I agree that doc's remark was stupid! I also take Klonopin at night to help me sleep. For some reason (well, I know the reasons--too numerous to mention) I have intense anxiety that makes itself known w/chest pains, difficulty breathing, etc. Hard to go to sleep w/that! If a doc prescribes the medication & keeps a close, open relationship w/his patient then what's the deal? If you start having side effects or abusing a medication, he will know it.

If you go out & buy stuff on the black market--well, you could do that regardless of if he writes a script or not. Same w/alcohol--most people who abuse alcohol (I would wager) don't admit it up front to their doc unless they feel very comfortable w/that doc & doesn't feel like he/she will be slammed for being "weak" or whatever for becoming dependent on it. And it is true--not everyone becomes addicted. I've not had a problem abusing Klonopin as it makes me sleepy & I don't want to feel sleepy unless I'm trying to go to sleep.

I recently had surgery for acute hand pain (& need to have the other hand done). I had signed all these releases for my pdoc to talk to the surgeon & anesthesiologist as I have had trouble previously w/the anesthesia not working during a procedure that involved cutting me & I don't want that to happen again!

When I got my stitches out a few weeks ago the surgeon (I had told him about my mental health issues), he told me I was taking too many medications & made me feel like a "drug addict." Well, I had been in acute pain for over a year & not sleeping well & having bipolar 1 I was in a "fragile" state so when he said that I just quit taking ALL my medications without telling any docs (even blood pressure & thyroid medication). He had shamed me & I don't do well w/shame.

Well, needless to say that was not a good thing to do. I am so angry at that surgeon! If he had concerns he should have talked to my pdoc! Not bring it up to me while he's taking out my stitches. I felt like he was blaming me for having to take meds; I was weak & should just try harder to not have bipolar symptoms (& anxiety).