How to ask my doctor for benzos?

I have severe anxiety and severe depression. I have been on many anti depression and anti anxiety medications lately (been depressed for many years) and nothing has been working for me. Right now I am on Topamax and all it has done for me really is just made me feel sort of stupid and given me headaches, also very irritable. It really has not helped me.

Over the last year I have probably tried 6 anti depressants/anti anxieties, I am to the point where I need something strong to help me with this anxiety/ my repetitive thoughts, should I ask for something like a benzo? like xanax? how to I approach my Gp about this? I see her this week.

Also like I said above I have repetitive thoughts where I repeat things in my head, or events over and over again, will this help? I need it to stop and nothing, I mean nothing has helped this.

Have you thought of an antipsychotic instead?

I have gone through long trials of drug after drug. I don't see any point in taking something that isn't helping you, though you will get arguments from doctors on that. I wouldn't give any drug more than 3 months to prove its worth.

A lot of what you need to recover isn't going to be found in a bottle or package. Doctors don't always emphasize that because they can't do anything about the non-medication part of your life.

I would avoid Xanax, myself. I think it is too easy to get into trouble with. Other more long-acting benzos might possibly help a bit. Doctors might consider you drug-seeking, if you specifically ask for a benzo. That might be less true, if you took one in the past that you found beneficial, and you could say "I'ld like to get back on this drug, which did help me in the past."

You need to be involved in some activity that will give you something to focus your mind on other than the internal stuff. It's hard to get into anything like that when you're depressed, but it's what works best over the long haul. I did find going into a partial hospitalization program helpful to me some years ago.

Sorry you feel so bad. Sounds like this has been going on long enough to get you awfully discouraged.

I would explain the symptoms you are having and ask if you could try something like xanax or klonopin for it. People say stay away, but if you're a responsible adult I think it's fine. I had a psych nurse prescribe me 30 xanax every two weeks, she didn't even think of the consequences. I am responsible with it and know to only use it if I really need it. I think it can do wonders as I also do not find anti-depressants or anti-anxiety to work for me.
I went to an appointment with someone else in my GP's office since he wasn't working, told her I take xanax and she gave it to me. It's not even in my file because I got it through college first. I guess it depends, they may just give it to you no questions ask if you don't look like a major addict and start breaking things if they say no!

How do I ask for this without sounding crazy? how do I start the conversation?

I don't think a GP will prescribe an anti psychotic. If you tell him you want that he will more then likely send you on with a referral to a psychiatrist.

I am trying therapy but my therapist hasn't been that helpful. I have avpd as well so getting out and getting help even is very difficult for me, i am really struggling right now.

I'm amazed a GP prescribes topamax. That is kind of dabbling in things they shouldn't. I agree on not asking for a benzo. Name your symptoms, stress the anxiety part of it and say that you're not supposed to feel like this anymore, so please anything different than what we already tried? Hopefully the doc will take that nudge and go in the right direction. I'd think it would be wise to also tell her if she is unable to help you it is in your best interest to get referred to a specialist. If you vaguely hint Enough is enough, she might actually help you if she doesn't want to lose a patient.

GP's don't normally prescribe topamax?

You could say this: "I've heard and read that antipsychotics are sometimes helpful for conditions other than psychotic conditions. I understand that they can have a significant calming effect. Because I am very troubled with anxiety, I am wondering if an antipsychotic might help me. I feel I would like to try and see if it would help."

A GP might feel that you should see a psychiatrist for medication consult on this. I think general practitioners are often less familiar with ordering anti-psychotics, as compared to benzos. If your doctor suggests that, he would not be implying that you are crazy. You asking about it isn't going to make you sound crazy in the least. Millions of non-crazy, non-psychotic people are on anti-psychotics.

Here is some differenced between benzos and anti-psychotics. Benzos are more likely to pose the risk of addiction. (They have higher street value.) Anti-psychotics are less safe in other respects, and can cause serious side effects and even long term neurological damage.

Benzos are traditionally called minor tranquilizers, while anti-psychotics are called major tranquilizers.

Amitriptyline used to be often used for people with a combination of depression and anxiety. It is, perhaps, the most sedating antidepressant out there. It is the best psych drug that I have ever used. Nowadays, it is rarely prescribed because it has a lot of side effects and can be dangerous in people with cardiac conditions. I think it is unfortunate that it is so little used. I'ld be lost without it. It is very cheap, which I tend to think has a lot to do with the drug companies pushing other stuff instead. A safe drug with few side effects is worthless, if it doesn't help you.

I'd be extremely careful with using benzos, especially long acting ones like Klonopin. It's not worth it to get messed up by them. In the end they cause more harm than good. You might want to get a referral to a psychiatrist if things are as bad as you say they are. You'll be better off in the long run, be it benzos or antipsychotics and just plain finding the right medication for you. I'd ask for a referral not a med.

My dad asked for me to have a medication that relieves anxiety attacks fast and he prescribed me xanax