[xxKaneLovesZoexx]

Hey all,

I am suffering from manic depression which has been running strongly in my family for about 3 generations. I have phases of troublesome and dangerous tendencies, which consist of fighting with people whether it is psyically or verbally, trying to jump out of moving cars, sticking my head out of car windows, jerking the steering wheel and honking the horn (Im not even driving..) So as these episodes would present themselves I'd be taken to the local E.R and would be given a shot of lorazepam. However, now It is highlighted on my record that ABSOLUTELY NO benzos are allowed.

My dad suicided when I was 7, on drugs and medications, and I don't know it is that, or something else. I am also worried my doctors are talking about me, and thinking im not ill.

[CopperStar]

From what I've read and also seen others comment on from personal experiences, is that benzos are not very good for bipolar disorder. So you can wind up with an addiction problem, and where the medication isn't really even helping.

My primary physician once phrased it to me (not verbatim, probably, since it's been years, but to the point), "We don't think people want to be addicts, we just know the power of that drug (Xanax, in that conversation) and know that desperate people are vulnerable."

She never doubted that something was amiss with my mind, in fact she was usually pressuring me to see an official psychiatrist. She was trying to protect me.

[xxKaneLovesZoexx]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

From what I've read and also seen others comment on from personal experiences, is that benzos are not very good for bipolar disorder. So you can wind up with an addiction problem, and where the medication isn't really even helping.

My primary physician once phrased it to me (not verbatim, probably, since it's been years, but to the point), "We don't think people want to be addicts, we just know the power of that drug (Xanax, in that conversation) and know that desperate people are vulnerable."

She never doubted that something was amiss with my mind, in fact she was usually pressuring me to see an official psychiatrist. She was trying to protect me.

I have since been put on Queitipine and sertaline, and also been to see a Psychiatrist who is refusing to see me again.

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by xxKaneLovesZoexx

I have since been put on Queitipine and sertaline, and also been to see a Psychiatrist who is refusing to see me again.

Do you have a history of non-compliance, or is there some other reason they refuse to see you? I think sometimes it's best to start fresh with a new pdoc if you get off to a bad start with a current one. My first pdoc was years ago, and I strongly disliked him from the first session, didn't even trust him enough to take the prescription he gave me. I just dumped him after the first session, because I knew it would just wind up being a very frustrating, dragged-out experience of me not complying and him being a d-bag. My current pdoc is pretty great. So might be worth switching if you can, get a fresh start.

[xxKaneLovesZoexx]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Do you have a history of non-compliance, or is there some other reason they refuse to see you? I think sometimes it's best to start fresh with a new pdoc if you get off to a bad start with a current one. My first pdoc was years ago, and I strongly disliked him from the first session, didn't even trust him enough to take the prescription he gave me. I just dumped him after the first session, because I knew it would just wind up being a very frustrating, dragged-out experience of me not complying and him being a d-bag. My current pdoc is pretty great. So might be worth switching if you can, get a fresh start.

The consultant psychiatrist felt like he was in danger as I was manic and non-compliant. I am seeing a mental health nurse every week but haven't seen her since my last visit. (I was so doped up I just couldn't function or respond.)

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by xxKaneLovesZoexx

The consultant psychiatrist felt like he was in danger as I was manic and non-compliant. I am seeing a mental health nurse every week but haven't seen her since my last visit. (I was so doped up I just couldn't function or respond.)

Yeah I would recommend just starting fresh with a new pdoc, for sure.

In my limited experience, my understanding is that most doctors won't prescribe benzos if there is an addiction history or drug use history.

I have been taking benzos since I began psychiatric treatment in 2006 which was when Bipolar disorder reared its ugly head along with OCD, GAD, and Panic disorder. My benzos are prescribed to me for panic attacks and to keep anxiety at a reasonable level. 1 mg every six hours of Xanax.

I didn't ask for benzos...my pdoc likes to hear my symptoms and how I'm doing and focuses less on labels, he says that my mental illness(es) need to be treated by monitoring the symptoms and treatment/management through meds, therapy, self-care, etc. (That's just as to me as he testified in my divorce that I will need bipolar medications for the rest of my life. I'm not saying everyone that has bipolar disorder requires meds.)

He does remind me of addiction potential and memory side effects, etc. and occasionally we discuss decreasing my dosage - we haven't increased it in four years.

That's my experience. I hope that helps. I hope that didn't come across too rambling, my post. My brain may be going "wheeee"! lol xo

[violet66]

I have been banned from benzos. I have a history of alcoholism though.

[Disorder7]

You sound so much like me when I'm manic....

Oddly enough my pdoc wants me to take 1.5 mg of xanax per day. I'm the one that tries to get by on just .5 mg.

I would love to be med free, but I'm way too violent for that right now.

[Ripose]

I was an alcoholic and part-time drug user but I was given Ativan right from the start in detox. I am still on it 18years later, now taking 7 mg.

[Christopher1990]

7mg a day? Wow.

When I was growing up as a kid my first pdcoc wouldn't prescribe them for me. Then when I got a new one and went to the hospital they put me on klonipin, on ativan now .5mg. When I take them I really feel no effect. I really just use them for when I can't sleep and I'll take a couple. They just make me somewhat tired.

When manic it seems to have more of an affect on me for some reason.

I do know addicts who got addictued to benzos and went on to harder stuff. So you do have to be careful. But if you have no history of addiction and it helps you I don't see why not.

[CopperStar]

I was pretty honest with my physician, too. I was smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, slamming caffeine and getting drunk on the weekends. I was self-medicating hardcore at the time. I probably tripped some red flags to her that I would be at higher risk for addiction problems.

[wiretwister]

mine gives me xanex to use as needed, ... this after admiting that earlier in the year I was addicted, ... I use very little now .... mostly to just help with sleep when I need to "turn" my brain off. ...

[loophole]

Benzos did nothing for me .. Sometimes made me a little tired but that's it. Also I was physically addicted to them as my body had an extremely hard time when I stopped cold turkey due to ip and IOP.. I wouldn't recommend them personally

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[raspberrytorte]

I don't really recommend them either... It's really hard tapering off of them.

One of my diagnoses is alcohol dependency in mostly or partial remission, or something like that, but I was still given alprazolam back in the day, right after I was given that diagnosis pretty much.

[Fuzzybear]