris are not treated the same way, as they certainly cause dependency as well,and come with a host a side effects, but seems soooo much easier to get and less stigmatized.  The monthly visit requirement particularly bothers me because the only thing she has had to say to me in the last 2 office visits is that I should add lexapro because she has free samples. She had never even heard of tranxene/chlorazepate when I asked her about it. I know she can't know everything, but she just didn't seem particularly knowledgable about anti-anxiety meds(which is why I went to psych person) I have told her that I do not want to mess with the ssri side effects again, but this is still her mantra, she says lexapro is "clean". She has no problem renewing the klonopin, just wants to add something else I don't need or want, and i have to pay for this conversation everytime. Problem is, everytime you switch docs, you pay the hefty initial visit fee and who knows if they are any better?   Anyway, just ranting now, i guess. I think I will find a gen.practitioner to go through from now on. Does it look badif you keep switching docs?

[velvetvenus]

i see my psychiatrist every 3 months and he gives me just enough for a 3 month supply. i think it's outragous to make you come in every month! especially without insurance, you need to tell your doc you cant afford it and to give you 2 refills at least to get you through 3 months at a time. or find a new doctor. the pharmacy thing is general practice though, my pharmacy, wal-mart will ususally fill all my pain meds, muscle relaxers, and xanax a day early but that's it. they have rules and regulations they have to go by to not get in trouble. my family doc gives me the xanax and pain meds and gives me 4 or 5 refills and i have insurance so that's not an unreasonable request! if you need a friend just send me an invite, i'd be glad to talk to see if i have anything that can help. velvetvenus

[Krisiness]

My pdoc sometimes faxes  the prescriptions directly to the pharmacy, if it's just a matter of a med change and a visit isn't needed.