[-jimi-]

OK so I tried a lot of meds, I usually have bad reactions to meds. I've had been knocked out for 24 hours straight on different antihistamines, I nearly fell down some stairs on another med. From one antidepressant I had really really scary withdrawals. One med caused depression. And those are NOT strong meds? Not even Concerta is a strong med and here it has the strictest classification and they hand it out like candy. They have suggested Seroquel which in their book is not a strong med even if it is what was before known as major tranquilizer.

But I happen to be on an unusual benzo sleep med and also on Xanax. The Xanax I take daily, oftentimes a dosage of 0.75 mg. Doctors and nurses are all onto me because of this like You shouldn't be on these STRONG MEDS. Always the same words. STRONG MEDS.

They are not strong. My sleeper doesn't even work well (I only take it cuz I got allergic to ambien that was a much stronger med but in their heads it is a weak med). Xanax isn't stronger than the benzos they normally prescribe, Valium and Oxazepam. They feel those two are weak meds but you can get sky high on them. It is just like with Xanax, it depends on the dang dosage!!! And those benzos are the same addictive cuz ALL benzos are.

I know it is preferable not being on addictive meds at all but I need my Xanax, be sure of that. It wasn't an easy choice starting on it 15 years ago. It really really helped me with quality of life. Also I know people who take a lot more than 0.75 mg a day.

Still this STRONG MEDS thing is getting hammered into my head by health care staff and I am sooo tired of it.

Any idea what to tell them... how to explain that STRONG MED is just a nonsense term, it tells you nothing about how you will react to it or the dangers... I don't want to deal with nonsense terms, I deal with reality and proper terms.

I feel demonized cuz I am on these STRONG MEDS. Like what the heck do other people get for bad anxiety? Weak meds? That sounds great yanno. I'm unusual with these meds in THIS system but not that odd when I started the med, it's the system that changed and decided everyone should be on the most common meds (weak meds?). And in say USA I don't think the choice of meds would raise a single eyebrow.

Can't mention USA though, cuz doctors here always drag out USA as an example of ALL psych patients getting overmedicated. I'm tired of that talk aswell.

I don't wanna blow up on them. I just wish I could explain to them why they should stop thinking and talking the way they do.

[seesaw]

Jimi, the use of Xanax in the USA gets eyebrows raised as well. I just tried to get my Rx filled the other day and got denied because I hadn't changed my state ID to the new state I moved to yet. They are very strict with handing out benzos here in the pharmacies. It's the doctors who don't mind writing Rxs for them.

But I agree, meds are not strong or light, it's all about how the individual responds to them. Doctors and nurses should know that.

Seesaw

I sometimes wonder where all this semi-hysteria comes from. I know some people abuse meds and addiction is a real concern. But... I think there is serious overreaction and illogical thinking going on now in health care and politics. My sister can't even get her pain meds anymore. Nobody looked at her situation (responsible working person with an extremely painful condition with no signs of addiction or substance abuse) before making that decision. I suppose it's either mass hysteria or everyone being punished for the actions of a few.

[*Laurie*]

In my experience, the worst mental health stigmatizing comes from medical personnel.

[-jimi-]

I understand the addiction issue. I am physically very dependent on Xanax but it was a tradeoff, getting dependent or living with unbearable anxiety. I tried many other meds before it so it wasn't even the 10th choice.

What really baffles me is that two other benzos are totally OK with doctors here to the point even a GP can prescribe them. It makes no sense in my head. I wish I could take Valium but it makes me aggressive.

[Angelique67]

In my current location, I was forced off Klonopin/Benzos by a prescribing nurse at the clinic. She used to sputter that I was on "lethal amounts" of kpin and pain meds. But I needed them both. I had been on benzos for 30 years. Only on pain meds maybe 5 years, I'm not sure.

So she was obsessed over those "lethal drugs" she was maintaining me on. So she forced me off of both at the same time. Luckily I was not physically dependant on the pain pills.

Anyway, she just about ruined the rest of my life. I have not been able to function at all really, since that cold turkey. I would have rather died than go through this.

[Travelinglady]

I am one of those Americans who was overmedicated.

Angelique, I can't believe a medical professional took you off those drugs cold turkey. I've been tapering myself off of Klonopin for years. (I am scared. )

When a psychiatrist announced to me that I was "overmedicated," I wanted to ask him "Whose fault is that?" But he was one in a long history of psychiatrists I'd seen. He told me to stop taking all three (yes, three) antidepressants cold turkey. I refused and we "had words." I left him. I wish I'd left him years before.

That said, we have to take what works to keep us going. I am bipolar.

Jimi, maybe you should say, "I happen to like strong meds."

[cheshiregrins]

I think the "strong" med thing probably comes from its addictive potential, as opposed to other psych meds. I've been on 15 drugs in total- antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants etc. and I still think Klonopin is the strongest drug I've ever taken. Have you tried getting off benzos? It's a nightmare. My anxiety is a million times worse than when I started benzos in the first place, and I can't function without them now. So in that way, I think it's the strongest med. Its SO easy to build up a physical tolerance and withdrawal is known to be worse than getting off heroin. There's lots of "accidental addicts" out there because of benzos, so for that reason I would call them strong.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

OK so I tried a lot of meds, I usually have bad reactions to meds. I've had been knocked out for 24 hours straight on different antihistamines, I nearly fell down some stairs on another med. From one antidepressant I had really really scary withdrawals. One med caused depression. And those are NOT strong meds? Not even Concerta is a strong med and here it has the strictest classification and they hand it out like candy. They have suggested Seroquel which in their book is not a strong med even if it is what was before known as major tranquilizer.


But I happen to be on an unusual benzo sleep med and also on Xanax. The Xanax I take daily, oftentimes a dosage of 0.75 mg. Doctors and nurses are all onto me because of this like You shouldn't be on these STRONG MEDS. Always the same words. STRONG MEDS.


They are not strong. My sleeper doesn't even work well (I only take it cuz I got allergic to ambien that was a much stronger med but in their heads it is a weak med). Xanax isn't stronger than the benzos they normally prescribe, Valium and Oxazepam. They feel those two are weak meds but you can get sky high on them. It is just like with Xanax, it depends on the dang dosage!!! And those benzos are the same addictive cuz ALL benzos are.


I know it is preferable not being on addictive meds at all but I need my Xanax, be sure of that. It wasn't an easy choice starting on it 15 years ago. It really really helped me with quality of life. Also I know people who take a lot more than 0.75 mg a day.


Still this STRONG MEDS thing is getting hammered into my head by health care staff and I am sooo tired of it.


Any idea what to tell them... how to explain that STRONG MED is just a nonsense term, it tells you nothing about how you will react to it or the dangers... I don't want to deal with nonsense terms, I deal with reality and proper terms.


I feel demonized cuz I am on these STRONG MEDS. Like what the heck do other people get for bad anxiety? Weak meds? That sounds great yanno. I'm unusual with these meds in THIS system but not that odd when I started the med, it's the system that changed and decided everyone should be on the most common meds (weak meds?). And in say USA I don't think the choice of meds would raise a single eyebrow.


Can't mention USA though, cuz doctors here always drag out USA as an example of ALL psych patients getting overmedicated. I'm tired of that talk aswell.


I don't wanna blow up on them. I just wish I could explain to them why they should stop thinking and talking the way they do.

That is my partners attitude about lamictal .

[-jimi-]

Chesire, i already explained. I have had extreme withdrawals from a non benzo, also they think valium is an ok med. Valium can give as bad withdrawals as xanax! And yes i felt withdrawals. Bad i know. Then they should use a term like addictive. Not strong.