Benzodiazepine Use The Next Addiction Disaster ? Are You Kidding ?

[TriggerPoint]

I've Been On & Off These Kinda Meds For 30 or/ More Years. I Nave "NEVER" Felt The Need To Crave More & More ? A Benzodiazepine Is A Great Working Medication. As Needed Means IT'S A CLUTCH DRUG. "NOT" A Primary Anxiety Base Drug. That Is Your SSRI's.

Now I REALIZE People Are All Different.... But A "Benzodiazepine" Is Like A Emergency Inhaler For A Asthma Patient....It's For ATTACKS Not GAD. I Realize They ARE VERY ADDICTIVE. And Like I Said We ARE NOT All Alike. But In My Personal Anxiety Experience [ with me that is ], I Have Always Viewed It As A "Clutch Drug" For Attacks & To Be Honest ? That Is What It Is or/ It Wouldn't Say "As Needed". ANYBODY With Common Sense KNOWS "As Needed" DOES NOT MEAN Goody ! Popcorn ! When It Comes To ANY Type Of Drug.

I Hate Seeing A Effective Med Get Such A Bad Rap.

If The Medication Is Used As Directed ? How Does "IT" Become The Problem.

Peoples CHOICE To Abuse Them Is The Problem.

That's Just Me. What Do You Think ?

[ read an article on "the new scare" ]

[TriggerPoint]

Agreed,,,,

[Agora1]

Hi TriggerPoint, My view point on Benzos is basically the same as yours in that

the 30 years I was on it, I never once abused it. I was on 1/2 of 0.25mg once a day.

At that time, it wasn't as needed but a daily dose. I think because I didn't abuse

it, I was able to have it work for me until one day, all the symptoms broke through.

I was then put on a different benzo which couldn't come close to Xanax and so

I asked to be weaned from all benzos. My choice. I've done very well in the last

several years not having any benzos but using meditation and deep breathing.

If I had the choice in going back 30 some years ago, I would still take a benzo.

It helped me so much through those difficult beginning years. There is a time

and a place for medication. xx

[Red50]

Hi I totally agree with Triggerpoint, I have been on it many years without being addicted. I used to 2mg every day because of anxiety and depression, but over the years I’ve not took it for weeks without any withdrawal symptoms. It All depends on everyone , how they handle it differently, it’s been a lifesaver for me cos I know if the need arises I can take it. All the best 🤗

[njfitnessmom12]

I was told to take daily, that was about 10 years ago. I don't "crave" it but I cannot get off of it. So yes, they are good drugs if taken occasionally but too many doctors don't share the risk and keep people on for years and years, which is why this is so problematic. Plus they don't know how to wean effectively. I tried for 3 years to get off of 1 mg of Klonopin and the best I could do was to get down and stay at .75. It is very depressing to find myself in this situation. But trying to reduce further left me physically and emotionally in a horrific place.

[Hidden]

I got into a terrible mess with Temazepam. Drs prescribed them to me like they were sweeties and I had a bad addiction to them. Just as well at the time I had a supportive partner and my dad around. Plus I was very young when they started prescribing. Now I stick to the prescribed dose of Diazepam that I'm allowed.

[TriggerPoint in reply to Hidden]

Doctors Wrote Millions & Millions Of Prescriptions To Women Over Years For Them For Menopause...They'd Say "Take This & You'll Be Fine." THAT Is Where The Real Problem Started For Addictions....Heck, They Wrote My Mom Prescriptions For Xanax For Skin Rashes She Had ! [?]...& I Hear They Still Do... [ I Must Admit. I Don't Know Why But They Got Rid Of The Bad Rashes She Had...Go Figure ? ]

[Jeff1943]

Triggerpoint, that's a brilliant post on benzos which have been unfairly demonised because some people abuse them and take them continuously for too long. I blame their doctors who must have realised they were writing far too many scripts for them.

Triggerpoint, I agree with every word you've written. Benzos are to be used occasionally for when you really need to feel normal, or continuously for no more than a month max.

They are the wonder drug for people with anxiety, you take one or even half of one (say half a 5mg valium) and within 2 minutes you feel normal and ready to face the world.

Mahatma Ghandi used valium in natural form (rawawulfa root) every morning and he was a saint.

Back in the 1970s when doctors handed them out like Smarties I took them every day for a year (they never lost effectiveness at all over that period) but had bad withdrawal symptoms when I decided to come off them so took 3 months tapering off them. So yes they are physically addictive and for some people psychologically addictive too.

They allowed me to function normally as a family breadwinner during difficult times, I couldn't have got through without them.

They are not anti depressives though, they are strictly for anxiety.

Here in the u.k. we have only diazepam/valium as xanax is not available on NHS prescription only private.

Thank you again Triggerpoint for flying the flag for this highly effective med that many doctors and therapists are unnecessarily scared to prescribe.

[Strongest123]

I’ve been using Xanax for almost 25 years. I think it’s a great medication, if used responsibly. This drug gets a negative rap due to all the irresponsible people that use it to get high and mix it with alcohol. And it’s a shame that this happens cause it makes it harder for those that need it to be able to get it. SAMSON

[Uncle_Frank]

Benzos are definitely effective in calming anxiety but they do have down sides on prolonged use. Not sure SSRIs are any less problematic.

[TriggerPoint in reply to Uncle_Frank]

Benzodiazepines Have Been "Rumored" To Cause Dementia Over Time. However You'll Find That Unproven & Many Articles Saying There Is No Connection. They Found That Many Patients That Developed Dementia Already Had The Onsets Of It "Before" Taking Any Benzodiazepines. There Was No Connection. They Suggested NOT Prescribing Benzodiazepines To Anyone With Dementia & Alzheimers Because They CAN Make Those Situations Worse...

[guynfl2chat]

I have stated this many times on this site. Xanax is fine if you take it as needed. I dont take it everyday, but I am so glad that I have it. My "new" doctor asked me alot of questions about my xanax usage. I just started with her and she was ok with the way I am using it. I was prescribed it for terrible anxiety about 4 years ago. There are sometimes I take it for a few days and then I can go months without it. I am NOT addicted.

[Red50]

Hi TriggerPoint, WELL said, I also feel exactly the same as you on this subject.Great explanation! Love Kalsoom 🤗

[Dolphin14]

There is a difference between dependency and abuse.