Pain Management Termination Due To Dr Prescribed Benzodiazepine

I have acute anxiety/panic attacks. My pain mgmnt Dr used to prescribe Ativan along with hydrocodone up till 2016 as their new policy prohibited it. Family Dr then prescribed my Ativan till the opioid crisis hit with the DEA, etc telling Dr's basically how to treat their patients. After several referrals to Psych Dr's within the same hospital as pain mgmnt, they said they could not prescribe it, that it had to be pain mgmnt. Each said other Dr had to. Anyway, found a decent Psych who after in depth appointments, past history, prescribed Ativan for me in June 2019. Went to my scheduled pain mgmnt appt July 3, 2019, and was dropped because I now take a legally obtained benzodiazepine and their policy is "One or the other, you choose". So I chose to be able to function in public places, drive to see my grandchildren and not have major anxiety/panic that renders me literally nonfunctional. So if you have chronic back pain issues PLUS PTSD, anxiety, etc that can only be helped by benzodiazepines, you will have to choose. Sorry, can't have other issues. So now I try to dumb down the pain with ibuprofen. Sad state of affairs.

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I am so sorry for what you are going thru. I have been on Ativan for 30 years. I plan to move back up to MI and am afraid they will not continue to prescribe it. I don't understand how cutting people off will save lives. My brother was on hydrocodone and xanax. He is a triple stroke survivor, but has a lot of pain. He can't walk or use his left arm and is in terrible pain. They cut him off cold turkey. He was in so much pain and anxiety, he attempted suicide 2 weeks ago and just got out of ICU. Don't they realize cutting people off cold turkey is not going to solve any problems? It will send people to look for illegal street drugs, alcohol, or suicide. We are not doing anything wrong. We are on meds prescribed to us because we need them. The government is handling this all wrong. There are better options to control opiod misuse. A drug test every 30 days to test for levels of benzodiazapines and pain meds. If you are taking more than prescribed, it should show. If selling them, you will have clean urine. Cutting people off cold turkey is dangerous and deadly. THINK PEOPLE!!!

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It's a horrid medication. You are better off without it, taper so so slowly, the withdrawals are so much different then an opioid withdrawal, they last for months to yrs. Its unrecognizable to the medical community. Watch Lisa Ling's story on it on CNN coming up.

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Re: Juliana (# 1)

so sorry to hear about your brother, I will tell you, Xanax is known for terrible anxiety, and going cold turkey the withdrawals are so horrific I have read where ppl have taken their own lives. Benzos are so horrible, I wish more would investigate this horrible medication before taking them. Dr.s do not know much about these.

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Re: Lydia J (# 2)

Oh...when is it going to be on?

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Re: Lydia (# 3)

My Dr told me to get off Effexor cold turkey. So I did. Almost went insane. Got right back on it. Now I'm tapering off but haven't told them. I told my PCP and he said "Then lets give you something else. Stop taking the Effexor and take this." I said "I don't want anymore drugs. He said "You need them". I haven't taken them and am still tapering. He also told me to double my high blood pressure med, which my cardiologist says is toxic. They have no clue.

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Re: Juliana (# 4)

Sunday Sept 29th on CNN ... "Season six premiere of This is Life with Lisa Ling at 10 p.m. ET/PT" ... will be interesting to see MSM's take on this ... "In season six of This is Life, Lisa Ling investigates the shocking side effects of long-term benzodiazepine use"

http:/­/­cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/­2019/­09/­04/­cnn-original-series-declassified-untold-stories-of-american-spies-returns-for-season-three-followed-by-season-six-premiere-of-this-is-life-with-lisa-ling-on-sunday-sept-29/­

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Re: Roy (# 6)

Thank you so much. I'll be sure to watch it!!!

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Anyone who watches it, let's share our thoughts back here, k?

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Re: Roy (# 8)

Correction to my previous message ... I wanted to DVR the show on the 29th, but it looks like episode 1 which airs that evening is NOT about Benzodiazepene use. The Benzo episode is just stated as being part of season 6, but it doesn't actually say which day or episode # that is. Sorry for any confusion! I'll post back when I know more!

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Re: Roy (# 9)

Hi Roy, are you on FB in a benzo group? Name looks familiar. I am a benzo survivor.

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Re: Juliana (# 1)

I totally agree, I have no trouble being tested to make sure that my levels are correct in that I am taking Them correctly and that the levels are correct. I am both on Subutex for pain and clonazepam for seizures/anxiety and Meniere’s disease. The correct benzo for Meniere’s disease Is actually Valium but they could never get the dosage right and it never really helped with my anxiety and seizures as well. Diastat worked well for seizures. But not many doctors will prescribe the rectal diastat. .

My last three labs, my closet pan that I take did not show up at all. Where as the subutex did and my other seizure med did. So doctors will prescribe both a pain type medication or opiate-based medication and a benzo. But we were baffled as to why it wasn’t showing up on any of my labs, both a swab test, urine and blood for last 6 months. And I get tested every other month. My pharmacist believed me. And my doctor believe me. But I could not find a pharmacy that carries the yellow and as of him which always worked. So the doctor switched me to clonazepam 1 mg 0DT or orally disintegrating tablets. But I believe that if patients want to go through the testing process and a lot of pain management does require this. The doctor then has back up. He can prove that his patients aren’t mistreating or miss using their medications. Sorry for the typos but I’m dictating do too a broken arm that did not heal right.

But I do agree that Doctor should be able to write what they want without fear of retribution from the DA or the fear of losing their license. I have a sister that has cancer, she’s only 41 years old and has two toddlers at home. There is no cure.

Only surgical cures as it pops up in different places in her body. But she can basically get any pain medication she wants. And a Xanax as well. And they don’t test her because she has the big “C.”. She actually has Neroendocrineal carcinoma. Which you would think Nuro/head and endocrine/thyroid, but they first found it in her intestine during the routine colonoscopy. Since then it has spread to her liver / Her lymph nodes which of also all been removed, and they believe it is in her tympanum which is causing the vertigo. She Hass to have scans every three months. But I think this sucks. The whole Albany New York area is not using painkillers except if you have cancer or a heart attack for major major major trauma.

Her lymph nodes which of also all been removed, and they believe it is in her tympanum which is causing the vertigo. She Hass to have scans every three months. But I think this sucks. The hall Albany New York area is not using painkillers except if you have cancer or a heart attack for major major major trauma. Like helicopter crash site trauma. But your body is basically Crushed and in pieces.

Instead they are now using ketamine and animal therapy. I have a first grade student who has sickle cell Amenia. Whenever he was sick he used to be able to go into the hospital for a few weeks and get his morphine and dilauded and whatever it was he needed to stop the pain.

Now they are trying to put seven and eight-year-olds into a K hole and cause them to disassociate. And then giving them a kitten to cuddle. Ketamine and kittens is not Really appropriate. All it does is make the patient disassociate to the point where they cannot feel the pain. But that has to be really really scary experience for a child.

Really appropriate. All it does is make the patient disassociate to the point where they cannot feel the pain. But that Hass to be really really scary experience for a child. Meanwhile my sister who is cancer causes no pain yet, can get whatever she wants. It’s gotten so far to the other extreme that it’s not good for the country or patients. And let alone black patients. There of been studies done by many groups, and they are the group that is least likely to get an opiate even for cancer or heart attack or sickle cell. Because they make a presumption that they are Just going to a visit. Sorry for the length and sorry for the typos but I am dictating.

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Re: Suzysurf (# 10)

I know that valium and clonazepam, (Klonopin) were the Cause of my anxiety! the more he gave me to reduce my anxiety the more anxiety I had! I finally realized the benzos were causing all my problems.

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My pain doctor is good about prescribing both. But he does need to know if another Doctor is giving me medication too. Or my contract breaks. Please be careful with Ativan. It is very hard to get off of, you become a hostage to it. If you can watch the episode that CNN contributor Lisa Ling did on Benzodiazepines, aired Oct. 6th, 2019 you will understand why. I was a hostage to the medication, and it took 18 months of horrible withdrawals to finally feel myself again. I had small anxiety when I was cold turkey'd off of it, I had depersonalization, night sweats, cold sweats, insomnia, tinnitus for months, pain in all my joints. I can go on and on.

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Re: Lydia (# 12)

Yes. But for some of us it is required. They are the only thing that keeps my seizures quiet. I can be off of it for a year. And on my regular other seizure med. But then I will have a tonic clinic w/ cardiac arrest. I can’t afford to be off them. I will not risk my life when I have children at home. My dosage has not changed in 10 years..sorry 12 years. They played with it the first year in 2004.

But when they got the dosage straight, it hasn’t changed since then. Maybe it doesn’t do my anxiety any good. But I also have Meniere’s disease (which the main treatment is Valium and meclizine) but they could never get the dosage for the Valium straight to where it was effective. So I stayed or went back to the clonazepam. And yes I know it’s addicting. Just like painkillers are addicting. But there’s a difference between addiction and tolerance and dependence. People on antidepressants are dependent on their medication too. If they do not take them they will get sick and go on crying jags and have but there is a difference between addiction and tolerance and dependence. People on antidepressants are dependent on their medication to. If they do not take them they will get sick and go on crying jags and have horrible shakes and extra movements.

All medications carry a risk. But I’m glad you were able to stop them. I am not willing to put my life at stake. I’m not willing to risk sudden death from a seizure.

So this medication basically is saving my life. And if you say differently I will send you the studies. I will show you my labs. But don’t get on someone or don’t put down someone because they have to take it. Because some of us really really do need it.

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Re: Suzysurf (# 14)

Im not putting you down, I just wanted to let you know the symptoms of our bodies becoming dependant on the benzo's, and that we are held hostage to them. I had worse anxiety, etc...with all the benzo's. Best of luck

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Tiuliana (# 1) --

I do agree with you. Some people really do need the medication. I have epilepsy and Meniere’s disease. I am on two medications for epilepsy and they tried switching me to Valium for the Meniere’s disease but they could never get the dosage correct. So I went back on clonazepam. My seizures are deadly. They are tonic-clonic seizures and I also go into cardiac arrest. They happened to where they started due to eclampsia that was missed for my second daughter was born. I have had cardiac arrest three times. There is a thing with seizures for people can die very suddenly. Because of the seizure. They can die in their sleep or they can die at any time. With two lovely daughters I am going not about to risk that. I also have a very severe pain problems subutex. It has a ceiling in fact so I can't feel high off of it. I have test done every month the checks my levels. However for the last two months Clonazepam has not shown up as me taking it. But I’ve done some reading on generics and the fillers in some generics can cause problems. I had my medication tested in the state lab in there was no significant level of active medication in the brand that I was taking. I have since switched to another brand. But so far it does not seem to be helping. I just know I have another seizure. I know these are bad for you. If they don’t have what I have. I am not taking these reasons I am taking these for seizures. And I am taking these for my vertigo disease. The vertigo disease or Ménière’s disease presents like I have am having a stroke. I cannot stop vomiting and my white cell count goes up to about 35 to 40,000. I also get six thyroid with it. It’s very very serious. They say eventually I may wind up in a wheelchair because of it. Now I am an active member of the community.

I am a schoolteacher. I have two beautiful teenage daughters and a wonderful husband. I am not about to risk all this and have an episode of a disease that kills me. I have no problem with being tested every single month to show that I am taking my medication as directed and that I am not selling it. I’m sorry that some people say that they are “benzo survivors “. I feel badly for you. But please do not come down maybe it is I have to take them. There are worse medications. They had my daughter on Effexor. She almost died trying to come off of it. Then we had her genetically tested And found out it was the wrong medication for her. She’s also very found something called Akathasia and has essential
Thrombocythemia. I have that as well. But despite all of these medical problems with myself, I saw that I have to go to work every day. I can still drive. I can still function. But it’s because of these medications that I can function. Of course there will be one day where the diseases get so bad that I will not be able to but that has not happened yet and I pray it doesn’t happen until my daughters are Graduated from high school, college and married. Then I will have fulfilled my last purpose in life. That may sound strange. At and played violin for 44 years. I was very accomplished. Then I fell from a seizure and broke my arm and fell down 15 steps of stairs.

The doctor said I am lucky to be alive. So yes I am back on the Clonopin. But, during all these years I have been on it and then I have it and then back on again, my dosage has never ever changed. The only time it changed was in the very first year of me taking it so they can get the right amount in my system to protect me. So for me it is basically a helmet. Keeping me from keeping my brain from having a seizure. Yes I have anxiety too and it’s just a nice side effect that it helps with it. But that’s not why I don’t. But agree you with you that if pain people or cancer people want meds Then they should be willing to be tested on a regular basis. My sister has cancer and can get basically any medication or anything killer she wants and she’s not even in any pain yet at this stage. On the other hand I have two students that have sickle cell. Hospitals in upstate New York are now trying to treat children with ketamine and kittens. And no I am not kidding. Yeah let’s send little kids and sick people down the K Hole or k hell? Because for a little kids, or teenagers, disassociation it’s just so good for their brain. I’m being sarcastic here. I think it’s a horrible idea. Scares the crap out of these young kids. Opiates have been around since I lost 1000 BC. When the Chinese discovered them. But let’s not use that, use ketamine or a horse tranquilizer, Which is still in the beginning stages of use without any real data is to support them using it. But let’s keep on going that direction because it’s making people feel crappy. Sure, it will knock the patient out and they will have terrible visions. But what the hell. Let’s give them that. Sorry for the sarcasm

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Re: Roy (# 8)

Hi Roy, I watched Lisa Lings cover of the benzo. I did like that she stated, or someone did, that we are held hostages on them. And it is the hardest medication to get off of, and there isn't anything that will help the withdrawals. I think I am on a FB group with you. I did not have any suicidal issues, or rage, I had pain, nightmares, night sweats, tinnitus, agoraphobia, and so much more.

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Re: suzpat68 (# 16)

Definitely need my benzodiazepines, 1 actually, or could not function out in public or drive anywhere. Problem now is getting the dosage correct as it seems too low only taking 3 of the .5mg a day, but also because they have so much filler in them and not enough of the true medication!

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Re: Sheila (# 18)

I know. I take three, 1 mg tablets of clonazepam in a day for seizures and Meniere’s disease plus anticipatory anxiety and GAD. But mainly for the seizures and the vertigo disease. My last three labs, showed up with zero clonazepam medication in my system. I never miss a single dose because I risk the chance of having a major seizure. And with every tonic clonic seizure I have I also go into cardiac arrest. So it is basically a death sentence for me if I do not take my medications. Sometimes it won’t happen for four months of no medication. They did try to take me off of it once before and it took about six months before I started having seizures again. But I did. . So they put me back on it. The dose has not changed in 10 years. But, my last three labs have showed up negative for clonazepam. I was taking the blue ones. Made by Soclo or Accord. There actually the same company, one is an LLC of the other. So he switched me to the orally disintegrating ones for a month. This really didn’t help much. And I found out it was also made by the same company that made the blue ones that showed up negative. So basically I have been getting new medication at all. They finally ordered a yellow tablet for me with an R and a 34 on it. I believe it is made by to have TEVA/ activis. It’s better than the blue ones but they are not great. They are much different than the old yellow ones I used to be on and the old green ones. And I hate when people tell me that I need to get off these things that they are dangerous and they are killers and everything else. But I I’ve had surgery with no pain medication so I can stay on these. You do what you have to do and you don’t complain. That’s how the system works and it’s unfortunate.

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Re: Lydia (# 15)

Thanks.
Although I do agree that they are over prescribed. I think there are legitimate reasons for people to be on them. There are people that cannot leave their house that their panic attacks are so bad or they have such bad PTSD. There are people that can Not function because their anxiety is just that incredibly bad. But I’ve met many people with mild anxiety that take these and I feel it gives the rest of us a bad name. People that have legitimate issues. These drugs were originally designed as anti-seizure medications. Because they slow down the nerve activity in the brain. That’s why they also work on the vertigo disease that I have. I’m sorry that I missed read your statement. It just seemed like you were putting down people for being on them at all. But I understand that’s not the case. Thank you for your feedback. Have a good night.
And also my dosage has not changed in 10 years. I’ve gotten a bad batch is that have not shown up in my lab work. And I never miss a dose because I would never risk having a seizure in front of my children and scaring the daylights out of them ever again. I had one once at the top of the stairs. I broke my arm and I do not remember a thing. I started remembering things when the nerve block wore off from the surgery that occurred three days later. It was one of those long acting nerve blocks. But I’m lucky to be alive. And if I have to take benzos to be alive then so be it. I may be on them the rest of my life. But at least I am able to function in society. I am able to hold down a wonderful job. I am able to get my children to college interviews and college visits. But I want to be alive to see them be married and have their first children.
Because as you know my moms relationship with teenage daughters can be fraught with attitude and hateful glaring. LOL. But I know That will go away and they will be coming to me for everything again. They do come to me for somethings but they are just at that age where they are trying to find themselves. And I need to realize that and get over it. Sorry if I digress. Nice talking to you Lisa.

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Re: MadAsHellAtPHDs (# 30)

Mississippi, Gulf Coast.

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Did you ever find a Dr to take you in?

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I'm so sorry you have to go thru that! I truly empathize. I have PTSD also had have anxiety attacks very often. They feel like I'm dying! But since I'm in pain management they said no more diazepam which was the only thing that helped!. I promise these people don't know what they are doing. First this unnecessary war on opioids they need to be watching the illicit drugs! I hope you can find relief somehow.

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Sheila you remind me of how dangerous it is to let any government tell your private physician how to treat your unique to you issues. Drs are being imprisoned more and more of not being sued for malpractice. I imagine the huge majority of Dr's follow the rules in place before the latest gov crackdown on over prescribing of pain meds and those following the rules then didn't cause our opiate epidemic....super sorry your in this spot but I think you chose wisely and treated your ptsd panic attack issues.....life is hard. I deal better with pain than I do with anxiety.....bless you.

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What state are u from? They apparently worry that we will OD from the combination. U have rights; if they refuse to treat u for addiction (pain management) and u use, and something happens to u; that’s a law suit in ur favor!! I had to sign a waiver stating I understood what suboxen and a benzo combination can cause. It’s your body and u know what works for you. These doctors are complete a$$e$ !! But I bet they write out scripts for themselves!! Keep haunting them until u get exactly what u want. Or find a understanding doc. I have PTSD and have to take Clonapin. If I don’t take it I can’t be a functioning member to society!! Good Luck and fight for your right to know what works for u and your body!!!

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Re: suzysurf (# 27)

they should have never, never taken her off the Valium without slowly tapering, I mean very very slow. you are held hostage to the med once you have been put on it, and it is almost impossible without inhumane withdrawals! I know I was in the horrid, unexplainable, unrecognizable withdrawal horror show for over 18 months of my life, it was traumatic, and I will never take a benzo again. So so sorry for you and your grandma. :(

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Re: suzysurf (# 27)

Saddened to read about tour grandmother. Very inhumane for anyone to go thru. Don't know how most of these Dr.'s and Nurse Practitioners call themselves "Caregivers" .

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Re: Brenda (# 22)

They did this to my 98 year old grandmother , we managed to keep her with family til the 3rd hip break. She had been on same dose Valium all her life. Her vocal cords would freeze up when she got nervous and she couldn’t speak.

So the last two years of her long and wonderful life was absolute misery. No pain medication, no Valium. They were worried it would make her dizzy. My aunt is a physician assistant and her and her husband had power of attorney. And they demanded that she not get any narcotic medication or any benzodiazepine. And the doctor tried talking to them. But ultimately he caved and my grandmother died just before her 100th birthday w/ tears in her eyes. Unable to speak. I will never forgive them.

For gods sake, this was a woman who had given birth to twins during WWll , while my grandfather was overseas and they didn’t have ultrasounds then so she didn’t know. She deserved to die on her terms and with dignity. And so does everyone.
It’s the indignity of the way they treat sick people that has me so angry. Opium based narcotics have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years.

What a sad state of affairs. I wish you and everyone that goes through this the best.

I have to take an alternative for my pain. And I do take a Benzodiazepine for epilepsy, Ménière’s disease and anxiety. I do not mind being tested each month but I sometimes worry what if I get sick and miss my appt. then I’m out. It’s not easy to keep up. But I like being alive and not in hospital.

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Re: Sheila (# 25)

that is to bad, I did not have an issue with getting both. I am surprised because they usually use the benzo to relax the muscles along with pain medication. Also, I am sorry you have anxiety, I have normal anxiety, in fact I was hyerthyroid at one point, and when I got off of the benzos it was the most horrid and traumatic thing I went through. Its not like an opioid withdrawal, oh no! much worse and lasts months to yrs.! be careful if you get on a higher benzo, like Klonipin or clonazepam, or Xanax, that is when your Ativan is no longer working, again from experience, unfortunately, I was misdiagnosed and was on all of them for over 6 yrs!

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Re: Lydia (# 24)

The fillers are not the problem. The Ativan works just fine at 0.5mg three times a day. The point of my statement was that you cannot be prescribed pain pills for legit back problems along with benzodiazepines even though you truly have anxiety/panic issues. So therefore I must pick whether to be in pain or not be able to function in society due to chronic anxiety. I chose to function outside and in public and to be able to drive, etc. The 800 mg of Ibuprofen helps, but by no means is my pain gone.

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